Since the switch from CFC-based to HFA-based albuterol inhalers, a generic version of albuterol no longer exists. Today, there are 3 different brands of albuterol HFA available: ProAir, Ventolin and Proventil. Is there a difference between these inhalers? Does one work better than another? The truth is that all of these inhalers do basically the same thing -- relieve the acute symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness. Ventolin, however, has a dose counter, while ProAir and Proventil do not. A dose-counter on a rescue medicine may be an extremely important tool to have, because there really isn't another way to know how much medicine is left in the inhaler. Read more about the different forms of albuterol, and why a dose counter should probably be on all forms of asthma rescue inhalers.
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I feel proventil works a better for me. At least between pro air and proventil. It seems to be stronger and last longer from my usual dosage of one puff.
I feel that the Pro air works better for me. I had been on the proventil for a while but every time I used it I found that it had a rebound effect for me( I needed it more and sooner until I was completely unable to speak because I was so short of breath) I was still having to go to the ER 3-4 times a year. last year I was sent the pro air and I use it before and after I exercise, when I have a cold/URI symptoms and 10 months later I have had no ER visits
ProAir works better for me. I took Ventolin for 3 years before I started using ProAir. When I took Ventolin, my symptoms didn’t go away immediately. I had to continue to use it before I had any relief. Using ProAir, my symptoms go away faster with one or two puffs.
Hi,
Just for your information, all three of these inhalers contain the same medication: a beta-2 agonist called albuterol. It’s just that because of the new HFA propellant standard albuterol MDIs are no longer available generically as they are considered to be a new preparation of the drug.
All three MDIs have excellent quality control and thus there should not be any clinically significant differences between them in terms of performance as they have the same drug and the administration method (the HFA propellant) is roughly the same as well.
That being said, I currently ask my doctor for ProAir because it is the lest expensive of the three right now. Many docs know this and will write for it anyway by default. Just thought I would let you guys know and try to save you some money!
However, if you feel like any one of these has worked better for you than the others I would encourage you to keep using it regardless, placebo effect can be a very powerful thing!
the active medicine is the same, but I pulled out the spec sheets for both and there are some minor ingredients that are different outside. Maybe due to their individual propellent types,