On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic albuterol inhaler due to inhaler shortages caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
People with asthma commonly use albuterol, or salbutamol, inhalers. However, it has now become more difficult to get the inhalers because they have been used to treat patients with COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said, “The FDA recognizes the increased demand for albuterol products during the novel coronavirus pandemic.”
“We remain deeply committed to facilitating access to medical products to help address critical needs of the American public,” he added.
Cipla Limited, an Indian multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, received FDA approval for the first generic version of albuterol called Proventil HFA Metered Dose Inhaler.
The FDA approved generic albuterol for the prevention or treatment of bronchospasms in asthmatic patients aged 4 and above. It has also been approved for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasms, according to the FDA.
Bronchospasm is a tightening of the muscles that line the airways (bronchi) in your lungs, according to healthline.com. When these muscles tighten, your airways narrow, not allowing much air to come in or go out of your lungs. It often affects people with allergies and asthma, contributing to symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath.
Physical activities or exercises could also trigger bronchospasm in many asthmatic people.
Albuterol is typically used to treat bronchospasm, which helps open up the medium and large airways in the lungs. It is often considered a “rescue” medication for people who have asthma.
In certain parts of the United States, there have been shortages of albuterol inhalers due to an increased demand for the inhalers for patients with coronavirus. And the shortages may spread, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
Coronavirus patients were initially treated with a nebulizer, a dispenser that converts liquid medication into a fine mist. Nebulizers are a common treatment used for patients with breathing problems, which can be used in hospitals, as well as at home.
“However, research suggests that when aerosolized, the coronavirus could remain in the air for a while, and some nebulizers might spread the virus particles in the air,” said Dr. Michael Blaiss, executive medical director of the ACAAI.
So, to be on a safer side, most hospitals have been using albuterol inhalers to treat patients with coronavirus.
Worldwide, the highly contagious coronavirus has affected more than 1,518,700 and killed over 88,500 people so far. In the United States, officials have so far reported 435,128 confirmed cases and 14,795 deaths.
