The Food and Drug Administration announced that Serevent, a widely used asthma medicine made by GlaxoSmithKline, could increase the risk of a serious or fatal asthma attack in a few people who use it. According to a recent study, the risk appears to be greatest in African Americans and patients who are not also taking an inhaled corticosteroid drug for their asthma. The study was launched because of earlier concerns over the safety of Serevent, whose chemical name is salmeterol.
The FDA said Serevent remains a useful drug for most asthma patients.
“We still feel that from the data at hand that this drug is safe and effective,” said Robert J. Meyer, one of the FDA’s directors of drug evaluation. “But if part of what we are seeing is because the drug is not being used as part of a well-thought-out asthma care plan, then it behooves us to emphasize . . . that it really does need to be used in that setting.
(via Washington Post)
4 responses so far ↓
T. Stewart // Jul 23, 2003 at 9:37 pm
I was introduced to sereven and flovent about 6 years ago, they saved my life and gave me back my life. Before them I could do hardly anything and almost died twice from serious asthma attacks. My Dr. is amazed how much improvement I have made. Please don’t take these inhalers away from me, my life would be over.
N. Scotten // Nov 19, 2004 at 4:17 am
Flovent, which contains Serevent, has been a great help to my breathing. I have been using it for several years. It is, from what I have been told by several physicians, much more safe than the Theophylline I had been taking for many years.
B. Hopkins // Nov 19, 2004 at 2:13 pm
For me, Serevent was truly a medical miracle. In fact, after I trialed Serevent and experienced the difference, I asked my PA how long it was available and was quite annoyed when I was told that it had been out for years. Also, it was great when it was combined with an inhaled steroid in Advair, the best delivery device for inhaled medicine. It is an expensive habit, however.
Kay // Jul 29, 2005 at 6:40 am
I am on several meds for my COPD and Advair Discus is one of them . I use 500/ every morning, but; I am fearful of it and would like to quit. Actually I`m supposed to use it twice a day , but I also use Spiriva inhaler and that seems to have helped me.Before I was diagnosed with COPD i wouldn`t even take an Aspirin, for a headache.. I`v always been worried avout medications..Anybody else afraid of their meds? lol
Kay
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