Pressurized metered dose inhalers: chlorofluorocarbon to hydrofluoroalkane transition-valve performance.

This article reviews the issues related to the performance of valves in metered dose inhalers with respect to chlorofluorocarbon propellant replacement. Reformulation of existing chlorofluorocarbon-based products with hydrofluoroalkane propellants has been a much more difficult task than initially anticipated, complicated by the need to concurrently develop better performing valves with cleaner extractive profiles. This paper will examine issues related to the reformulation and development of new valves and the tests and procedures used to evaluate valve performance. Evaluation of valve performance will consider the tests performed: mechanisms by which valves fail and analytic testing errors that can complicate the interpretation of results.