Maxair inhalers will not be made, dispensed, or sold in the United States in their current form after December 31, 2013. Maxair contains chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals that deplete the ozone layer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set this final date for the medication in order to comply with the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. The manufacturer of Maxair is working on a reformulated, CFC-free version, although it is not yet clear when that product will be available to consumers.
Maxair is made by the Graceway Pharmaceuticals.
Normally, air moves easily into and out of the lungs through a network of airways. During an
asthma attack, however, the muscles around these airways tighten. This narrows the airways and makes it harder to breathe. This is called bronchospasm.
Maxair is part of a class of drugs called beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, or beta agonists for short. Beta agonists stimulate beta receptors in the body, including those on the muscles around airways. This stimulation causes the muscles to relax, which opens up the airways and allows more air to get into and through the lungs.
Maxair also has some effects on decreasing the activity of mast cells in the lungs, which play an important role in inflammation and allergic reactions.
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