FDA Approves Asthma Med for USA

[JazzysMom]

I just read this from the Associated Press. I didnt search to see if it has been discussed or mentioned on here yet so forgive me if it has:


An asthma inhaler already sold overseas received US approval. AstraZeneca PLC's Symbicort received approval for the longterm maintenance of asthma in patients 12 & older. Symbicort combines budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate. It is inhaled as an aerosol. Budesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid and provides an anti-inflammatory affect, while formoterol is a rapid and long lasting bronchodilator. Symbicort is approved for sale in more tham 90 countries. It is expected to compete against the drug, Advair.

 

[NoExcuses]

they've had it in neb form for a while (Pulmocort Respules)

 

[Landy]

That does sound encouraging.
Maybe some of us on Pulmicort could switch over to this. I don't have to mention how much time that would save.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[thelizardqueen]

I have a turbo inhaler of Symbicort that I use 2x a day. I love it! Its the best thing that ever could have happened to my asthma. I've been using it since February of this year, and I use to take it when I was 18. I also used to take Pulmicort, but switched over to the Symbicort when it wasn't working for me anymore.

 

[Scarlett81]

My doc just called that script in for me 3 days ago. I'm picking it up tonight!

 

[Justsmurfin]

Actually they have not had this out for awhile

Pulmicort Respules is JUST budesonide. As is the Pulmicort Turbohaler.

Symbicort is Foradil(formoterol) and Pulmicort(budesonide). So its like advair

So while both foradil and pulmicort have been available seperately, this is the forst time a combination inhaler is available. Foradil is not available in neb form

 

[NoExcuses]

exactly. this isn't a novel molecule to the market.

 

[Rokiss12]

do we know if its going to have the same bad-effects as advair? like the 'sudden-death' part of advair that none of us liked? i wasnt taken off advair and put on pulmicort, is this new med more reliable then advair- we all thoguht advair was, but look what happened. just asking a few questions-not sure if there ARE any answers.

 

[NoExcuses]

Advair did not have sudeen death issues. That was way over blown and thought leaders throughout the US agree that Advair is pretty darn safe.

But any med - like Tylenol - has side effects.

 

[thelizardqueen]

I'm confused. Is Symbicort new to you guys? Because I've been on it for a good while now. I mean if we're talking about the same one, then I wouldn't worry about sudden death issues. I love Symbicort and find that it works a lot better then Pulmicort.

 

[wuffles]

I also take Symbicort and it works waaaaaaay better than Pulmicort for me.

Wow, Australia was actually ahead of somewhere else drug-wise for once. It's a miracle.

 

[JazzysMom]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>amy</b></i>

they've had it in neb form for a while (Pulmocort Respules)</end quote></div>



I am confused. The article talks of the combo of meds into one which would compete with Advair that has the combo! So what you are referring to is what?

 

[NoExcuses]

it's just a new delivery system of combined meds. The article makes it seem as though this is a brand new med to the market. It's not. It's like Vytron - which is just Zetia and Zocor taken together. This is the same thing - it's just a manufacturer puting two meds that have been on the market together.

 

[JazzysMom]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>amy</b></i>

it's just a new delivery system of combined meds. The article makes it seem as though this is a brand new med to the market. It's not. It's like Vytron - which is just Zetia and Zocor taken together. This is the same thing - it's just a manufacturer puting two meds that have been on the market together.</end quote></div>


My brain must not be working
OK......the 2 meds have already existed=YES? Now they are combining them=YES? Into a different form (neb vs inhaler etc)=YES? Symbicort itself (being combined of 2 meds) is new to the US in any form=YES?

Help me understaaaaaaaaaaaaandddddddd!!!!!

 

[Landy]

Melissa, I'm no authority, but here's how I understand it.
Budesonide has been around in nebulized form (known as Pulmicort) for years.
But from what I understand, the formoterol fumarate dihydrate (FFD) is NOT an ingredient in Pulmicort.
FFD has been available in inhaler form under the name of Oxeze (which I have never heard of, personally). It may have been available in pill form of some type too, if so, I'm not aware of it???
Now I guess these 2 ingredients are now combined in Symbicort.
I believe Symbicort has been available in the US for awhile now. I think Luke had mentioned it as an option for me when I was asking his advice on an issue I had months ago.
Clear as mud now???<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">