With the clock ticking ever so quickly toward Jan. 1, asthma sufferers will no doubt try to make a run for the border to get refill scripts on their inhalers. Because, effective that date, metered dosed inhalers must go green:

“It’s possible people may skimp on their medicine because of the cost,” said Dr. Bradley A. Becker, co-director of the Asthma Center for Children at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis. “Clearly that would not be a good strategy because you might end up in the emergency room.”

Many doctors have been prescribing the new inhalers for several months, helping their patients transition to the devices, which use the more environmentally friendly propellant hydrofluoralkane (HFA) and deliver the quick-relief drug albuterol.

Some physicians and pharmacists, however, say they wouldn’t be surprised to see patients rush to snag up the old inhalers, which utilize harmful chlorofluorocarbon as a propellant. The last day for the old inhalers to be sold is Wednesday.

Seems a little late for environmental concerns, don’t you think?

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