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HWN Suggests

Combination Inhaled Corticosteroid/Long Acting Beta Agonist Therapy- An Evolving Role in Asthma Care

Patients with a history of poor compliance to treatment are probably more likely to adhere to ICS/LABA therapy as needed as only one inhaler is required and there is no set timetable for using the inhaler. Furthermore, patients with mild asthma may accept a higher symptom burden with as needed ICS/LABA therapy given there is a simplified regime, reduced steroid use and a similar risk of severe exacerbation.

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 Trouble Breathing

Now growing evidence suggests that a small percentage of patients--perhaps 4,000 people a year, by one doctor's estimate--may be dying because of Advair or its Serevent component. This highlights a tough dilemma in drug safety: what to do about drugs that help many but harm a few. It could mark the start of the next great drug-liability war, and already the drama seems all too familiar: scared patients, contradictory studies, a company that calls the evidence "inconclusive" and is accused of skewing clinical data--and lawyers looking at whether there's enough damage here to cash in.

Articles of Interest

Advair vs. Symbicort

Both Advair and Symbicort contain an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist. These drugs can cause some of the same side effects, as well as some different ones.

Symbicort tops Advair in head-to-head studies

AstraZeneca's assault on GlaxoSmithKline’s position as the company selling the most-prescribed combination respiratory drug received a boost yesterday when it presented clinical data claiming Symbicort is superior to GSK’s Advair/Seretide for treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Symbicort Vs. Advair

The individual's unique condition, medical history, and reaction to treatment are some of the criteria that determine which medication—Symbicort or Advair—is safer or more effective. While Advair and Symbicort work well to reduce the symptoms of asthma and COPD, their safety and efficacy profiles may vary depending on the patient.

Symbicort vs. Advair: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you

Symbicort and Advair are maintenance inhalers that combine an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with a long-acting beta agonist (LABA). These inhalers are used daily to help control inflammation in the lungs and keep the airways open. They are not used as rescue inhalers for acute symptoms of asthma or COPD. Despite their similarities, Symbicort and Advair have some differences in active ingredients and recommended dosage.

Symbicort: a pharmacoeconomic review

Using Symbicort for patients requiring both a LABA and ICS for their asthma, particularly when used as both maintenance and reliever therapy, would have considerable implications for healthcare budgets.

The History of Symbicort

Although Symbicort was first introduced in Sweden in the year 2000, the medication didn't receive its first approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) until 2006. At the time, it was only approved to treat asthma in adults. In 2009, it also received FDA approval to treat COPD in adults, and in 2017 was approved for the treatment of asthma in children between the ages of six and 12.

The whole story: treatment outcomes with Symbicort

While the prescribing costs of Symbicort were found to be higher than for budesonide alone, these were partially offset by reduced costs due to fewer asthma exacerbations and a reduced need for other medications. Combined long-term therapy with budesonide and formoterol also improves patient quality of life compared with budesonide alone.

Advair and Other Asthma Medication Get New Warnings

Long-acting-beta-agonists such as Advair, Foradil, Symbicort, Serevent, Brovana, Perforomist are being required to update their Black Box warnings after the FDA reviewed new studies linking LABAs to an increase in asthma related death. The new warning explicitly say that LABAs should not be used when asthma is under control from other medication, should only be used with other long term asthma therapy such as an inhaled corticosteroid.

Key Characteristics of Breo Ellipta, Advair, and Symbicort

Comparisons...

New Advair and Symbicort FDA Warning

Most asthma specialists would predict that, for patients with moderate to severe asthma, using a long-acting-bronchodilator alone without using a daily anti-inflammatory medication, could cause problem.

Restrictions on Advair, Symbicort, two other asthma drugs are increased

The government is taking steps to curb use of some long-acting asthma drugs taken by millions, issuing safety restrictions Thursday to lower an uncommon but potentially life-threatening risk that asthma could worsen suddenly.

Warning Given on Use of 4 Popular Asthma Drugs, but Debate Remains

Two federal drug officials have concluded that asthma sufferers risk death if they continue to use four hugely popular asthma drugs — Advair, Symbicort, Serevent and Foradil. But the officials’ views are not universally shared within the government.

Resources

Advair

ADVAIR treats two of the main causes of asthma symptoms—airway constriction and airway inflammation—to help prevent symptoms in the first place. Results may vary. ADVAIR is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and won’t replace a rescue inhaler.

Symbicort

SYMBICORT is indicated for the treatment of asthma in patients 6 years and older not adequately controlled on a long-term asthma-control medication such as an ICS or whose disease warrants initiation of treatment with both an ICS and LABA