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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Oct 19, 2007 8:37:26 GMT -5
We've touched on this before re: Inaled Combo Steroids, the TORCH study and a few other studies that showed an increased risk of pneumonia and death. Take Heart! I saw this this morning! Cochrane review: Combined corticosteroid and long-acting beta-agonist in one inhaler versus separate components for COPD(copy and paste the link; clicking on it won't get you there) www.nelm.nhs.uk:80/Record% 20Viewing/viewRecord.aspx?id=586433 |
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Post by bobbioh on Oct 19, 2007 8:59:29 GMT -5
I could not get the link to work even after I copied it. bobbioh
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Post by cheryl on Oct 19, 2007 10:11:09 GMT -5
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Post by maryaz on Oct 19, 2007 22:56:44 GMT -5
I have dealt with my COPD dx for over 5 years now. I have gotten to be a big skeptic on trials/studies of drugs. I am going to just be up front here with how I feel. I may be confused by this article. Seems they are showing different than the previous study. By skeptic, my concerns are whose advantage are they doing the study for.
If and when I have to make a decision that involves one of these studies, I will print out and sit down and study it all. For right now, I have nothing better to use than what they study. Therefore I will continue to use it.
I am beginning to think there is something to method of delivery. I don't understand it but I am going into my 4th week on Symbicort 160/4.5 Inhaler. I had hoped the new symbicort would work for me when it came out in the USA. However it came out at what looked like such a lower dose than my Advair 500/50 or the Symbicort that are 400/12 and 200/6 and 100/6 sold at a Canada pharmacy and other combinations in other countries which are high.
It has been a very good medication for me. It has improved my breathing. Don't know yet just how much. I guess I will make my own determination until or unless there is something else that can help me breath. I am in the very severe stage. I can't do it alone.
My mind has had a lingering thought of 'maybe Advair was too much for me and I need less'. I asked my doctor a couple times if I should be on the 500/50 and he said yes. Maybe there is too much in some. In the USA the FDA only approved 250/50 and 100/50 for use for COPD. Not the 500/50. That is not to say it is not prescribed but FDA would not let them promote it that way.
Good a discussion topic Jackie. Thanks. Enough from me tonight. Have a good weekend all.
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Post by chrisw on Oct 19, 2007 23:48:19 GMT -5
The Cochrane Reviews are very conservative overviews of multiple different studies on the same topic. These overviews appear mainly to be for the benefit of those who run health programs such as he National Health Service in the UK, the various Provincial Health Departments in Canada and the big health Insurance Companies in the US.
I think that a large part of the emphasis is to be sure that they get the most "bang for their buck".
I believe that they did not recommend Spiriva until 2005 or 2006!
Long after the patients knew it helped many of them!
Chris
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