Overuse of inhalers may have a detrimental effect on those suffering from asthma, according to the article: “Pharmacists Urged to Alert Physicians to Asthma Inhaler Overuse”, Family Practice News, April 15, 1993; 46. Pharmacists should monitor patients’ use of asthma inhalers, according to a spokesperson from the National Asthma Education Program. Inhaler overuse is associated with asthma mortality. If overuse was reported to physicians, it could cut asthma mortality by 50% and reduce the cost of asthma care overall. An inhaler should last 30 days, but many patients go through them faster than that.