Epinephrine is good old-fashioned adrenaline. The active ingredient for both the original Primatene Mist and the newly-approved version is the same: epinephrine. Your allergy and asthma specialist might call it a “rescue inhaler.”. Primatene Mist comes in inhaler form and is small enough to be readily available as needed, on the go and unexpectedly. The drug is delivered through an inhaler, although some types are delivered via a nebulizer mask. Almost everyone who has asthma uses some type of bronchodilator when symptoms arise.Īs the name implies, the drug opens air passages in the lungs, expanding and relaxing them so people can breathe.
Primatene Mist is what’s known in medical circles as a “bronchodilator drug”. Then why are allergy and asthma specialists issuing warnings, stressing deep concern over news of the drug’s comeback? It might help to understand how Primatene Mist works. As one retro commercial puts it: every second of an asthma attack can feel like an eternity. If you suffer from asthma, then you know the power that these words hold. “Fastest type asthma relief without a prescription.” It also served as the company’s slogan for the product: It was a common theme that ran throughout all the old commercials. “It starts to open clogged breathing passages in as fast as 15 seconds.” Every commercial had a variation of this statement: The implication was that relief was only 15 seconds away, if not less. There was always a close-up shot of a clock, ticking off 15 seconds. If you were around in the 1990s and old enough to remember television commercials of that era, you might recognize some of the Primatene Mist ads that used to run. It addresses wheezing, tightening of the chest, and shortness of breath… all symptoms that can cause incredible distress, anxiety, and even panic, in addition to the unpleasantness and discomfort they bring. Instead, is uses hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) as a propellant.Īsthma specialists and advocacy groups, however, have concerns about the renewed over the counter availability of this medication- here’s why:Īccording to the Food & Drug Administration, Primatene Mist is FDA approved “to provide temporary relief for symptoms of mild, intermittent asthma.” It offers temporary relief to someone who is experiencing an asthma attack. Unlike the original inhaler, this new version does not use ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). By switching up the propellant used in the inhaler, they were able to regain the FDA approval they had lost in 2011.
If you’re a fan of this once-popular product, you can thank the manufacturers who came up with a reformulation that would satisfy environmental concerns. If you or someone you are responsible for is considering Primatene Mist, we recommend discussing asthma treatment with us (or your personal allergy and asthma specialist) before using this or other OTC treatments. Originally posted: Dec 2018 - UPDATED: June 2021ĭisclaimer: As board-certified allergists we do not recommend Primatene Mist as a treatment for asthma symptoms.
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