CFC phase out proposed for inhalers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed Thursday eliminating the use of chlorofluorocarbons in metered dose inhalers for epinephrine.

Epinephrine measured dose inhalers, or MDIs, are used for the temporary relief of occasional symptoms of mild asthma.

FDA officials said they have tentatively concluded there are no substantial technical barriers to formulating epinephrine as a product that does not release CFCs. Under the proposal, epinephrine MDIs containing CFCs would be removed from the market by the end of 2010.

A 60-day public comment period will begin when the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.

The use of CFCs has been generally banned in consumer aerosols in the United States since 1978 because of adverse effects on stratospheric ozone levels.

Should the FDA's proposed rule become final, epinephrine MDI users will have to obtain a prescription for alternative drug products if a non-CFC epinephrine inhaler does not exist.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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