Combo Drug for Childhood Asthma Appears Safe in Study

Childhood Asthma - American Health Council

“Lingering safety concerns regarding an asthma drug for children may be put to rest by new clinical trial results showing the widely used medication is safe, according to a new report.”

“Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) provide short-term relief of asthma symptoms by relaxing and opening the airways. They’re prescribed to child asthma sufferers in combination with an inhaled steroid drug to reduce airway inflammation, said study co-author Dr. Stanley Szefler. He is director of pediatric asthma research for the University of Colorado School of Medicine.”

“Based on the analysis, the FDA slapped a “boxed warning” label on the drugs, which calls attention to serious or life-threatening risks. The agency also asked GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of a LABA intended for children, to perform a large-scale safety trial for its product, researchers said in background information. The clinical trial, conducted by Szefler and his colleagues, found that children using a combination LABA/steroid inhaler — sold as Glaxo’s Advair Diskus — did not have any greater risk of harm than children using an inhaler loaded only with a steroid.”

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