Asthma treatment

http://www.healasthma.com – News Asthmatic needs medical attention DEAR DR. GOTT I have a daughter who has been an asthmatic since birth and is now years old. She has been steroid-dependent since that time and is now on milligrams daily. In addition, she is on theophylline, methotrexate, Singulair, albuterol, Azmacort, Zocor, diltiazem, and lisinopril daily, as well as a multitude of as-needed meds, including oxygen and epinephrine. Her steroid dosage varies according to her condition. Hospitalization occurs as… Drug maker settles suits on medicine overcharges Schering-Plough will pay out M Schering-Plough . + . Schering-Plough has agreed to pay million to settle lawsuits filed by the federal government and the state of Texas alleging the big drug maker overcharged for prescription medicines. The lawsuits accused Schering-Plough of inflating prices for albuterol inhalers to treat asthma that were sold to Medicaid patients. This allowed the company to boost sales in a highly competitive market by making sure pharmacists earned more by prescribing its… . Newsday (Melville, NY) – Keeping Up On Insomnia Research Q. Some time ago, you stated that ACTH and cortisol were elevated in people with insomnia. Has there been more research in this area? -J.C.A. Chronic insomnia can be caused by pseudoephedrine (which is found in many over-the-counter drug combinations) and in prescription drugs, including albuterol, some diuretics, drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder, quinidine and theophylline (used to treat asthma).Encephalitis, Alzheimer’s disease, sleep apnea, restless leg… Drugs included in the Generics First program Here are the generic medications for which Merck-Medco’s Generics First program offers free patients samples, listed with their purpose and the best-known brand-name version of the drug. Antianxiety buspirone (BuSpar) Antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) Anti-inflammatory naproxen (Naprosyn) Asthma albuterol inhaler (Proventil inhaler) Stomach ulcers ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet) High blood pressure furosemide (Lasix),… . Chicago Tribune – Reports link recalled inhalers to deaths At least asthma patients have died after using drug inhalers that were later recalled by the manufacturer, Schering-Plough Corp., according to reports filed with federal regulators and obtained by a consumer group. The group, Public Citizen, cited government death reports in asking Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to begin a criminal investigation of how Schering handled the recall of million inhalers. A Schering spokesman denied any deaths were… . The Hartford Courant – `GENETIC BAR CODE’ HELPS PREDICT MEDICINE’S EFFECT A new technology described as a “genetic barcode” for variations in human disease has helped scientists in Cincinnati and New Haven predict how well asthmatics would respond to medication, according to research published Tuesday.The technique, known as haplotyping, measured variations in the gene that is targeted by albuterol, a drug commonly prescribed to improve lung function of asthmatics.Doctors have known for a long time that some people respond well to… . New York Times, The Asthma Drug Is Approved, But Sepracor Shares Tumble Sepracor Inc., a biotechnology company based in Marlborough, Mass., said yesterday that it had received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin marketing a new inhalable drug named Xopenex for the treatment of asthma.Sepracor shares fell . to . yesterday in Nasdaq trading. Analysts said the approval was anticipated, and that Sepracor shares were subject to profit taking after rocketing to . from . in the last year. With yesterday’s… . Chicago Tribune – HICKEY WINS ROUND IN COURT AS JUDGE STAYS SUSPENSION The latest in a series of actions and counter-actions involving the Illinois Racing Board and Noel Hickey unfolded Monday when Cook County Circuit Judge Ellis Reed granted the owner-trainer a stay of the latest one-year suspension imposed by the board.The court order allows Hickey to resume training at all tracks in North America. It will remain in effect until the court rules on his petition for review of the penalty imposed by the board because six of his horses tested positive for the… . Chicago Tribune – BROWN, WOLVES GAIN KEY ROAD VICTORY Rob Brown scored both goals as the Wolves won in regulation for the first time in games, defeating the Manitoba Moose – in IHL play in Winnipeg. The Wolves ( – - ) lead Manitoba by six points for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot Horse racing The Illinois First District Appellate Court has nullified and vacated the one-year suspension the Illinois Racing Board gave owner-trainer Noel Hickey in after six of his horses competing at Arlington International… MOVE ON TO APPROVE KID DRUGS Tommy O’Brien, the -year-old son of a friend, has asthma. The last time I visited, there was Tommy playing astronaut at the kitchen table, a clear plastic mask covering his mouth and nose as he inhaled vapors mixed with his asthma medication from a vaporizer. “I’m going to a new planet,” announced Tommy, seated in his “cockpit. It’s an experiment.” Yes, and in more ways than Tommy imagines…. –