Serevent is approved to treat patients with asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Some patients who used Serevent died from asthma-related injuries. Also, Serevent is not designed to treat sudden symptoms like asthma attacks, and it may cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms if the medication is stopped suddenly.
What are some important things I should know about Serevent?
Serevent is used in patients with asthma to help prevent asthma attacks. It relaxes the patient’s airways to help improve breathing. However, it should not be used to stop an asthma attack that has already begun because it does not work as fast as short-acting inhalation medicines.
Serevent is approved to treat patients with asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Asthma occurs when the person’s airways become constricted and it becomes difficult to breathe. Asthma is a chronic illness, which means it is persistent and most likely permanent. Asthma affects a person’s lungs, which become inflamed and sensitive. Because the airways are sensitive, allergens and other air particles make the inflammation worse, which can lead to an asthma attack. Asthma attacks are very dangerous, and if the person doesn’t receive immediate treatment, the attack can lead to death. Attacks can close the airways completely, making breathing close to impossible.
Serevent is used to prevent these attacks. What is important for patients to remember is that Serevent cannot be used once an attack has begun. It will not stop the attack, and in some cases it could increase the symptoms.
- exercise-induced bronchospasm, which are asthma-like symptoms that occur five to 15 minutes after completing physical exercise
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are diseases like bronchitis and emphysema that make it difficult to breathe and create excess mucous in the lungs
- it can increase the chances of death from an asthma attack
- it does not relieve sudden symptoms
- allergic reactions in people with milk allergies
- rash, hives, swelling and breathing problems
- chest pain
- increased blood pressure
- irregular heartbeat
- headache
In 2005, the FDA alerted health care providers that Serevent, as well as several other medications, had been linked to increasingly worse bronchospasms (wheezing) in some people, and that the manufacturers should update their labels.
You should contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the symptoms above. Serevent can increase patients’ risk of death from asthma, and it can cause serious withdrawal symptoms. Make sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking in order to avoid drug interactions, and talk to your doctor before you stop taking Serevent.