Goodnews for asthma sufferers

jaysay · 08-02-2008, 18:03

Asthma U.K have been campaiging for a new treatment for asthma. Xolair has been approve for the NHS in England Scotland and Wales. this drug will transform the lives of many people with severe, persistent and allergic asthma. As some one who has suffered from chronic asthma for 30 years this is a godsend. It may have come to late to make an differance to myself, but I have two young grandchildren with asthma, I'm really pleased at ths new development

firth_dawn · 09-02-2008, 22:28

im pleased to hear about this new treatment as my youngest son suffers from asthma

Bonnyboy · 09-02-2008, 22:33

Any medication that brings relief has to be a bonus. Not a sufferer myself, wouldn’t want to be. Lets hope this doesn’t turn into another of those NHS Postcode fiasco’s

derekgas · 10-02-2008, 10:01

I have children who suffered and have grown out of it, but have grandchildren who havn't grown out of it, good news, and about time!

jaysay · 10-02-2008, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy

Any medication that brings relief has to be a bonus. Not a sufferer myself, wouldn’t want to be. Lets hope this doesn’t turn into another of those NHS Postcode fiasco’s

Having read the full report on this new drug it would appear that it will be readily availible throughout the NHS with no postcode lottery Bonnyboy, infact I don't think it is in the same catrgory as same very expensive cancer drugs

katex · 10-02-2008, 12:08

Just asked my daughter who runs Asthma clinics, received this reply :-

'Omalizumab.. I think thats the generic name for it
It already on the guidelines as an 'add-on' therapy.
It is used in extreme uncontrollable cases of asthma and is given with injection. The main reason why most asthmas aren't controlled in the first place is around poor compliance with medication.
The reality is that few asthmatics merit this. They either don't comply with medication or their inhaler technique is crap. Those are both solvable and patient responsibility is a huge issue.
It really shouldn't reach this stage for the majority and quality of life good.
It has to remain an 'add-on' of low use otherwise it would be abused as a front line medication and people with Asthma would be left titrated with 'nowhere to go' when an exacerbation of their condition occurred.
Interestingly, most trials have been run by Novartis...They manufacture it.

Thats my thoughts...Thats all. Rarely dish it out... There are other options for the main body of people.
It does OWN a place in treatent though I doubt those sufferers would be your man in the street.
He would be a serial hospital attender needing emergency treatment on a regular basis.'

jaysay · 10-02-2008, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Just asked my daughter who runs Asthma clinics, received this reply :-

'Omalizumab.. I think thats the generic name for it
It already on the guidelines as an 'add-on' therapy.
It is used in extreme uncontrollable cases of asthma and is given with injection. The main reason why most asthmas aren't controlled in the first place is around poor compliance with medication.
The reality is that few asthmatics merit this. They either don't comply with medication or their inhaler technique is crap. Those are both solvable and patient responsibility is a huge issue.
It really shouldn't reach this stage for the majority and quality of life good.
It has to remain an 'add-on' of low use otherwise it would be abused as a front line medication and people with Asthma would be left titrated with 'nowhere to go' when an exacerbation of their condition occurred.
Interestingly, most trials have been run by Novartis...They manufacture it.

Thats my thoughts...Thats all. Rarely dish it out... There are other options for the main body of people.
It does OWN a place in treatent though I doubt those sufferers would be your man in the street.
He would be a serial hospital attender needing emergency treatment on a regular basis.'

Thats very interesting katex, I must say that the examples I have seen of this have been people with cronic britlte asthma, before xmas there was an item on Northwest Tonight which featured a woman who was basicly housebownd with asthma, but after taking this drug as a trial patient at Withenshaw hospital the change in her life was utterly amazing. Having said that everything your daughter said is quite true, in the whole people do not use asthma treatments effectively, me included, although I don't use inhalers any more and haven't done for years, all my asthma medicasion is delivered through a nebuliser. But with the same thing I was a patient representative on a government body called Asthma 2000, I was there to put the point of view from a sufferers angle, because with the best will in the world only people who have suffered a life threatening attack know just what its like, which was pointed out by a consultant chest physician at the time.