For Patients

After December 31, 2008, it will no longer be permissible to manufacture or sell albuterol inhalers in the U.S. that contain CFCs propellants. Most manufacturers have stopped making albuterol CFC inhalers and have increased production of HFA products.

Look at your metered-dose inhaler (MDI) canister. If you don’t find HFA on the label, it’s time to talk with your doctor about changing to an HFA bronchodilator. The albuterol HFAs and levalbuterol HFA available now all have unique characteristics, cleaning requirements, ingredients and expiration dates that you’ll want to discuss with your medical care team. Need more information on the inhaler transition and how to decide which HFA will work best for you? Find the answers in AANMA's Smart Moves to an HFA Inhaler 16-page magazette (5.3 MB PDF), along with asthma management tools only AANMA can bring you.

We’d love to hear how you’re doing. Was this information helpful as you’re changing inhalers? E-mail HFAs@aanma.org.

For Medical Professionals

AANMA's Smart Moves to an HFA Inhaler transition kit helps you

• Identify patients who currently use CFC bronchodilators
• Initiate discussion with patients about HFA treatment options
• Instruct patients in the safe use and care of HFA inhalers
• Safely and efficiently complete the transition with each patient

AANMA partnered with Sepracor Inc. to launch this campaign nationwide. To obtain printed materials for your office, contact your local Sepracor sales representatives. But hurry – supplies are limited!

Smart Moves to an HFA Inhaler physician brochure (2.5 MB PDF):
How to safely and efficiently manage the MDI transition for patients in the office setting

HFA TRANSITIONTracker™ CHARTMark™ Stickers (93 kb PDF):
Keep track of your patients making the transition with these colorful chart labels

Smart Moves to an HFA Inhaler poster (982 kb PDF):
Place posters in key areas of your office to prompt discussion and remind patients to ask about HFA bronchodilator options

Smart Moves to an HFA Inhaler magnet-clasp lab jacket buttons:
Fashionable buttons will have patients asking, "Which HFA inhaler is right for me?"

Asthma Wish List™ (344 kb PDF):
Make the MDI transition an opportunity to tune up the treatment plan so that it matches patient priorities listed here

Side-By-Side: MDI Transition Guide™ poster (1.3 MB PDF):
Instructional visual aide details similarities and differences among HFA bronchodilators

Smart Moves to an HFA Inhaler 16-page magazette (5.3 MB PDF):
Multiple copies of this vital patient education resource are available for your waiting room and for patients to take home

Let us know how the transition is going for your practice and your patients. E-mail HFAs@aanma.org.

Other Resources

• MDI Transition Talk (664 kb PDF): Take time now to learn the facts and make the transition and new bronchodilator inhalers work in your favor.