Would "They" Tell You That Their Asthma Medicine Might Kill You?

If you haven't noticed, there are lots of asthma medicine advertisements on television. These ads are skilfully put-together, are richly endowed with subliminal messages which play tricks with your mind, and show individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities and genders mightily relieved with just a few puffs from that magic inhaler.

But beware! If you have asthma and are using a "Long-Acting Beta-Agonist" ("LABA") as sole therapy, without supervision by a physician who has current training and knowledge in treating asthma (that means, the physician doesn't just get his information from a drug company representative or industry-sponsored education program), you may be placed at a small but serious risk of death from the medicine you inhale. Two publications,The New England Journal of Medicine and the Medical Letter have recently highlighted the reasons for the FDA's specific label change requirements for LABA drugs, The FDA label requirement, among others, contraindicates the use of a LABA without concomitant use of an asthma-controller medicine such as an inhaled corticosteroid and indicates the use of the controller medicine, without the LABA, once asthma control is achieved or for someone whose asthma is controlled by the controller medicines.

If you are using a LABA, speak to your doctor about the risk of death from the medicine. Ask whether he or she is familiar with the current FDA label requirements. If your doctor is not familiar with these changes, and the reasons for them,ask your doctor to send you for consultation with a pulmonary physician who has lots of current knowledge and experience treating asthma. Your doctors will tell you the truth, but will the drug companies?  Watch a few TV ads and decide for yourself.