Alvesco, HFA, Ethanol and Xolair

[Guest guest]

To keep this post on topic, I would like to mention that Xolair is a

very good drug. <smile>

Now, with regard to ethanol in Alvesco. Alvesco uses HFA+ethanol as a

propellant/solvent. Ethanol seems to be considered by the medical

community as safe. Although, doing some digging around (Google), it

appears that with the introduction of HFA based inhalers, ethanol

appeared on the scene. There are some complaints that people who use

the new inhalers containing HFA, as the propellant, are having

difficulty. Difficulty in that the bronchodialator does not work as

well as the same drug being propelled by CFC. Along this line, I

could not find an objective comment by a health professional

suggesting or even saying that the ethanol in HFA's causes no

problems.

If you do a search on the term " HFA and ethanol " you will see that

there are articles indicating that the ethanol inhaled through the

HFA based inhalers does raise blood alcohol levels. It may be short

lived, but it does happen.

I believe HFA's (with ethanol) are so new that the medical

establishment has been caught off guard.

A few people have reactions to ethanol. There is a genetic situation

that causes certain people, mostly asiatic, to have what is called an

alcohol flush. There is a flushing of the face, congested nose,

swollen lips, etc. I believe I have this missing gene and react the

same way.

Alvesco really piqued my interest in reducing my steroid exposure,

but I'm going to wait for more of a history of use to be documented

on it.

I wonder if the insurance companies will put Alvesco on their

formulaies. It does not contain a LABA, whereas there are inhaled

steroids that do. This would decrease their cost by eliminating a

second drug (Rx).

Anyway......we'll see. If anyone has first hand knowledge of Alvesco,

it would be interesting to hear from you.

This quote is from Wikipedia with regard to HFA albuterol: Registered

complaints run the gamut from " doesn't seem to work as well " all the

way to serious anaphylaxis in response to using an HFA or HFA+ethanol

inhaler.[2]

Oh, BTW, Xolair is a good drug.

Note from moderator: Ok you win LOL!

[Guest guest]

If ethanol is made from corn, it could cause an allergic reaction in a patient.

I know I'm allergic to corn and would prefer not to have to ingest it in my

lungs.

So far, Xolair is keeping me healthy enough so that I haven't had to use a

rescue inhaler.

Carol

[Guest guest]

Because of the rules of pharmaceutical manufacturing, any ethanol used

in the manufacture of a drug would have to be distilled and filtered.

None of the protein (allergens) from the original source material

would remain.

The ethanol is mixed in the drug to keep it in solution. Some drugs

are not water soluble, and in order that they can come out as an

aerosol, they have to be in something they can fully dissolve in.

Alcohol is next on the list after water for things that are not toxic

in small amounts to most people. You wouldn't want to inhale large

quantities of water, either, but for this purpose, it is necessary.

The actual amount of alcohol ingested per inhalation is microscopic. A

spike in blood alcohol content could occur because of two factors: the

solution is inhaled directly into the lining of the lungs, which means

the alcohol goes directly into the bloodstream rather than through the

stomach as it would do if you were drinking, and, if a breath test is

performed, a small amount of alcohol vapor is still present in the

lungs and can outgas after use. The blood alcohol reading will return

to normal within a few minutes as the blood is filtered through the

body. This isn't the same as drinking to get to that blood alcohol

level because you'd have to drink far more alcohol to get it through

the stomach and into the bloodstream. In other words, the inhaler is

not going to make you drunk and is, in effect, giving a false reading.

With respect to the abuse potential among alcoholics or addicts, my

concern would be more the psychological effect of the taste of the

alcohol than the content. There isn't enough actual alcohol in an

inhalation to have a real affect. It would be akin to using cologne.

Some alcoholics can handle it, some can't.

Some people are allergic to alcohol and should not use these inhalers.

Last I read, the " Asian response " to alcohol was considered an allergy.

Some of us old timers will recall the big yellow aminophyllin inhalers

that tasted sickly sweet - the ones that came out before you could get

the first isoproterenol rescue inhalers (medihalers)? Those were made

with alcohol as a solvent.

We were lucky to have fluorocarbons as a propellant for a little

while, but those days are over and we have to move on for the sake of

the environment. I guess I've lived a charmed life. Rescue inhalers

and oral steroids came on the scene in time to keep me going long

enough for them to invent Xolair (inhaled steroids were never enough

for me), now I can function with just Xolair, Accolate and an

occasional puff of Xopenex.

--Kitty

--- In , Carol Corley <floridabouvs@...>

wrote:

>

> If ethanol is made from corn, it could cause an allergic reaction in

a patient. I know I'm allergic to corn and would prefer not to have to

ingest it in my lungs.

> So far, Xolair is keeping me healthy enough so that I haven't had to

use a rescue inhaler.

> Carol

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

http://www.accessdna.com/condition/Alcohol_Flush_Reaction/21

Mutations in genes responsible for the production of the different

enzymes in the alcohol metabolism pathway can lead to alcohol flush

reaction. However, the main genetic cause of alcohol flush reaction

is a genetic variant of the ALDH2 gene called ALDH2*2. This variant

affects the production of a functional ALDH2 enzyme. As such,

acetaldehyde cannot be effectively broken down into vinegar and

builds up in the body. Having either one or two copies of the ALDH2*2

genetic variant causes alcohol flush reaction.

I've never heard of aminophylinne inhalers, but you never know. From

what I understand some sort of remedy used to be smoked for relief.

> >

> > If ethanol is made from corn, it could cause an allergic reaction

in

> a patient. I know I'm allergic to corn and would prefer not to have

to

> ingest it in my lungs.

> > So far, Xolair is keeping me healthy enough so that I haven't had

to

> use a rescue inhaler.

> > Carol

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >