Posts Tagged ‘asthma’

Top-selling drugs to go generic, significantly lowering costs

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Coping with a condition often means having to deal with the high cost of health care as well, which can create quite a hardship when one’s medications carry sky-high price tags. However, some of the nation’s most popular drugs are about to become less expensive, reports The Associated Press.

Out of the 20 best-selling medications in the world, nearly half will be offered in generic form by 2012, drastically reducing costs for patients. According to the news source, the seven drugs going generic include Lipitor, typically prescribed for high cholesterol, and Plavix, a blood thinner, both of which should be offered by next September.

A number of other brand-name drugs will be getting generic competition within the next year as well for conditions like hypertension, asthma, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and more. The AP states that generic medications can cost up to 80 percent less than the big-name companies.

Additionally, London research firm EvaluatePharma has found that 120 top-selling drugs raking in approximately $255 billion each year internationally will see their patents expire by 2016.

Medical professionals are looking forward to the expiring drug patents so that their patients can begin treating themselves properly. Dr. Nieca Goldberg of Manhattan’s NYU Langone Medical Center has noticed a trend in which some patients are not filling prescriptions or not taking their medications enough in order to save money.

“‘You can pretty much tell by the numbers when I check the patient’s blood pressure or cholesterol levels” that they are not taking the drugs in line with the doctor’s orders, she told the AP.

According to the news provider, the generic version of Lipitor will be available at pharmacies on Nov. 30 for approximately $10 per month.

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Asthma sufferers may benefit from daily pills

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

A new study has found that daily pills may be a better treatment for asthma sufferers, reports the UK’s Rye & Battle Observer.

According to the news source, researchers from Canada’s McMaster University, along with those from several institutions in the UK, performed a study with 650 patients that compared leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA pills) with the typical steroid inhaler. While both treatments produced the same results, patients reportedly felt once-a-day pills were a simpler option.

“This study looked to test [LTRA tablets'] use in a real-world setting rather than under the strictly controlled conditions of an experimental trial,” said the news source. In everyday conditions, 65 percent of patients adhered well to the pills, while 41 percent were able to adhere to inhaled steroids, a contrast which researchers determined to mean that the tablets may be a better option.

Although the results of the study were not extraordinary, they confirm that asthma sufferers can safely use daily pills as an alternative to inhalers. The Daily Mail reported LTRA pills as “wonder drugs,” but patients should be aware that they controlled asthma just as well as inhaled treatments. The only significant difference that researchers found was in the patients’ preference for the maintenance of their condition.

Inhaled steroids like Ventolin, Advair and Singulair are the most common treatments for Healthetreatment users with asthma. Readers with this condition: Given the option of a daily pill, which treatment would you prefer? Leave us a comment and let us know.

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Posted in Asthma, Conditions | No Comments »

The relationship between allergies, eczema and asthma

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

The transition into spring not only comes with a bout of hay fever and potential asthma attacks for some people, but also dry skin that leaves their bodies itchy and flaky. Keeping the skin moisturized and hydrated helps eliminate the temptation of running your fingernails across your skin, but many often still scratch away – and a chronic skin condition could be the culprit.

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin, particularly prevalent in children. Kids are even more likely to develop the rash – which manifests on the elbows, knees, ankles and other areas – if they have seasonal allergies, as many irritants cause the skin to flare up. According to BBC News, research revealed that up to 70 percent of children with the condition develop asthma.

The eruptions on the skin, caused by any number of allergies, end up damaging the surface, even moreso when it is scratched. A study by the Washington University School of Medicine showed that a certain substance produced in the damage – thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) – leads to asthma symptoms, as TSLP also appears in the lungs of individuals with the respiratory condition.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for eczema, but patients can manage the problem. A popular treatment is a strong hydrocortisone cream, which is a thick ointment that helps alleviate itching and inflammation. For an alternative remedy, try an oatmeal-based moisturizer, soap or bath soak – Aveeno makes several of these products and are available at your local drugstore.

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Posted in Allergies, Asthma, Eczema | 1 Comment »

US cities most likely to aggravate allergies

Sunday, March 6th, 2011

As spring approaches, many people are thinking about their upcoming vacations. Nothing ruins a relaxing getaway like sinus infections and hay fever, so it’s important to head to an area where your seasonal allergies won’t act up. Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America rounds up a list of the most difficult places in the country for people suffering from allergies, so make sure to avoid these areas this season:

1. Dayton, Ohio

2. Wichita, Kansas

3. Louisville, Kentucky

4. Knoxville, Tennessee

5. Jackson, Mississippi

The list was determined by pollen scores, number of allergy medications per patient, and number of allergy specialists per patient, according to the organization. Those who routinely suffer from seasonal allergies should check out the National Allergy Bureau‘s website, which reports pollen and mold spore counts across the United States. There are about 85 counting stations all over the country that take daily air samples to provide helpful information so you can enjoy the spring days outdoors.

Twenty-five percent of Americans suffer from allergies. If you are part of this group, please visit Healthetreatment and let us know about your experiences.

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Posted in Allergies | No Comments »