Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
Saturday, March 25th
It's no fun when you can't breathe. Primatene Mist's aerosol canister provides quick relief for shortness of breath. It's a bronchodilator, opening up the lungs so you can breathe better.
Easy to use
This inhaler looks similar to prescription inhalers, and the instructions are similar. Remove the cap. Shake the canister. Spray into the air. Exhale completely, place the inhaler in the mouth, and inhale deeply while you press down on the canister to release the spray.
Safe to use?
Read the label and include paper to find out the medications it shouldn't interact with. Check with your doctor if you have obesity, diabetes, heart issues, and more.
Non-addictive
Primatene isn't addictive, and be sure to use as directed.
Wasn't this discontinued for a while?
Primatene Mist was discontinued several years ago, but not for safety concerns. The old products used CFCs as propellants, and the new product does not. The new product also releases about half of the medicine because the new method of administration is more efficient. You still get the same, quick relief as you did before the switch.
Best to consult your doctor
The manufacturer suggests you contact your doctor regarding this medication, even though it's not a prescription. It's important for your healthcare provider who manages your asthma to know you're using it.
No satisfaction guarantee on the product
Neither the product label nor the FAQ offers info on a satisfaction guarantee. You can communicate with the place of purchase if you're not happy to see what their return policy is, if Primatene Mist doesn't work for you. We don't see that as a major concern as most users seem to be quite satisfied with its effectiveness.
May save you a trip to the emergency room
There are several people who have found this product handy in a pinch or for emergency use and said they've saved themselves an expensive trip to the emergency room. Some use it as a supplement to their prescribed inhalers, or use it before they can get the refill of the prescribed inhaler. Those who rate the product lower complain about the price. They feel it's too steep, and they don't like that half the sprays have to be in the air and not for direct use.
Specific use
Primatene Mist is the long-standing name in over-the-counter inhalers. It offers quick relief for asthma and shortness of breath. People love this product for emergencies, for exercise, and for allergies when it's hard to breathe. We love this product for tightness of the chest. However, if you have additional symptoms such as heaviness of chest due to mucus or post-nasal drip, or you are looking for something for steady relief for the long term, there are other highly rated products on our list you might check out instead.
Breathing is easy. Until it's not. When there's shortness of breath, a tight chest, or wheezing, you want relief and you want it fast. Other times you may have a tight chest coupled with sinus symptoms, heavy mucus, and breathing is shallow and labored. It may not be an emergency, but it's no fun and daily activities can be a chore. You want help to breathe better.
If you or someone you love is one of the more than 30 million Americans living with this condition, you know that there's no time to spare when trying to open up constricted airways. Seconds can feel like hours as you run to get your inhaler, administer the dosage, and pray that you'll be able to get a full breath quickly.
Maybe a traditional, prescription-based inhaler hasn't worked for you. Or, maybe you've experienced negative side effects - like a weaker immune system or headaches - or perhaps the ongoing expense has become harder to afford. Whether you want relief from sudden, temporary, seasonal, or long-term lung distress, there's a product for you. There are even asthma products to help clean the lungs and to offer relief for smoker's cough.
Many of these options use all-natural ingredients to soothe your lungs and get you breathing normally, without the side effects that are so commonly experienced with prescription options. Plus, some of these products are administered as a tablet or oral liquid, eliminating the need to try and take a puff of an inhaler when you're already struggling to breathe.
It's important to realize, however, that not all Asthma products work in the same way. Some work to help prevent attacks from happening in the first place, while others operate more like a rescue option at the onset of breathing difficulties. As you consider the various alternatives to prescription medications, be sure you understand the intended forms that each one provides.
With such a variety of products available for the various symptoms you or your loved one possesses, it can be challenging knowing where to start. Here are several factors to consider when looking for a product for asthma or other breathing challenges:
To get you breathing easy again, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed the top products for asthma-related issues. All are over the counter, so they are easy to obtain and available without a prescription. We've chosen a variety of products: inhalers, capsules and caplets, dissolvable tablets, liquid, and a nebulizer. We're sure you'll find an asthma product to get you on the road to breathing better.
Select any 2 Asthma Products to compare them head to head