Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle … asthma inhalers?

By: Melanie

Melanie — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:15:01 +0000

Thanks so much for this! I will mail my used Advair inhalers to this address.

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:49:54 +0000

Qvar is a type of inhaler – it’s just a brand name for Beclometasone dipropionate.

“inhaler” refers to the type of device, not the medication that’s in the device. So I have a preventer inhaler that contains beclometasone (which I use twice a day, to keep down any inflammation in my lungs), and a reliever inhaler that contains salbutamol , to use if I feel wheezy.

If the preventer inhaler is doing its job – like yours is – you shouldn’t need to use a reliever so often.

But they’re both “real” inhalers, they just contain different stuff that does different things.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:02:30 +0000

If you have empty inhalers they can be recycled by your local waste hauler by placing them in the recycle bin or trash. If the inhaler still contains medication it should be expelled and then placed in the trash or recycle bin. Read the label to make sure it does not contain any CFC’s. Old inhalers may and should be taken to a local household hazardous waste facility.

I am not sure why they are not resusable but I would suspect that like most medical items it is best to use once and dispose of to avoid future contamination.

Check with the FDA website for more information or your local government on disposal of household materials.

By: rachel

rachel — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:40:53 +0000

You should try Qvar if you haven’t already. Its in the shape of an inhaler and used the same way but it prevents the symptoms of asthma from happening as often.
it does make me a weeze a tad bit right after I use it but not enough to reach for the real inhaler. After that goes away I feel like I never had asthma! Till I need another dose anyway…

By: rachel

rachel — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:36:09 +0000

I use an albuterol sulfate inhaler. A few years ago the shape and was it spray out changed because they said it was bad for the environment. Now its half the size and red, you also have to time when you inhale and suck in harder to get the medicine…

By: stuart

stuart — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:26:50 +0000

I wonder why the plastic casing is made to be one use only? I wonder if there would be a way to lobby the manufacturers to make them stronger (or longer lasting) so people could request to only have the metal medication holder when they get a new prescription. I wonder how much money/waste this could save. I’d love to get a response from the manufacturer.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:41:53 +0000

I recently emailed the maker of my purple disk inhaler. here’s their response:

Thank you for contacting GlaxoSmithKline about ADVAIR DISKUS® (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol).

You have asked an important question about recycling the expired diskus. Consumers interested in recycling their Diskus device may send empty Diskus at their own expense to: Material Matters, Inc. 730 Brady Ave. Asheboro, NC, 27203. There may be other companies or programs that recycle Diskus devices. We do not have information on them.

By: Esther

Esther — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:14:28 +0000

I’ve been using these inhalers for over 35 years, at a rate of 1-3 a month, which brings us to an estimated total of over 700 inhalers…give or take. I’ve also used all the others in the pic Katz posted. I’ve always thought it a waste, but never figured out what to do with them, besides the recycling bin.

Looking forward to someone’s great idea…

By: Polstar

Polstar — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:30:30 +0000

Hmmm, I was hoping to see some suggestions for crazy crafty ideas but none have appeared. So today I’m going to make it my mission to try and create something interesting out of all my old plastic asthma pumps. Methinks lots of glue may be involved!

this is funny but impractible because you can’t reuse a housing:
http://bitchinlifestyle.tv/Crafts-DIY/Rock-This-House/Crafts-DIY/

that’s all I could find … right … time to make something!

By: joe fredshaw

joe fredshaw — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:21:32 +0000

i have asthma an i love it

By: Suzie.M

Suzie.M — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:36:56 +0000

My sister is asmatic and when her inhualers run out she sends them to a recyceling plant were they melt it down. So i am sure you will be able to do the same. Hope this helps you. From Suzie.M x

By: lou

lou — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:16:07 +0000

The manufacturers should instruct people what to do with the empty inhalers. It’s irresponsible if they don’t. It should be on the box that it come with.

By: Ali

Ali — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:57:25 +0000

According to the manufacturers, you can put all the plastic parts out with your other recycling waste.

By: Greenmom

Greenmom — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:32:03 +0000

Both my son and I use the inhalers-I use the plastic tube part to make weird shaped tassels (for upholstery, wallhangings etc)
My son amuses himself by making robots and model spaceships and uses the (empty) canisters as “components”

Ive read that asthma inhalers are going to be phased out because the propellant in them is dangerous to the ozone. So this may not be a recycling problem much longer.

By: Anyanka

Anyanka — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:17:22 +0000

Has anyone found out what to do with their empty inhalers yet? I was thinking of approaching Boots the chemist to see if they would be able to send them back to the supplier to be reused.

By: Kaz

Kaz — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:36:29 +0000

That is one of the coolest things ever.

By: AliceJ

AliceJ — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:53:26 +0000

They might or might not be the right kind of plastic to go in the recycling bin, but they almost certainly have parts inside that are not the right kind, or that are not plastic at all.

Some of my neighbours and I amuse ourselves by making science-fiction theatre sets. We tend to collect odd-looking plastic things so we can make aliens etc out of them…

Sad, I know.

By: Katz

Katz — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:01:05 +0000

While we are talking about inhalers – what do you do with round ones – they could be put in recycling bin (I think) but they look so usefull and nice..
like the purple round one the picture: http://www.nuh.com.sg/healthinfo/images/dscf0009.jpg

By: Guy Thornhill

Guy Thornhill — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:55:20 +0000

The plastic housing of inhalers contains a precise orifice that disperses the spray in the correct way. The device is designed to last for 1 canister only and therefore a new canister should never be used with an old housing.

Although not stated, the plastic is likely to be a certified pharmaceutical blend such as Makrolon. I think the best you could hope for would be to recycle the case only by putting it with the rest of your plastic recycling.

If your wife doesn’t like the look of her inhaler you can always buy her a nice case to put it in. They are avalable at http://www.respirecases.com