Advair

On February 18, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration issued a new warning to healthcare professionals and patients taking the asthma drug Advair and other similar drugs. The agency warned that these drugs should be taken for the shortest time possible. As soon as the asthma is under control, the patient should switch to another, safer drug, the FDA said.

The warning comes on top of the Black Box warning on the package: use of this product may increase the risk of hospitalization or death. In 2003, GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Advair, halted a study on the effectiveness of salmeterol, one of the main ingredients in Advair, due to the fact that three times as many patients taking the drug died as compared to the patients taking the placebo. That study also suggested that African American patients are more at risk from salmeterol than other patients.

The lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright have extensive experience in litigating pharmaceutical injury claims. If you've been injured by a prescription drug such as Advair, we may be able to help you recover the settlement you need to get your life back on track. Contact us online today, or call us toll free at 877-421-9173.

Advair is the trade name of a combination of two drugs: fluticasone, a steroid which prevents the release of body substances that cause inflammation; and salmeterol, which relaxes the airway muscles to improve breathing.  Advair is the fourth best selling drug in the world, with more than $5 billion in annual sales and a marketing budget of over $200 million a year.

Advair reduces the number of episodes that most asthma patients have, but it may also increase their severity. Serious side effects can include coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest; hives; a rash; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs; choking or difficulty swallowing; hoarseness; noisy, high-pitched breathing; pounding, fast, irregular heartbeat; fainting; chest pain; cough; burning or tingling in the hands or feet; blurred vision; white patches in the mouth; fever, chills or other signs of infection. Advair also increases the risk of glaucoma, cataracts or osteoporosis. Children who take Advair may grow more slowly.

Advair should never be used after an asthma attack has already begun. Patients considering Advair should also tell their doctor if they have a food or drug allergy, heart disease, high blood pressure, a seizure disorder, an infection, a weak immune system, diabetes, glaucoma, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, a thyroid disorder, or liver disease.

Recent studies suggest that while Advair may help some patients, it has serious side effects for others. In 2006, Stanford University Professor Shelley Salpeter analyzed the results of dozens of published studies on the effectiveness and side effects of Advair. She pointed out that the use of Advair doubled an asthmatic's risk of hospitalization and tripled the risk of death. Salmeterol, one of Advair's main ingredients, is a Long-Acting Beta-Agonists (LABAs). Betas have for decades been linked to an increased risk of death. In the 1970s, a New Zealand drug with a beta ingredient caused a large increase in the number of deaths by asthma.

Given these studies, some have questioned why Advair is not taken off the market. The FDA says that they've determined that the benefits of LABAs in improving asthma symptoms outweigh the potential risks when used appropriately. But some doctors and researchers feel that the drug is being marketed too broadly, and not just to the small percentage of asthma patients who need it.

Drugs are important elements in modern society and save many lives. But it's the responsibility of drug manufacturers to make sure that their products are safe, and that they don't harm the very people they're intended to help.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by the use of Advair, contact the pharmaceutical injury lawyers of Munley, Munley & Cartwright for a free consultation. Our goal is to provide exceptional legal service to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience. For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online today, or call us toll free at 877-421-9173.