Advisory on Long-Acting Bronchodilators (Jan 2006)

FDA is notifying health care professionals and asthma patients about long-acting bronchodilators containing beta 2-adrenergic agonists. These agents may increase the risk of severe asthma exacerbations and asthma-related deaths. These products include Advair Diskus, Serevent Diskus, and Foradil Aerolizer.

The manufacturers of these products have been asked to update their existing product labels with new warnings and provide a Patient Medication Guide that describes these risks.

Long-acting beta 2-adrenergic agonists can help asthma patients, but they can also increase the risk of severe asthma exacerbations. In one study, asthma patients who took a long-acting beta agonist along with their usual asthma care had more asthma-related deaths than a similar group who didn't take the beta agonist, although the number of asthma deaths was small.

Because these agents can increase the chance of a severe asthma episode, they should not be the first drug prescribed to treat a patient's asthma. They should only be used for patients who haven't responded to other medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids.

These products are indicated for chronic treatment of asthma, and not to treat the acute symptoms. That's why it's important for practitioners to advise patients that if their bronchospasms worsen, they should not use long-acting beta agonists, and that they should seek medical treatment immediately.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Long-Acting
• Bronchodilators
• FDA
• Asthma
• Beta
• 2-Adrenergic
• Agonists
• Fatal
• Advair
• Serevent
• Diskus
• Foradil
• Aerolizer

[a2r1v1i2s]

asthma since birth I'm 31 now and I remember when advair came out. completely changed my life. These things are like 300 dollars without insurance.... there is something sick and criminal about that. life saving medications, should never be out of anybody's reach should they need them. I know, if I didn't have insurance I wouldn't be able to afford it. and going a day with out this stuff sucks ass... sorry for the rant.

[thunderstruck665]

I've had Asthma since I was 10 years old and prescribed a fast acting albuterol inhaler for years. Recently, my doctor prescribed me Advair explaining that using albuterol was only for emergencies and overuse could cause emphysema. I don't know if that's true, but I must say, Advair has worked well for me.