CLEVELAND (WJW) — One of the most prescribed asthma inhaler medications has been discontinued. The nation's largest asthma advocacy group warns that it could cause problems for people with asthma.
Manufacturer GSK Flovent was discontinued on January 1, but an approved generic version of the drug is available.
of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America CEO and President Kenneth Mendez said patients should check with their doctors and insurance regarding coverage and availability. It is said that generic drugs are not so widely covered by insurance.
“About 25 million, 26 million Americans have asthma,” Mendez said. “We don't know how many of them are on this particular maintenance therapy, but it's one of the well-known maintenance treatments for asthma, which helps reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent asthma attacks. used to make it.”
The drug company issued a statement that read in part: “We expect the transition from branded products to authorized generics will not impact our ability to market and will cause minimal disruption to patients. ” he said.
“I think one of the most important things that people need to understand about this drug is that more than 10 people die every day from asthma,” Mendez said. “It's very important to continue taking your maintenance medication because it can be fatal and harmful to you.”
The switch comes at a time when the spread of the respiratory virus is at its peak. But it's too early to tell how the changes will affect people who are counting on the drug to help them breathe easier.
“One of the challenges in all of this is our health care system, and access to medicines can sometimes be complicated,” Mendez said. “We don't know exactly why GSK decided to make this switch, but common sense holds that since it's a generic drug, it should be cheaper and more readily available than branded products, so we hope that's the case. ” ”
