Azmacort Substitute (Page 17)

Azmacort has been taken off the market because of environmental concerns (they say). There really is NO substitute. All other steroids do not work. My wife could die because of it. No one seems to care. Do you?

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I'm with you, Asthmacort gave me my life back, and when they stopped letting me have that, I can't find anything that even comes close to letting me breath, I've gained weight, I can't walk very far, because I'm out of breath. Please bring back Asthmacort!

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Iam on a dose of steroid 10mg everyday. I still have a hard time breathing but it is at least better. I could take 20mg and probably do ok with the breathing but then it get the rest of my body out of whack. As it is my sleep is messed up and my stomach is getting bad, and all the other stuff . I wonder if it would help if we started writting and caklling Abbott again.

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I think if everyone would file a report on every drug with the Medwatch program at the FDA that they had problems with it might help. Most people don't take the time to do that , I think that is one of the problems. Most people just stop taking it and never tell anyone not even their doctor , so when someone comes in with a complaint they tend to not believe them because no one else has reported anything adverse about the drugs. I'm now taking 10 mg of steroid a day and I still can't breathe but can lean on the counter less.I would probably do much better on 20mg but would have other health problems because of the higher dose.Now when I need a booster I have to go up to 60 or 80 mg and then lower it down slowly.Still writing and hoping they will bring the Azmacort back. Please don't give up maybe someone will hear us after a while.

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What is a salt pipe inhaler,and how do you use it and what do you use it for. I have copd would like to know more about it.
Thank You Dee

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I am looking for an Azmacort inhaler, not the medication, just the white plastic dispenser with the built in spacer that extended out into a long L-shape. Does anyone have one of these left over from when they used to use Azmacort? I'd be really grateful if I could get my hands on one.

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To Jack,
I stumbled across this (old) conversation about asthma while searching for help for my son who also lives in Homosassa. He is 32 and has had asthma since he was 5. He has no insurance and can barely keep a job because of the asthma. I have been reading lately about Bronchial Thermoplasty and wanted to ask if you've found anyone locally who does it or who is even interested in it? He doesn't have a regular doctor. Sometimes he goes to the Health Department or the emergency room. Is there a doctor you would recommend? Thanks for any information you could pass on.

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This had worked for me for years. I was told by an MD 4 decades ago that this might be an avenue for relief, as it is a topical anti- spasmodic, and would help quiet the broncus. I'm not recommending this to anyone; just relating my experience.

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I was on Azmacort back in about 2000 then back in 2001 or 2002 was put on Folvent and Serevent inhaler. Then the decide to put me on Adviar 250/50 and Adviar 500/50 back in 2003 and had been stable until Jan. 2014 at that time Express scripts decided not to cover my medication. So, the trials of other products started they where Symbicort and Dulara. I failed on the Symbicort and then tried the Dulara and that dd not seem to matter. Then this spring I went back on Adviar but coughing still continued.
Today 12/9/14 I am on Dulara for almost 1 month or so and I am coughing like crazy. Sure they all say it viral but I don't think that is what is going on at all. Not sure what to try next as I am not well controlled. Any ideas on what I can try.

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I was placed on Azmacort & Maxair back in the early '80's, once I was put on those two, I did so good, no wheezing & I was able to do my work with no issues! Then I found out that Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol (triamcinolone), made by Abbott Laboratories, was only going to be on the market until the last date for sale: Dec. 31, 2010. I was devastated! The replacement for it was QVAR, which doesn't work well at all! Then to make matters worse, I found out that Maxair Autohaler (pirbuterol), made by Graceway Pharmaceuticals, was going to be taken off the market, the last date for sale: Dec. 31, 2013. The replacement for it is ProAir HFA, which don't work at all! I have complained & complained & am told that the alternatives that the insurance will pay for are worse! When I picked up my first ProAir HFA at the pharmacist, he told me that it takes effect quicker, however they wear out real fast & the containers (plastic container) plugs up quick & have to be rinsed frequently to avoid it! It is a big joke, but not funny at all! I get 3 inhalers per 90 days, so if it wears out quicker, what am I supposed to do, use it more frequently & run out & then be frightened I won't have enough for an emergency? Here is the reasons given for taking these two off the market along with 5 others, here is the site you can go to read the entire article

urindependent.com/2010/04/seven-inhalers-will-be-taken-off-market

...............seven metered dose inhalers that contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are being phased out in the United States. These inhalers use CFCs as propellants to spray the medicine out of the inhaler so patients can breathe the medicine into their lungs. CFCs harm the environment by decreasing the ozone layer above the earth. The ozone layer protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation............... Now bear in mind I never once went outside & sprayed my inhalers on the ground, they were far too costly, I guess they are talking about people that don't recycle, but I did! Why not make it mandatory that they be recycled, versus taking them off the market? Just a thought from an old farm girl, but I think it makes better sense than taking them off the market! I am with all of you, please bring them back! Now I wheeze all the time & struggle to breath & do my daily work! I have to force myself out of bed each & every day & I have glaucoma, so the coughing & wheezing isn't good on my heart or the stress or coughing on my glaucoma or my heart!

Marilyn

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I have asthma for 47 years. I was on Azmacort for years and it was the only thing that worked for me. I have tried just about every asthma medicine and inhaler available. I have been on the Qvar 80 mcg inhaler (4 puffs 2xs a day )for over 2 years. I also use Qnasal 80 mcg nasal inhaler ( 1 puff each nostril 2xs a day). Thank God it has worked for me. No sinus or ear infections. No pneumonia. Nebulizing with albuterol a hour before Qvar for the 1st 2 weeks helped get the Qvar down into my lungs. I take Airborne tablets for 3 days at the first sign of a cold. I take potassium tablets 3xs a week and OTC b12 liquid solution under my tongue once a month. Steroids can lower potassium and b12 levels. I hope you all find relief from your asthma. I thought I would have to be on oral prednisone and antibiotics forever when they pulled Azmacort. Thank God I have felt pretty good on these medications.

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Azmacort is the only spray that has helped and been great. Now i can not walk far without stopping,walk the stairs,shop at a mall and grocery shop without stopping . I have tried many inhalers, the last one being Dulera which has not helped . I used Azmacort for 20 years and felt great always.

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Thread has not been visited for a while. Anyone hear any new news about another company producing inhaler with triamcinolone acetonide?

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Jack, my Azmacort was discontinued also so I went to Denver in 2013 and all they did was run a bunch of tests and recommended a very expensive vest to pound on my chest that gave me nosebleed and headaches. I could not use it.. I now use Levalbuterol (dilator), then I use Budesonide once or twice a day. The budesonide really helps my asthma, but you have to be careful not to use it too much. I developed fungus - nocardia, mycobacterium and pseudomonas in my lung by using it 3 times a day.. If a patient is allergic to sulphur, there are very few drugs left to treat these bad diseases.

I called Abbott and was told there was nothing they could do about it. I am thinking the company did not make enough money on Azmacort. With these drug companies, it is NOT about helping us. It is all about making money. Sorry if I sound negative, but I firmly believe there is so much greed in our world today. Sad situation.

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Re: Dale88 (# 1)

It’s the stupid government, not Abbott, that forced the discontinuation. I have the same problem. How the hell do they expect us to inhale flour-like powder without choking??!! ????????

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Re: Kim (# 334)

I have been on Atrovent and Flovent inhalers since Azmacort was discontinued. Works real well. The problem is both are very expensive especially if you are on Medicare.

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Re: Dale88 (# 1)

Abbott quit making Azmacort because of the "Montreal protocol", which is CFC (Refrigerant-12) propelled and relating to the depletion of Earth's ozone layer. I was using Azmacort until 2010 and never found an equivalent and suitable replacement. Why they didn't just replace the propellent with HCFC (R-134a) like Albuterol, I don't know.

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Were you ever able to find an alternative that worked? I too am unable to tolerate most medications. I struggle to breathe on a daily basis because I have not been able to get azmacort.

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I took Asmacort in the 90s everyday. It was the only thing that controlled my asthma and chronic bronchitis. When I got in my 20s my asthma died down and after a move I realized I had a TON of unused inhalers. I stopped getting refills and just used what I had on hand during bad allergy seasons. I was lucky. Around 2018 I started getting low and asked for a new script. That was the first time I heard that it was discontinued but no one could tell me why. When I found out my response was basically, "How hard is it to put a different propellant in the inhaler?" After all I'm sure they changed other inhalers and I know they changed hair spray. Heck, put a hand air pump on it. We'll add the propellant.

I tried new inhaler after new inhaler and half of them made me feel worse. The rest didn't help at all. I finally gave up and I basically live off my rescue inhaler that doesn't open my lungs up like asthmacort. I still have 1 or 2 inhalers left but I save them for really bad allergy seasons.

Then came 2020 and COVID. In the end of May. I had done everything right and wore my mask and stayed away from people not in my bubble. But when my Dentist called to remind me of my cleaning and told me there was no way I could catch it there I believed them. The problem was the man in the bay next to me with the "EMERGENCY" (which sounded like one by the way he was moaning), but what caused my problem was he was coughing like crazy in the hall right next to my room's door (said it was allergies). It must not have been because the next day I woke up with a horrible stomachache which then turned in to diarrhea. Two days after that I was coughing and wheezing and my energy was plummeting. I easily went through 2 rescue inhalers that week trying to keep my O2 between 90 & 95 (my usual is 98-100). One night I woke up gasping and my inhaler was empty so I went and got another one out. I was shocked to find a forgotten, long expired asmacort inhaler. I took my rescue inhaler and then 4 puffs of asmacort. 6 hours later I repeated but only 2 puffs. And 6 hours later I repeated again (the hospitals were already full and if I was going to die I didn't want to do it around strangers... but my 02 had been below 80 before from bronchitis and I knew I could take a little more). But when I woke up the next morning I checked my 02. It was 96! It had been 3 days since it had been that good - it had been 5-6 days since I believe I was exposed and sure, this could have been me finally getting better on my own, but I don't believe so. My 02 was at 90 I take 8 puffs of Asmacort in 12 hours and my lungs start to feel like the can stretch again and take in oxygen to be used!

Instead of testing deworming drugs, the CDC should be looking into Asthmacort with a new delivery system. Pressurized air maybe? I believe it saved me from the hospital.

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Re: Michelle (# 338)

Hi everyone, I am in the same boat as y'all. If like me, Azmacort is the only drug that is remotely effective I may have a partial solution for you. I have tried every available inhaled steroid and NONE work as well, thankfully this does not put me in a life threatening position, but I know it has for some. I have been experimenting for quite a while and here are couple solutions to support you in conjunction with other meds.

#1, this is the easiest to access. Buy a nebulizer, they are widely available on ebay and amazon. In my all my experiments the Prodigy Mini Mist was the best. Then buy some Nasacort nasal spray, it has triamcinolone in it, the same drug as Azmacort. You'll have to dilute the Nasacort with some purified water, but if can be run through the nebulizer. It is a bit time consuming, but those of you whose live depend on it, it's worth it. It is not as effective as a real Azmacort inhaler, but it helps.

#2 I have tried refilling my own inhalers, this is a total pain in the ass, but it is more effective, by giving a bigger dose than the nebulizer. If you are not handy mechanically I'd suggest going the nebulizer route, but if you're interested in refilling your own inhalers let me know and I can share the process. Cheers and good luck!

Moe

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Re: Moe (# 339)

I'm very interested in nebulizing Nasacort to use as a substitute for Azmacort. Would you mind to share the dilution formula? Right now I'm using an Azmacort canister that expired in 2007, surprisingly still works! Thanks in advance. {edited for privacy}

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