-November 29, 2007
The FDA recently met with a panel of medical experts to discuss issuing specific warnings that would apply to children on asthma medications.
The drugs in question were Serevent and Advair®, two asthma medications produced by GlaxoSmithKline.
Concern Over Asthma Medications
Serevent and Advair® are both medications that contain salmeterol, which has been known to cause risks for patients after continuous use.
The two medications are used to prevent asthma in young children and adults over the age of four long-term.
Following a meeting in 2005 regarding the risks associated with the drugs, the FDA placed a “black box” warning on their labels stating that they could increase the risk of death in patients suffering from asthma.
FDA Requests Change in Labels
The FDA panel agreed earlier this week that the current warnings on the medications needed to be catered more to children and written in child friendly language.
By altering the labeling, the FDA hopes that the amount of hospital visits by children due to these medications will decrease.
While studies have proved that the medications do in fact help to control asthma, some have also showed that they can cause severe and sometimes fatal asthma attacks to those taking them.
(Source: Marketwatch)
Do you have a child who has been harmed by an asthma medication? Contact a trustworthy attorney today to be compensated for any harm that has been done to your loved ones.
