Inhaler Ingredient Could Be Harmful

[Guest guest]

Healthcast: Inhaler Ingredient Could Be

Harmful

 

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/health/3924113/detail.html

 

 

The following Healthcast

report by medical editor Marilyn Brooks first aired Nov. 16, 2004, on

Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

Sally

Edwards, 49, is struggling to regain the active lifestyle she lost

three years ago, when a viral lung infection turned into severe asthma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr.

William Calhoun, researcher, University of Pittsburgh: "Someone who had

a little bit of allergy as a child might get one of these infections

and, from then on, have asthma."Edwards takes three medications,

including steroids, that cause thin bones, weight gain, mood swings and

enormous fatigue. But she says that without them, "you can't breathe.

It's terrible. It's almost like you're choking."When mixed with

steroids, albuterol relaxes the airways and lungs so patients can

breathe easier. But a new study shows it may do more harm to the

patient than good when it's used long-term.Calhoun: "One in six

whites and one in four African-Americans have a little genetic

variation that produces an adverse response to albuterol."Calhoun:

"Such a large fraction of the population may actually have some

reduction in their pulmonary function as a consequence of albuterol

therapy."Currently, there is no diagnostic test for the genetic

variation, so doctors don't know which albuterol users may have that

adverse response.More research is needed to find if this adverse

affect applies to all drugs like albuterol, whether the drug eventually

will fail in all asthmatics, and to develop a test for that genetic

trait.Meanwhile, patients routinely using albuterol are warned.

If the inhaler doesn't work, notify your doctors and get a medication

that does.

 

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