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Advair Inhaler

The Advair inhaler contains a drug used to treat patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, two lung conditions that affect nearly 50 million people in the United States alone. The Advair inhaler, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, has been available on the United States drug market since 2000. In 2004, prescription sales of the Advair inhaler grossed $2.4 billion in the United States alone.

The Advair inhaler comes in three different strengths, from which a physician will choose the most appropriate for an individual's use. The Advair inhaler is long term treatment designed to prevent asthma symptoms and attacks, though not cure them. When used, the Advair inhaler delivers two active medicines into the patient's airways. The first is a steroid called fluticasone, which reduces inflammation in the lungs and air passageways. The second is a long acting beta-2 agonist called salmeterol, used to relax and open the airways.

A clinical study found medications containing salmeterol, like the Advair inhaler, increased a patient's risk of suffering a serious and life threatening asthma attack actually brought on by the medication itself. Thirteen people died in this study from serious salmeterol side effects. African Americans were found to be at the greatest risk for suffering a fatal reaction.

Prompted by this clinical information, the FDA ordered the inclusion of a black box warning on three medications containing salmeterol: the Advair inhaler and two Serevent medications. The black box warning, the strongest of FDA orders short of a recall, warns patients of the rare but significant risk of suffering a fatal reaction from drugs containing salmeterol. GlaxoSmithKline states that because the Advair inhaler contains an additional active ingredient it is not certain that this type of salmeterol medication poses the same health risks as it sister drugs.

There are several common side effects of the Advair inhaler that can result in injury to a patient. These Advair inhaler side effects can include: ear, nose, and throat irritation and inflammation; respiratory tract infection; headaches; dizziness; vomiting, diarrhea, and upset stomach; muscle and bone pain; increased heartbeat; nervousness; and shakiness.

Due to the serious and deleterious side effects associated with the Advair inhaler and similar drugs, the FDA convened an advisory committee to determine whether or not these drugs were safe enough to remain on the market. In July 2005, the panel of fourteen lung specialists voted unanimously to keep the Advair inhaler and similar drugs on the market. These experts concluded that the benefits of these drugs for many patients far exceeded the risks.

Though the Advair inhaler remains on the market, patients are not without risk. If you are concerned about the safety of the Advair inhaler, you may wish to discuss your questions with your physician. If you have been injured by the Advair inhaler, please contact us to speak with a qualified and experienced attorney in your area.

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