PITTSBURGH -- Every year 52 million prescriptions are written for albuterol asthma inhalers.

But after Dec. 31 patients who use that kind of inhaler will have to find a different one.

The new inhalers don’t use ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, to propel the drug albuterol into a user’s lungs.

The new inhaler uses the environmentally friendly hydrofluoroalkanes, OR HFAs.

By the end of this year all CFC containing inhalers will be banned in the U.S. as part of the Clean Air Act.

Most allergists say patients shouldn’t be concerned.

There is no change in how the medication works . The only difference is the propellant used to deliver the medicine.

You don’t have to wait until 2009 to make the change.

HFA albuterol and levalbuterol medications currently now available include:

Proventil-HFA (NDC 00085-1132-01) from Schering-Plough

Ventolin-HFA (NDC# 0173-0682-00) from GlaxoSmithKline

Albuterol-HFA (NDC 59310-579-20) from IVAX

Xopenex-HFA (NDC 63402-510-01) from Sepracor

For more information on the inhaler changes go to Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America or the FDA.