The Primatene Mist which is used by asthmatic patients will be phased out by the year 2012. Patients who use this drug needs to start stocking or find an alternative an alternative for it.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, Primatene Mist will be phased out because it depletes the Earth's atmosphere.

The epinephrine inhaler, manufactured by Armstrong Pharmaceutical Inc, contains CFC or chlorofluorocarbon.

Chlorofluorocarbon contains carbon, chlorine and fluorine. It is known to have deteriorating effects to the ozone layer.

US signed an environmental agreement that products containing CFC will be omitted from the market. Considerations were given to medicines which contains CFC.

The agreement named Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in 2008. It was stated on the treaty that these inhalers can't be sold by the year 2012.

The different manufacturers of mists replaced CFC with a component called Hydrofluoroalkane. Hydrofluoroalkane or Halokanes are much safer and less harmful to the Earth's atmosphere.

Inhaler with CFC and inhaler with Halokane have the same effect. Both can relieve the pulmonary problems like shortness of breath and chest tightness. The environmental effect is the only difference.

"If you rely on an over-the-counter inhaler to relieve your asthma symptoms, it is important that you contact a health care professional to talk about switching to a different medicine to treat your asthma," stated FDA's director of pulmonary division, Badrul Chowdry.

Asthma is a respiratory disease wherein the airways are inflamed and narrowed. It causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing.

Asthma often occurs at night or in the morning. Common factors include allergies, tobacco smoke and pollution.

According to the latest data from WHO, more than 235 million people around the world suffer from asthma. It is the most common chronic illness in children.