Singulair Blog

New Treatments Improve Control for Severe Asthma

Posted 3+ months ago by Drugs.com

MONDAY, March 16 – Over just one decade, new asthma medications and tools have significantly improved the management of this serious airway disease.

When compared to children treated in the mid-'90s, children with severe asthma during 2004 to 2007 were less likely to need oral steroids and rescue inhalers, and their lung function scores were improved, according to a study from National Jewish Health in Denver.

"The current cohort was less likely to require chronic oral glucocorticoids, have better asthma control and have fewer glucocorticoid-induced adverse effects compared to a cohort of severe asthmatic children studied a decade ago," wrote the authors. Read more...

Related support groups: AccuNeb, Advair Diskus, Advair HFA, Singulair, Asthma, Allergic Asthma, Asthma -- Acute, Asthma -- Maintenance

FDA Finds No Link So Far Between Asthma Drugs and Suicide Risk

Posted 3+ months ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14 – An ongoing U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety review of possible suicidal behavior among those taking asthma drugs has found no evidence of a link so far, agency officials said Tuesday.

The FDA, which began the review in March 2008, said clinical trial data submitted by the manufacturers of Singulair, Accolate and Zyflo suggest the products are not associated with an increased risk of mood changes or suicidal behavior.

But, the agency also noted that the trials were not designed to examine such behavior, and that the safety review will continue, probably for several more months. Read more...

Related support groups: Accolate, Singulair, Zyflo, Zyflo CR

Study Calls for Greater Scrutiny of 'Off-Label' Drug Use

Posted 3+ months ago by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Nov. 24 – It's called "off-label" prescribing, and it's the common practice of doctors prescribing a drug to treat a disease or condition that's different from the one studied by federal regulators that led to the drug's approval in the first place.

Despite the scope of the practice, there's often little evidence that using a drug for an unapproved purpose is always beneficial or safe, a new study found.

The study by American researchers has identified 14 widely prescribed medications that they think need additional study to see how effective and safe they are for off-label use. Many of the drugs are antidepressants and antipsychotics. Read more...

Related support groups: Celebrex, Coumadin, Cymbalta, Desyrel, Epogen, Lexapro, Prinivil, Procrit, Risperdal, Seroquel, Singulair, Wellbutrin, Zestril, Zoloft, Zyprexa

FDA Medwatch Alert: Singulair (montelukast)

Posted 3+ months ago by Drugs.com

[Posted 03/27/2008] FDA informed healthcare professionals and patients of the Agency's investigation of the possible association between the use of Singulair and behavior/mood changes, suicidality (suicidal thinking and behavior) and suicide. Singulair is a leukotriene receptor antagonist used to treat asthma and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and to prevent exercise-induced asthma. Patients should not stop taking Singulair before talking to their doctor if they have questions about the new information. Healthcare professionals and caregivers should monitor patients taking Singulair for suicidality (suicidal thinking and behavior) and changes in behavior and mood.

This early communication is in keeping with FDA’s commitment to inform the public about its ongoing safety Read more...

Related support groups: Singulair