It is estimated that one out of aprroximately 10,000 people are diagnosed with an Eosinophilic Disorder.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Inhaler Propellant and Corn Allergies
Just FYI, if your child is using an inhaler and doesn't seem to be getting better after the treatment; and in fact seems worse, it could be the propellant. Abigail uses an Albuterol nebulizer at home as needed, and if she happens to need a little help with her breathing while we are out and about, we used an Albuterol inhaler. Both Albuterol, they should be the same right? Wrong. Abigail also happens to be very allergic to corn...did you know that most inhalers use ethanol (a by-product of corn) as the propellant? This would explain why time after time we would use the inhaler and I would swear that it was making her worse. Because it was! Of coarse, I countered myself by saying that couldn't possibly be since she used the nebulizer and responded well to treatments. It finally got to the point that more times than not we were counteracting the inhaler with the nebulizer until one day, I happened to catch the word "ethanol" on this side of the inhaler. By the way, Xopenex also uses ethanol as the propellant. We now have a portable nebulizer that travels where ever we go, and we haven't had any problems since. I figured I wasn't the only one who didn't know about the ethanol, and wanted to spread the word to you other mom's and dad's who might be experiencing similar scenarios.
Wow thank you Lisa very much for that great information!My other two children have both the meds you are talking about and my daughter is actually getting food tested at the end of the month and if she is allergic to corn well her med will be no good for her! and if Lillie ever has to take them I will remember that!I actually didnt even know that word or what it ment!so really I need to be checking what words mean on labels if I have no idea!thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this information. Over the last week I have had severe allergies myself to my albuterol and qvar inhalers and think I finally understand why. I will also be getting a portable nebulizer. You are doing a real service with this post. God Bless. Kristina Baldwin
ReplyDeleteI use Ventolin HFA Inhaler. It doesn't contain Ethanol, which I react to. I'm not allergic to corn, but I react to anything "alcohol". I did contact them and asked them if their inhaler contained Ethanol, so that they would be reminded that some people need Corn/alcohol free.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ventolin.com/
Most HFA inhalers do use Ethanol, because of the Federal law that requires them to not use CFC. It was an environmental issue law that forgot to remember those of us with allergies. The law is from 2007 and is still on the books.
I hope this helps you. My friend used to be on a Nebuliser. I wouldn't want to carry that around all day. But, I we do what we have to do. We used to have to carry her's with because her inhaler didn't always work. But at the time we didn't know she was reacting to gluten.