
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 17, 1994                   TAG: 9411170105
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

ASTHMA DRUG COULD BE DEADLY

Asthma sufferers have been dying since a new drug hit the market in April, some apparently because they mistakenly believed the long-lasting drug immediately would relieve their breathing problems.

There have been 20 deaths reported to the Food and Drug Administration among users of Serevent. It is not yet clear how many are linked to misuse of the drug, but manufacturer Glaxo Inc. is warning patients and doctors to use it properly.

Serevent is very effective at preventing asthma attacks and its effects last longer than other drugs, experts agree. But it doesn't treat actual asthma attacks - because it takes at least 30 minutes to begin working.

``It's very, very important that people understand Serevent is not for acute asthma,'' Ramona Jones of Glaxo said Wednesday. Instead, she said, ``It's so important for people to have that short-acting bronchodilator in case they get in trouble.''

Glaxo also issued an expanded warning Wednesday that its migraine drug Imitrex never should be given to patients with coronary artery disease.

Glaxo received a second death report among such patients, although it isn't sure Imitrex is to blame. Still, it urged doctors to check for undiagnosed heart disease and, if a suspected patient passes a heart screening, to administer the first dose in their offices in case of a reaction.

Glaxo also is warning asthma doctors about the Serevent problems, and last week began meeting with the Food and Drug Administration about strengthening Serevent's patient warning label.

The FDA emphasizes that it can't yet prove a connection with the 20 deaths, because asthma by itself can be deadly. But improper Serevent use is suspected because many of the reports list asthma or ``no drug effect'' as the probable cause.

Asthma is an inflammatory lung disease characterized by attacks in which the airways become blocked and patients can't breathe. Some 10 million Americans have asthma, and about 5,000 die each year.

Serevent, or salmeterol xinafoate, is the nation's only long-lasting bronchodilator. It is for patients with moderate asthma who have stabilized the disease with other drugs. They inhale two puffs in the morning and two at night, 12 hours apart.

- Associated Press

by CNB