Canyon711 - Re Symbicort

[filcab]

This is a copy of a post I made to Canyon at CI and the info is good to know.

Hi Canyon,

I saw your post on another asking me a question about Symbicort and I even had a reply typed out but between the time I read your question, googled the web for an answer and typed my reply and sent it, I was banned from the site again! This is why I have not replied. I had written a very nice reply to continual mudslinging against me and others and it was instantly deleted so no one else could read it, and I was Banned. The administrator must have forgot to mention this to the other members. This is for your information only and I hope there are no replies about the above. I really don’t want to debate the issue on this site as I was reluctant to say anything but I believe you have a right to know.


www.asthmameds.ca/news.php

Above is a link that gives a short paragraph that Symbicort is approved by Health Canada for maintenance and also as a rescue inhaler for asthmatics. I see no problem transferring the same concept to COPD. I am typing this from memory as my internet signal is very sporadic and I can’t spend a lot of time searching for info. Anyhoo, the beta-agonist Fomoterol (Foradil) in Symbicort is being compared to Salmetorol (Serevent) in Advair. Salmetorol is the drug that was causing some Asthmatics to die when they used it as a rescue inhaler. Comparing Foradil to Serevent is comparing apples to oranges. They are both beta-agonists, but have a completely different formulation.

At the present time I am prescribed Symbicort, 2 puffs – 3 times a day. (6 puffs per day). I have had no problems after 3 weeks of this regimen. The consensus on the various sites is that Symbicort only lasts from 8-10 hours, not the 12 as advertised. When I was on the 2 puffs – 2 times a day, I would always take a “booster” puff at about 3:00 pm and if I am told to go back to 4 puffs a day, I will continue using a “booster” in the afternoon. When used as a “rescue” med, because it is long lasting, you should not have to use it more than, say two extra times a day. (Just a guess). Any more often, then you have more problems than you realize and you better head to your doctor’s and discuss them. Again Canyon, you should run all this by your own doctor for peace of mind.

There is also another small paragraph stating that Alvesco® (ciclesonide), a new steroid is approved in Canada. Quote: “Health Canada has approved Alvesco® (ciclesonide), a new generation inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for the treatment of persistent asthma in adults. Alvesco® is indicated for the prophylactic management of asthma in patients 18 years of age and older. Alvesco® is a once-daily treatment for most patients and is unique because it activates on-site in the lungs with little activation in the mouth and throat. Patients using Alvesco® in clinical studies experienced an oral side-effect profile (oral thrush, hoarseness of voice) similar to that of placebo. In addition to Canada, Alvesco® is currently approved in 39 countries, including: the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Chile, and Columbia.
“ Unquote.

Hope this helps a little,

Breathe Gently

Phil

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Phil; a question.

It's my understanding that Symbicort was originally developed primarily for asthmatics; then they discovered it also helped people with COPD. (Many of the drugs we use were developed for people with Asthma - with the exception of Spiriva which was sdeveloped for COPDer's)

Do you think Alvesco could or is being used to treat COPD as perhaps an alternative to Symbicort since they're both steroids?

I know; I'm being lazy....I should have done a search myself but since you've already read etc maybe you know or remember.