The Food and Drug Administration on February 18, 2009 demanded that manufacturers of Serevent, Advair, Symbicort and Foradil, be required to include new stronger warnings on their labels. Millions of Americans use these drugs to treat asthma. It is hoped these new warnings will limit the use of these powerful drugs to lower the risk of serious complications leading to hospitalization or even death.

Physicians have been urged to switch asthma patients away from medicines containing both long-acting beta agonists, commonly called LABAs, and inhaled corticosteroids, as contained in Advair, Serevent, Symbicort and Foradil. These are dispensed in inhalers via rescription.

The heightened warnings are based on clinical trial data showing that use of LABAs carries an increased risk of aggravating asthma symptoms leading to hospitalization and, in some cases, death. Children are particularly at risk. Glaxo, GSK, the manufacturer of Advair is currently facing several lawsuits filed in Philadelphis claiming that children died as a result of their use of Advair. For more information click here.