Azmacort Substitute (Page 5)

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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Jack, I share the same desperate need for asthmacort as your wife.
I use albuterol to dilate my bronchials, and Aamacort to go after deep mucous.I have mucous blockage and nearly died many, many times until I learned about Azmacort in 1999, Please know that I'm ex-militarty and VA just informed me that asmacort is no longer available.
It scares me... I will call abbott...

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Wow, I am so glad I am not alone. I have been using azmacort for over 20 yrs. with no problems, side effects, etc... and my asthma has been super. Got a new asthma doctor becasue i moved out of state. He told me azmacort was being discontinued. I said to myself Oh No. So, he put me on Advair inhaler (not powder) and all of a sudden started experiencing severe heartburn that would last for 4 or 5 days. He also gave me flovent. I still don't feel right. My peak flow meter says my breathing is fine but my chest doesn't feel normal. I have talked to the doctor about what I am experiencing and he said I was overreacting and gave me a mild script for zanax. Now, I do agree as many of you also will, when you are worried about your breathing and for so long you never felt bad, horrible, constricted yes, I can see that I/we would be worried but come on! I don't rush to the doctor everytime I feel bad but I never felt like this when I was on azmacort! I found an old azmacort I had and did a test for a week (thats all that was left) and felt like my old self. I go back to the flovent and bamm< here I am not feeling quite right. Its frustrating! I will call Abbott Pharmaceuticals. Maybe if enough of us call they will bring it back. There number again is 800-633-9110.

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Dear Gretchen,
appreciate your help. up to pulmicort 3 puffs twice a day. still struggling.

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I have the thick mucous as well especially at night. Always clearing my throat during the day trying to get the mucous to go away, but it doesn't. Didn't have this problem with the Azmacort. What to do now?

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Today I started using the Alvesco the asthma doctor gave me a sample. Little light headed and a little jittery so far. Will see where this goes. It does help my asthma symptoms, I think it might be a little too strong for me...

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I subscribe to the FDA web site. They are just now announcing the phase out of inhalers. You may want to read this... http:/­/­www.fda.gov/­ForConsumers/­ConsumerUpdates/­ucm207864.htm I wish someone would recognize that some of us cannot use HFA's!!!

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Quitting the Alvesco and going back to Qvar with my doctor's blessing. I have had the jitters all day from one puff of the Alvesco. Scary!!! I think the side effects from the Qvar are less than feeling like you've had 20 cups of coffee.

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I just called the FDA representative for our state. It is like a fly trying to get the attention of an elephant.

I got two phone numbers:
1-888-463-6332 - a number that nobody responds when called
1-301-796-3400

I also got an email address:
[email protected]

I cannot follow through at this time.

Somewhere, somehow, there must be a way to break through the ceiling we are all under.

Jack

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Three things: 1.) I called Abbott and they are not keeping a list of people calling in hoping to get azmacort back. I talked to a nurse in their medical department and she said she could not help me. So frustrating. Not a good night last night. 2.) when you say they are phasing out inhalers does this mean there will not be an aerosal type ever again or are HFA's inhalers but now safe for the ozone. 3.) Has anyone taken singulair? A friend said it might help me, but I dont know anything about it.

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the HFA inhaler is the only approved aerosol inhaler. so if you cant take it, tuff noogies. otherwise it is dried powders which are not as small particle wise which is why it makes it difficult to get all the way down. i take the pulmicort. up to 3 breaths now. i have to take 2 slow to cover myt upper airways and one deep to cover my lower airways. if i screww up, well, too bad on my part for the next 12 hours. i have put an ionizer in my home office room and a hepa like filter with an ionier in my bedroom. they helped.

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Calling Abbott is not going to help. Best bet is to go public. Let the news stations know, let your congress person know, newspapers, whoever. There's a link to contact us on these news station websites. The more this gets out and on the public radar, the more of a chance something can be done. Although not everyone can use the other type of propellents, I am quite sure they could have adapted Azmacort to a new dispenser just like all the other inhalers have done.

I continue to get on the major news stations website and write in about the issues. If enough people do this, perhaps one of them will pick up the story and run with it. Or maybe even an attorney can see a potential class action lawsuit here.

I was just put on Advair. With my standard Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, the cost was $170.11 compared to the $120 I used to pay for Azmacort. That's says a lot right there.

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this is from the CDC...
Dear Ms. ,

Thank you for contacting the Division of Drug Information, in the FDA's
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

We are very sorry to hear about your experience with the HFA inhalers.
Changes that affect the public normally take place in increments. The
regulatory process is not quick and does offer opportunities for comment
during the process. You may view some of the regulatory documents
relevant to the transition from chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants in
the metered dose inhalers at http:/­/­www.fda.gov/­Drugs/­DrugSafety/­InformationbyDrugClass/­ucm063054.htm

Also, voluntary reports are essential for ensuring the continued safety
of FDA-regulated products. Reports submitted to MedWatch are added to a
post marketing safety database and reviewed by the FDA's post marketing
safety staff. One or two well-documented case reports may provide an
early signal of unexpected safety issues and lead to additional
evaluation. This may result in FDA regulatory actions that improve the
safety of the products used in patient care each day. We carefully
evaluate and analyze all reports that were available to us and make
recommendations for possible actions if the science based risk
evaluation warrants the actions. If the report contributed to the
action, the labeling change and/or public advisory will reflect the
action.

We urge you to submit your voluntary report via the following methods.

1. You may complete the voluntary form 3500 online.

You can find a link to the Internet voluntary reporting form by going to
the MedWatch homepage (http:/­/­www.fda.gov/­medwatch/­index.html), click on
Reporting Serious Problems to FDA, then Reporting by Health
Professionals or Reporting by Consumers.

2. Download a copy of the form and either fax it to us at 1-800-FDA-0178
or mail it back using the postage-paid addressed form.

Please note that you will not be personally contacted by a FDA staff
member unless additional information needed. With the volume of reports
on all issues, the Center does not have the resources to provide direct
feedback to each reporter, or to confirm whether a report was received
for a particular individual/incident or the status or outcome of a
report.

Again, we appreciate you taking the time to submit your report to the
MedWatch program.

Best regards,

Division of Drug Information LC
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Food and Drug Administration

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I just called the Sokolove Law Firm. It seems this is not the kind of case they handle

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Jack - I'm not sure this would constitute a class action suit or even a single party lawsuit. It would take a willing and creative attorney to dig to determine if anyone's rights have been violated. I am not an attorney, but it sure seems that much lesser frivilous lawsuits have made big publicity.

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Gretchen H, Ive used Singulair for several years, its an integral part of my treatment plan. It works very well, If I miss a dose I can tell immediately the next day as I am more short of breath than usual. It has helped considerably with nighttime symptoms also. The only drawback I experienced with it was when I first started taking it I developed moderately severe headaches.. My doctor confirmed this was a common side effect of it but urged me to continue to use the product. I did and the headaches did gradually go away over a couple weeks time. It was well worth it for me. I have never had shakiness, or any cardiac side effects from it.

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Katherine:

I know. It was just a shot.

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I, too have been on Azmacort for years and had no side effects. Now, after trying everything there is I'm left with either having a severe sore throat or headaches, not to mention other side effects. I am so disgusted that Azmacort was pulled off the market. Does anyone know if zamacort which is made in Mexico and the same as Amacort is available or is it just the brand name and has been pulled off too.
If anyone knows where they make the inhaler with triamcinolone anywhere in the world let me know.
Thanks.

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I tried Googling Zamacort and everything is in Spanish. No help there. I am now on Qvar. Have been on it for only one day. So far nothing is happening. I still have my cough and mucous in the morning and night. Hope this works. The pollen is bad in Oregon with the trees blooming and now the azaleas and rhodies. We are going to Hawaii in a couple of weeks and I am afraid I am going to be miserable. Will take Zyrtec with us as well. I don't think much is going to be done even if we called the President of the US (yeah right). We are just a few people with a tiny voice. I might try the TV station. They like a good story...

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Have been on Qvar for a week and a half now. It is working!!! I am only using it in the morning. Not brave enough to use it at night. The coughing has stopped in the morning. I don't know if it is because not so many things are blooming or what. The weather has improved in Oregon, so that is a blessing. Going to Hawaii next week. That will be the true test if the inhaler works!!!

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Carol:

You have been looking forward to this for some time now. Go. Enjoy without the specter of worry. I think you are the only one on this site that has had success.

I just got June out of the hospital again. I don't know how long she will last.

Jack

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