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Seniors Undertreated for Asthma, and Many Skip Inhalers: Study

Posted 1 May 2012 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, May 1 – Asthma often is misdiagnosed and undertreated in older people, with only 53 percent of those with asthma using prescribed inhalers, a small new study suggests. The study included 77 people, including people both with and without asthma, who were over age 60. Of those with asthma, 89 percent also had allergies to mold, animals or dust mites. The asthma patients were more likely than those without asthma to have hay fever, arthritis, diabetes, higher levels of pain and poor general health than those without asthma. The study appears in the May issue of the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. "Those with asthma reported more infections, physician visits and impact on health, yet only half are regularly treating the disease," lead author and allergist Dr. Andrew Smith said in a journal news release. "Patients should regularly carry and take prescribed asthma ... Read more

Rapid Asthma Treatment in ER May Prevent Admission

Posted 6 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, April 6 – Rapid treatment with asthma medications seems to help reduce hospitalizations among children with asthma, a new study finds. Canadian researchers analyzed data from 406 children and found that those with moderate or severe asthma attacks who received systemic corticosteroids within 75 minutes of arriving at a hospital emergency department were 16 percent less likely to be admitted to the hospital. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation. The findings illustrate the importance of rapidly identifying and treating children with asthma when they arrive at an emergency department, the researchers said. The study was recently published online in the journal Annals of Emergency Medicine. "We knew that corticosteroids could help avoid hospital admissions and relapses. However, just how delays between emergency department admission and administration of the treatment impacted ... Read more

Asthma Meds Likely Safe During Pregnancy: Study

Posted 20 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, Jan. 20 – A new study found no statistically significant link between asthma medication use during pregnancy and common birth defects. However, the study did find a positive association between some rare birth defects and mothers with asthma, and potentially with their medication use. But, the researchers couldn't tease out whether the problem was a loss of oxygen from less than well-controlled asthma or an effect of medications. "Worsening asthma is a risk to the mom and the fetus. Hypoxia (a lack of oxygen) we know is a problem for a developing fetus. And, the potential risk they found here is very small. Even if it turns out to be a true increase, the risk is so small. This study raises more questions than it answers," said Dr. Natalie Meirowitz, chief of the division of maternal fetal medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. What's most ... Read more

FDA Approves Combivent Respimat (ipratropium bromide and albuterol) Inhalation Spray for the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Posted 10 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Combivent Respimat, a new, propellant-free inhaler product that uses a slow-moving mist to deliver the same active ingredients of Combivent Inhalation Aerosol in a metered dose inhaler (Combivent MDI). Combivent Respimat will be available for patients in mid-2012. Combivent Respimat and Combivent MDI are indicated for use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on a regular aerosol bronchodilator who continue to have evidence of bronchospasm and who require a second bronchodilator. In a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo and active-controlled clinical trial, Combivent Respimat was shown to be clinically comparable to Combivent MDI, in terms of FEV1. FEV1 is the maximal amount of air that can ... Read more

Related support groups: Combivent, COPD, COPD, Maintenance

Certain COPD Meds Linked to Urinary Troubles in Men

Posted 24 May 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, May 23 – New research suggests that a certain class of drugs used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) boosts the risk that male patients will be unable to urinate. The disease, which makes breathing difficult due to inflammation and blockage in the body's air passages, affects an estimated 10 percent of people aged 40 and older. A class of drugs called "inhaled anticholinergic" medications are used to treat the conditions, but there are concerns about their side effects. These drugs include tiotropium (Spiriva), ipratropium bromide (brand name Atrovent) or Combivent, which is ipratropium combined with albuterol. In the new Canadian study, Dr. Anne Stephenson of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and colleagues examined medical records from people in Ontario, aged 66 and older, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Of the more than 565,000 ... Read more

Asthma and COPD Inhalers That Contain Ozone-depleting CFCs to be Phased Out; Alternative Treatments Available

Posted 14 Apr 2010 by Drugs.com

Asthma and COPD Inhalers That Contain Ozone-depleting CFCs to be Phased Out; Alternative Treatments Available ROCKVILLE, Md., April 13, 2010--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced, in accordance with longstanding U.S. obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, seven metered-dose inhalers (MDI) used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be gradually removed from the U.S. marketplace. These inhalers contain ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are propellants that move medication out of the inhaler and into the lungs of patients. Alternative medications that do not contain CFCs are available. The affected products and their phase out schedule include: Inhaler Medication Last Date to be manufactured, sold or dispensed in U.S. Manufacturer Tilade Inhaler (nedocromil) June 14, 2 ... Read more

Related support groups: Combivent, Alupent, Azmacort, Aerobid, Intal Inhaler, Tilade, Maxair Autohaler

Asthma 'Rescue' Inhalers Are Changing

Posted 10 Nov 2008 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Nov. 10 – Change is coming to the lifesaving asthma medications known as "rescue" inhalers. And, if you're one of the estimated 40 million people with a respiratory disorder who uses these inhalers, you need to know that after Dec. 31, you won't be able to buy an inhaler that uses chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants anymore. Plus, you need to be aware that the new inhalers are different in some important ways: They won't feel the same when you use them, they have different cleaning requirements, and they may cost you more. "The main reason for this change is that the new inhalers don't create an ozone loss," explained Dr. Ira Finegold, chief of the division of allergy and clinical immunology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Chlorofluorocarbon propellants have been linked to destruction of the Earth's ozone layer. Finegold was scheduled to moderate a weekend ... Read more