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Post by larrynz on Jun 26, 2007 0:44:48 GMT -5
Spiriva is currently prescribed to people with severe chronic bronchitis and emphysema, but from July 1 doctors will also be able to prescribe it to patients with moderate symptoms.
Pharmac deputy medical director Dr Dilky Rasiah says it could lead to the number of people taking Spiriva doubling from 5,000 to 10,000 within five years. She is hoping it will also mean fewer people will need hospital treatment.
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Jun 26, 2007 5:53:05 GMT -5
Hmmmmm. I'm not sure what I think about that Larry. If a person "needs" to be taking Spiriva then by all means. BUT; to prescribe it, or any med for that matter if you're not displaying the symptoms enough to warrant....It's like any other medicine. It's too easy nowadays to "pop a pill" for something. I undersand the "preventative" concept; guess I'd have to re-read on Spriva. It's been awhile.
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Post by larrynz on Jun 26, 2007 6:05:14 GMT -5
Right now to have Spiriva you must have a FEV1 of less than 40%. I would expect the new policy to allow patients with around 50% to get it. So you still need to be very sick.
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Post by LindaNY on Jun 26, 2007 8:30:36 GMT -5
Yes you are pretty sick with an FEV1 of 50%. It may be a good thing, Larry.
It would most likely keep people out of the hospital by keeping the exacerbation rates down.
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