Proair - Albuterol
Proair
Proair HFA is one of the brand names for Albuterol, also known as Salbutamol. This medicine is used in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to prevent breathing problems such as wheezing and shortness of breath. It is also used to prevent exercise-induced asthma attacks. Proair is manufactured in the form of a metered dose aerosol for inhalation.
Proair is a fast acting drug. Its main active ingredient Albuterol belongs to the pharmacological class of drugs known as bronchodilators. It acts on the body by relaxing the muscles around the airways so that they open up and the patient can breathe more easily. Controlling the symptoms of breathing problems is vital for asthma sufferers.
Albuterol in therapeutic doses has a stimulating effect on the beta2-adrenergic receptors of the bronchi, blood vessels and myometrium. This medicine has practically no effect on the beta1-adrenergic receptors of the heart, therefore it is well tolerated by patients with impaired functioning of the cardiovascular system. In the recommended therapeutic doses, it does not adversely affect the cardiovascular system, does not cause an increase in blood pressure. To a lesser extent, compared with the drugs of this group, it has a positive chrono- and inotropic effect.
Causes expansion of the coronary arteries. Albuterol inhibits the release of histamine, leukotrienes and other biologically active substances from mast cells for a long time. The drug effectively suppresses early and late bronchial reactivity, has a pronounced bronchodilator effect, preventing or stopping bronchial spasms, reduces airway resistance, and increases lung capacity.
Albuterol increases mucociliary clearance (in chronic bronchitis up to 36%), stimulates the secretion of mucus, activates the functions of the ciliated epithelium of the bronchi. This medicine effectively prevents the development of allergen-induced bronchospasm.
Proair Inhaler
Proair is widely used among patients with asthma and COPD. However, this medicine is included in the price category of expensive ones. Therefore, when in the last two years, since the expiration of patent protection, generics of Albuterol began to appear on the pharmaceutical market, they immediately gained great popularity. Generics of this drug are full-fledged analogues of their branded prototype: they have the same active ingredient, a similar system for delivering an aerosol to the patient's body, and usually the only thing that differs in their composition is those excipients that are responsible for the fragrance of the drug. Sometimes they are identical to those used in branded medicines. If a person does not know what kind of inhaler he uses, he will never distinguish the original medicine from the generic. In fact, other than the packaging design and brand names, Proair generics are exact copies of the parent drug.
Proair Generic
FDA-Approved
In early 2020, the FDA officially approved the first generic Proair (albuterol sulfate) inhalation aerosol for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in patients aged four years and older with reversible obstructive airway disease and the prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm. The FDA granted permission to the American pharmaceutical company Perrigo Pharmaceutical Co. In the United States alone, more than 26 million people have asthma; about 7 million of them are children. Therefore, the availability of generic drugs like Proair is very important for national health. Approval of the first generic inhalation aerosol is part of a long-term commitment by the United States to increase patient access to low-cost, high-quality generic drugs (generics or analogues) that are as effective and safe as their branded counterparts.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), the FDA’s approval of this drug is important in the US, where more than 3,500 people die of asthma each year.
Proair Inhaler Generic
In the pharmaceutical industry today there is a division of all analogue drugs into 4 orders, according to which substitute drugs are selected both for bronchial asthma and other diseases.
- The first level is identical similar medicines with the same active substance, dosage and release form as the branded medicine (full analogue). In most cases, this is the option that is meant by generics, especially such serious drugs as Proair.
- The second level is similar branded medicines with the same active ingredient and dosage, but with a different form of release (partial analogue). Asthma inhalers are never included in this or subsequent categories.
- The third level is similar medicines with the same active substance, but with a different dosage and a different form of release (partial analogue).
- The fourth level is drugs that are similar in effect, which may contain a different active substance, a different dosage and be produced in a different form of release, but have a similar clinical effect and can be used to treat the same disease or have an effect on the same organ system or organs. Medicines in this category can be called analogues with a similar effect.
All Proar generic versions belong to the first level analogues.
Cheap Proair
Cheap Proair Generic
The cost of one branded Proair inhaler in American local pharmacies is usually about $74. Despite the fact that there are 200 doses in one inhaler, the cost of each of them is quite high. Many patients need to use an inhaler several times a day, so that the regular purchase of medication leads to significant damage to the personal or family budget. Meanwhile, Proair generic is quite possible to get for about $20, even if you do not make an effort to find the cheapest option. For those patients who need this medicine regularly, the savings are more than impressive. It is especially advantageous to buy generic Albuterol in online pharmacies, which traditionally offer lower prices compared to local drugstores.
Patients who, thanks to generics, have gained access to Proair, should not forget that excessively frequent use of this drug can lead to increased bronchospasm, sudden death, and therefore, between taking regular doses of the drug, it is necessary to take breaks of several hours (6 hours). Reduction of these intervals can only take place in exceptional cases, which the doctor must inform you about.
Proair Generic $16.66
Proair’s best-selling generic offer to date, which can be seen when looking at offer aggregator websites at various online pharmacies, is $16.66. At this price, you can buy a generic Proair from the Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which pays great attention to increasing the number of generics produced, especially generics of life-saving drugs.
Metered dose inhalers like Proair are known as complex generics. They are harder to copy because of their complex formulation and mode of delivery, which is why a sharp increase in the production of generics of this drug is not expected. However, getting more generic copies of complex drugs to the pharma market is currently a key priority for generic manufacturers.