Combivent® Respimat® replaces Combivent MDI
The transition to Boehringer Ingelheim’s Combivent® Respimat® (ipratropium bromide and albuterol) inhalation spray for the maintenance treatment of COPD is scheduled for completion in May. Combivent Respimat is a unique, propellant-free inhaler that uses a slow-moving mist to deliver the same active ingredients of Combivent MDI, and will be the only Combivent product available.
It was developed in response to the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty enacted to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion, including some inhalers that use chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) propellants, such as Combivent MDI.
Some new features are:
- The recommended dose is one inhalation four times a day as compared to Combivent MDI, which is administered as two inhalations four times a day.
- It offers a dose indicator indicating the approximate amount of remaining medication in the inhaler, and the device locks when all of the medication has been used.
- It contains a full 30 day supply when used as recommended, as opposed to the former MDI which only contained 25 days supply per inhaler.
For more information on Combivent Respimat:
http://www.combivent.com/
COPD and Allergies – an increased risk
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also have allergic disease have heightened respiratory symptoms and are at higher risk for COPD exacerbations, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The study examined the effects of allergic disease on two sets of patients with COPD including 1,381 COPD patients from the National Health and Nutrition Survey III (NHANES III) and also 77 former smokers with COPD from a study of the effects of endotoxin exposure on health status.
In both groups, patients were significantly more likely to wheeze, have chronic cough, have chronic phlegm and have a significantly increased risk of an exacerbation that required an acute visit to the doctor. In the smaller group, some were also likely to experience nighttime awakening due to cough.
Read more at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/260406.php
Breo Ellipta receives FDA approval for long term COPD treatment
GlaxoSmithKline’s Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate and vilanterol inhalation powder) for the long-term, once-daily, maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema has been aproved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is also approved to reduce exacerbations of COPD in patients with a history of exacerbations.
Full FDA press release at:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm351664.htm
COPD Education Series – Free to all – Burlington, MA
The Lahey Clinic’s COPD Center six-week seminar series is designed to educate and inform the public about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Each session will include two topics with lecturers drawn from various departments at Lahey Clinic, with the view that COPD is a complex disease that is best managed by experts from a variety of disciplines.
The lectures are FREE to the public, and all patients, families and caregivers are encouraged to attend.
COPD International is an active participant in these presentations.
Location:
Lahey Clinic
25 Mall Road – - FREE Parking
3rd Floor – Suite 304
Burlington, MA 01805
2:00pm – 4:00pm EDT (Note: Special time for session 5)
Schedule:
- Apr 30, 2013 – Session 1
Topic 1: Introduction to COPD – Chip Gatchell
Topic 2: What is COPD? – Dr Timothy Wu - May 7, 2013 – Session 2
Topic 1: Medications for COPD – Leslie Mitchell, PharmD
Topic 2: COPD: Are there nonmedical interventions? – Dr. Timothy Wu - May 14, 2013 – Session 3
Topic 1: Everything You Wanted to Know about Oxygen – Edward Boroda
Pulmonary Function Testing. – Lissa Judd, CRTT
Topic 2: Smoking Cessation – Margaret Russo - May 21, 2013 – Session 4
Topic 1: COPD and Rehabilitation - Jon Kelley PT
Topic 2: Diet and COPD – Holly Williams MS, RD, LDN - May 28, 2013 – Session 5 (NOTE Special time 2:30-4:30 pm)
Topic 1: Coping with Lifestyle and Psychological Challenges Related to COPD -
Lyle Kantor, PhD
Topic 2: Living Proactively with COPD: Planning for the Future -
Lisa Catalano, MSW, LICSW - June 4, 2013 – Session 6
Topic: Conclusion – Chip Gatchell
includes additional information on Portable Oxygen equipment & POC’s,
Care of your caregiver,
Additional support,
Closing comments.
For more information, contact webmaster at COPD-International.com
or
Visit www.lahey.org… or call 781-744-COPD (2673).
The impact of COPD in the CDC’s new anti-smoking ad campaign
“Tips From Former Smokers” is a national TV ad campaign by the CDC. For the first time, one of those ads will depict a person diagnosed with COPD. They will show Michael’s story.
*Michael was a smoker starting at age 9.
*He was diagnosed with COPD when he was 44.
*Like many of us, he ignored the diagnosis until it become more severe.
*Michael had to face the COPD diagnosis at 52 when he awoke gasping for air.
*He quit smoking at age 52.
*He had part of a lung removed.
*Michael now needs a lung transplant.
The ad goes on to highlight some of the facts of smoking and smoking with COPD, such as “30 percent of people have been diagnosed with COPD continue to smoke.”
For more, read “CDC to portray impact of COPD in the COPD Foundation’s anti-smoking ad campaign”
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130330/CDC-to-portray-impact-of-COPD-in-COPD-Foundations-anti-smoking-ad-campaign.aspx
FDA Warns of Arrhythmias with Azithromycin
Patients with certain risk factors may be subject to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias when taking azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax), the FDA said Tuesday.
Existing QT prolongation, bradycardia, and low blood levels of magnesium or potassium are among the risk factors associated with the threat, according to an FDA drug safety communication posted on the agency’s website.
Read the full report at: http://bit.ly/YXKvaz
Be sure to discuss this with your medical team
The cost to run an oxygen concentrartor (updated)
The example has been updated to reflect the averge U.S. cost for December 2012.
For rates of the individual states, go to: http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_6_a
<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>
Updated example:
The cost of electricity to operate your oxygen concentrator may be a medical deduction for your tax returns. To compute the cost, do the following:
Look at the label on your concentrator. It states the number of volts and amps the concentrator uses. For this example, we will use 115 volts at 4 amps.
Then you calculate the number of kilowatt (KW) hours per year as follows:
1) Compute the number of watts
115 volts x 4 amps = 460 watts (W)
2) to convert this to kilowatt hours
460 W x .001 KW/W = .46 KW
3) to compute the number of killowatt hours used.
For this example, we are assuning that the concentrator runs 24 hours per day, every day of the year.
. 46 KW x 24 H/day x 365 days/year
= 4,029.6 KWH/Y
4)Multiply the above result by the cost per KWH for electricity.
You can call your electric company for the cost for your area.
Using 11.62 cents for this example (the average for all U.S. in December 2012)
4,029.6 KWH/Y x $0.1162/KWY = $462.24 (the yearly cost)
Check with your tax preparer to see if this along with any other medical expenses which you pay for can be used in your US tax return,
COPD information is now available on your smartphones and tablets
Our COPD-International website has been optimized for smart phones and smaller tablets! Now many of the features of the full website are available to you while you are on the go. Larger tablets can access the the main site as well.
The new mobile site contains most of the important parts of the main COPD-International website, including extensive information about COPD. This includes access to the library affording you a searchable access to over 500 files on COPD organized in an easy to find format, as well as access to the latest COPD news and our blog. The site features an interactive capability though linking to our main site’s message boards and information on chats.
All of this is available without having to download an app! Simply enter COPD-International.com on your smartphone or tablet. The full url, if needed is http://copd-international.com/mobile.
Foods and Supplements Can Interact with Medications
Now researchers are looking at how foods and supplements can interact with medications. Some beverages, food, and supplements could “delay, decrease or enhance absorption of medication”. Dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbs, can also interact with medications Some examples of those are:
- Milk and calcium products could block some antibiotics
- Eating or drinking lots of chocolate could interact with your antidepressants causing a rise in bloodpressure.
- Licorice could interact with your blood pressure medicine and with your diuretics.
- Too much potassium (in supplements, bananas, oranges and green leafy veggies) could interact with ACE inhibitors.
- St. John’s Wort could affect drugs like Lanoxin, Mevacor and Altocor.
- Ginseng could interact negatively with blood thinners, ibuprofen, and Nordil or Parnate.
- Giko biloba could affect medicines like Tegretol, Equetro, Carbatrol and Depakote.
Note: Ask your physician and pharmacist what you should avoid when given a new prescription
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/20/food-drug-interactions/1827229/
COPD International’s photo gallery
Mary Ellen’s (Artist) CI Friends photo album which she has been running for years is now active at its new permanent home here on the COPD International servers.
In spite of Webshots and American Greetings lack of compassion and cooperation after they shut it down, we have been able to recover all of the photos in their original size and format.
The link to the new gallery is: http://www.copd-international.com/gallery/
Artist can be reached through the link on the gallery pages – send her your photos.
You may also be interested in viewing the original scrapbook started and maintained till 2005 by James “Jed” Douglas, which has photos of many of our earliest active members.
That link is: http://www.copd-international.com/scrapbook/