GSK's Advair... "may significantly increase the risk of pneumonia for the 16 million Americans."

With many people turning to their doctor's at times of illness it would be reassuring to know that we can trust the drugs they prescribe to us. Would I trust the HPV Vaccines if I had a daughter? - No. Would I recommend the use of SSRi's if a friend or family member became depressed? - No. What if I knew of someone who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and he/she had just been prescribed a popular inhaler? Well, I don't really know enough about COHD but realise that inhalers can literally be a life-saver.

Or so I thought.

A recent medical study has found that two popular anti-inflammatory inhalers may significantly increase the risk of pneumonia for the 16 million Americans affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The study found an up to 70 percent increase of pneumonia in patients with the disease who used inhaled corticosteroid drugs, either alone or in combination with other drugs, for at least 24 weeks. There were nearly 17,000 patients included in the 18 clinical trials in the study.

The researchers said that the available inhaled-steroid combinations are Advair, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, and Symbicort, marketed by AstraZeneca. The study could have implications for GlaxoSmithKline considering Advair is its top-selling drug, with U.S. sales exceeding $3 billion last year.

Patty Johnson, a product-communications manager for GlaxoSmithKline, said, "The benefits of Advair are well established in providing significant improvement of lung function..."

The study is not indicating death just an increase in the risk of pneumonia. Phew! That's okay then!

Full story at journalnow.com

We take these medicines to get better, not to get worse. Two stories today that highlight the danger of some pharmaceutical drugs, this one and a previous story I wrote about here.

With the credit crunch both sides of the Atlantic, many folk will be turning to their doctor's to help them through these troubled times. Doctor's are increasingly worried of studies that show that various drugs can cause more harm than good. So do we, as bloggers, continue to republish what we find or do we just continue to let doctor's prescribe the drugs that could possibly make the condition worse?

The Pharma reps have some work to do. Better get those "Dash and Dine" nights out ready fella's.

Fid

Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING