Metered dose inhalers can give a false-positive breathalyzer result.
January 1
There are some cases of this actually happening.
Some of the newer HFA inhalers contain small amounts of ethanol as a co-solvent. After inhaling the medication, this ethanol becomes aerosolized in the lungs...which can be picked up by a breathalyzer.
Even inhalers that do not contain ethanol as a vehicle can trigger a false reading. The chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants used are chemically similar to ethanol and have been known to interfere with breathalyzer readings.
Get concise, unbiased advice for effective drug therapy, plus CE/CME
Prescriber Insights: APRN includes:
- Cutting-edge advice about new medications and how they fit into practice
- Unbiased, evidence-based, 100% free of financial support from the pharma industry written by your peers
- Side-by-side comparisons of drugs by class or disease state, plus FAQs, pros/cons, and simple recommendations
Already a subscriber? Log in
Volume pricing available. Get a quote