New Warnings for Common Asthma Medications

The FDA has issued warnings on four commonly-used medications for the treatment of asthma because of rising concern that improper use may result in hospitalization, or in some cases, death. The agents cited by the FDA are Advair, Symbicort, Foradil, and Serevent; all of these products contain agents known as long-acting beta agonists (LABAs). LABAs work on the muscles of the airways, causing relaxation and improved breathing. However in some asthmatic patients, the use of such an agent may mask increased inflammation and may keep the patient from anticipating a serious asthma attack, leaving them unprepared to have difficulty breathing. Children seem to be most at risk. The FDA has changed product labeling to state that LABAs should only be used in combination with another asthma-controlling medication, like a corticosteroid, in the treatment of asthma. They recommend that LABAs only be used in patients who cannot control their condition with other asthma medications and that LABAs be used for the shortest duration of time possible. Two of the listed agents, Advair and Symbicort, are combination products; each contains both a LABA and a corticosteroid packaged in a single inhaler, promoting compliance with the FDA’s recommendations. On the other hand, patients with other pulmonary conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), who use the previously mentioned products, are not included in warning because they are not at risk for asthma attacks.