Asthma treatment

551. – March 22, 1999 Are Asthma Inhalers Safe for Children? Dear Dr. Donohue: In light of recent warnings about cortisone inhalers and children’s growth, I took my 14-year-old son off his. When he tried alternative treatments, he was a mess. He started back on the spray and his symptoms disappeared in days. Is his body addicted to the spray? — S. A. Cortisone inhalers have revolutionized asthma treatment. On the downside, they might stunt growth. Uncontrolled asthma might stunt growth, too. Many factors can stop a child from attaining ….. Chicago Tribune (IL) – March 28, 2008 Singulair probed for suicide risk FDA studying data on Merck’s top seller Merck & Co. ’s Singulair may be linked to suicide as well as changes in mood and behavior, U. S. regulators said Thursday in announcing a review of the company’s top-selling asthma drug. The Food and Drug Administration is working with Whitehouse Station, N. J. -based Merck to evaluate studies and patient reports, the agency said. The examination may take as long as nine months, the FDA said. The company declined to say how many deaths were reported ….. . (FL) – August 15, 1999 ASTHMA CAN APPEAR LATE IN LIFE DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 67 and have never had any health problems. One morning I woke with this awful cough. I ended up in the emergency department where I got the diagnosis of asthma. I find this hard to accept since I never had any trouble with asthma before. Is it difficult to find something to control asthma? – Anon. ANSWER: It is a kick in the head, but asthma can come on quite suddenly. Furthermore, it can come on at older ages. It is not solely a young person’s ….. Charlotte Post, The (NC) – May 8, 2008 Breathe better with asthma treatments What is asthma? As we have discussed in previous columns, asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs and airways and affects approximately 5 percent of the population. Asthma symptoms, which include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and tightening of the chest, start when allergens or other irritants cause the lining of the airways to become inflamed and narrowed. The muscles around the airways may also spasm causing the airways to narrow even more. When the lining of the airways is ….. Evening Standard, The (London, England) – February 17, 1999 Evening Standard: Business Day: Bullish Zeneca Waits For Green Light On Merger The Commission has already extended its review of the deal to 1 March, requesting further details, and Van Miert said yesterday it was still not happy with the answers. Zeneca’s chief executive Sir David Barnes said today, however, that further information had been provided by the group late yesterday and he believes there is ‘every reasonable expectation that we will get clearance in the relatively near future’. Unveiling strong underlying growth ….. – March 28, 2008 Asthma drug linked to suicides Asthma drug linked to suicides Reuters WASHINGTON – U. S. health regulators are probing a possible connection between Merck & Co. ’s blockbuster Singulair asthma drug and suicidal behavior in adults and children, the Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday. The FDA said it is reviewing the issue after receiving reports of mood and behavior changes, suicidal thinking and suicide in patients who took the drug, which is used to treat stuffy nose, sneezing ….. (TX) – December 11, 1999 Asthma, athletics are compatible DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am an overweight asthmatic. I am trying to lose weight so that I can look better. Exercise makes it difficult for me to breathe. I have had asthma since I was 3. I seek help in finding a way to participate in normal teen-ager activities. My doctor is no help at all. –N. Y. ANSWER: Most people with asthma can gain an upper hand on the illness so they can exercise and participate in sports. In the 1988 Olympics games, 52 of the 667 athletes suffered from asthma. They had ….. Sun-Sentinel – November 9, 2000 HERBS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER THAN MEDICINES Dear Pharmacist: Why do you think health-food potions are better even though prescription medicines are proven to work? — J. A. , Fort Lauderdale Dear J. A. : I don’t think that herbs and vitamins are necessarily better. But the public doesn’t realize that some prescription medicines are not “proven” to work any better than natural substances, yet they are marketed and prescribed simply because the FDA considers them relatively safe. I recognize ….. – June 15, 2009 BUSINESS BRIEFS MEDICAL Vaccine demand lifts drug firms Pharmaceutical giants rose on plans to produce swine flu vaccine. Swiss drugmaker Novartis said it had created an experimental vaccine that has not been tested in people. Meanwhile, rival GlaxoSmithKline also rose after it said it would be ready within weeks to begin large-scale vaccine production. Sanofi-Aventis also said it had started working on its own version. Novartis climbed 4. 1% to 41. 95. , Glaxo surged 4. 4% to 36. 56 and Sanofi rose 2. 7% to ….. Trentonian, The (Trenton, NJ) – January 14, 2009 Business Madoff bail hearing scheduled for today NEW YORK – Bernard Madoff’s freedom will be at stake at a bail hearing scheduled for today. It was not immediately clear if Madoff will have to appear at the hearing. A magistrate judge ruled Monday that Madoff could remain free on $10 million bail despite government efforts to have him jailed. Prosecutors are appealing the decision to a federal judge. Judge Lawrence McKenna has been assigned the case. The fact that Madoff ….