Risk of Hospitalization with Advair Doubles

Advair has been linked with worsening asthma symptoms and increased risk of asthma-related death. It has been known for some time that medications like Advair may decrease the amount of asthma episodes but that they may increase the severity of an attack when it does occur. Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists like salmeterol in Advair can cause serious side effects. An analysis published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine looked at studies of Advair and Serevent. These medications are bronchodilators, or long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs). Released in June 2006, the analysis found that the rate of asthma patients being hospitalized was double for users of these medications. The meta-analysis examined 19 trials and 33,826 asthma patients who took either the long-acting bronchodilators or placebos. The analysis found that people on LABAs were 4 to 6 times more likely to die of asthma-related causes than those on placebo.

Legal Help for Advair Users

If you or a loved one suffered worsening of asthma symptoms from Advair or death from an Advair-related asthma attack, please contact our law firm today for a free consultation about your potential case. Call the experienced defective drug firm Mark & Associates, P.C. at 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448) or fill out our online form.

About Advair

Advair is an inhaled asthma medication intended to help with airway constriction and inflammation in the lungs and to ease symptoms including wheezing, tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath. Advair Diskus contains fluticasone propionate (a corticosteroid) and salmeterol inhalation powder (a long-acting beta agonist or LABA) and is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. Advair HFA, a newer formulation, also contains fluticasone propionate and salmeterol xinafoate.

Advair FDA Warnings

In 2003, the FDA added a black box warning to the labels of Advair and the other drugs in its class. In 2005, an FDA advisory panel discussed whether to take Advair off the market. While it decided it should not be withdrawn, the agency revised the black box warning and issued a public health advisory. In November 2005, the FDA recommended that Advair be the last choice for treatment and that it should not be used in patients who are helped by a corticosteroid alone or a corticosteroid plus intermittent use of a short-acting bronchodilator. This public health advisory alerted doctors and patients that Advair and other related inhalers can increase the risk of worsened bronchospasm. In March 2006, the FDA approved new safety labeling and medication guides for Advair and Serevent. In November 2008 the FDA considered the risks of LABAs like Advair in children in a Pediatric Advisory Committee meeting and will continue to assess the risks. In January, 2008 FDA requested the manufacturers of LABAs including Advair Diskus, Advair HFA, Brovana Inhalation Solution, Foradil Aerolizer, Perforomist Inhalation Solution, Serevent Diskus, and Symbicort Inhalation Aerosol to provide controlled clinical studies so that it can further evaluate the safety of LABAs for the treatment of asthma. Once this information is submitted to the FDA, it plans to hold another advisory committee meeting.