Albuterol Sulfate HFA and propellant

Wow am I glad I found this page. I thought I had a brain tumor or something.

I had taken an albuterol inhaler years ago with good results. I saw a doctor recently and mentioned I had been using an OTC epinephrine inhaler to control my asthma. He recommended I go to something... gentler? So he gave me prescriptions for Singulair and Ventolin HFA.

Two days later, I got the worst headache of my life. I thought I was going through withdrawal from caffeine or sugar (which I began as a result of seeing the doctor). FIVE DAYS LATER I was still fighting it. Not withdrawal, not for that long. Since I'd taken Albuterol before, I suspected the Singulair.

I was fine for a couple weeks, until the headaches inexplicably came back. They were focused around the sinuses, so I was popping decongestants, antihistamines, snorting Afrin, using a Neti-Pot, you name it. I got periodic relief but nothing lasting.

Finally I decided to go off the Albuterol, thinking that because I was older, I had maybe developed a new sensitivity. Within 24 hours my headache cleared, and it hasn't come back. Only then did I start searching the internet for side effects, and I can only conclude that I am sensitive to the new propellant.

Thanks for posting your experiences. You can also tell the FDA about this problem by going to ******

Albuterol HFA is literally killing me.

I have had asthma all my life and I know how to manage it very well. 8 weeks ago I came down with a chest cold which aggravated my asthma. So I started using the new inhalers... 8 weeks, three different antibiotics, and two HFA inhalers later, I'm barely keeping from being hospitalized... lungs are filled with brown crap.... blew out a major blood vessel in my eye from the coughing yesterday... now have fiull-blown pneumonia....

....and I just figured out that it is indeed the propellant is killing me. I found one of my old CFC inhalers, used it, and instantly feel much MUCH better. There's no doubt.

I am very very angry, and very very ill...

OMG....