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| About Asthma
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| Asthma is a chronic, long-term disease of the respiratory system that causes the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs to swell and become inflamed.1 It is among the most common chronic conditions in the United States. Asthma is characterized by reversible airway obstruction that is triggered by a stimulus such as an allergen, cold, or exercise. Certain foods
and food additives (e.g., tartrazine dyes) or medications (e.g., aspirin) may also trigger asthma. These stimuli provoke an inflammatory response in airways, resulting in a sequence of events, including constriction of the bronchiolar smooth muscle and production of inflammatory mucus that clogs the airways.
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Asthma consists of 3 components:
A. Swelling of airways — inflammation
B. Narrowing of airways — bronchoconstriction
C. Clogging of airways — mucus plugs
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| The resulting symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and a persistent cough. Although asthma is a chronic disease, the amount of airflow obstruction can vary greatly over time, from no obstruction at all to a life-threatening compromise of the airway. The reversal of the airway obstruction can be spontaneous with the removal of the stimulus, or may require treatment with medications.
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| In 2002, an estimated 20 million people in the United States had asthma, including 6.1 million children under the age of 18.2 In 2002, asthma accounted for more than 1.9 million emergency room visits and 484,000 hospitalizations, causing nearly 4,300 deaths.2
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| Although no cure exists for asthma, in most cases it can be controlled effectively with medication and by avoiding contact with environmental
triggers.
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| AccuNeb® (albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Solution is indicated for the relief of bronchospasm in patients 2 to 12 years of age with asthma (reversible obstructive airway disease). |
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| Important Safety Information |
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| In a clinical trial with AccuNeb® Inhalation Solution 0.63 mg, AccuNeb® Inhalation Solution 1.25 mg, and placebo, the most commonly reported adverse events were asthma exacerbations (11.1%, 13%, 8.5%), otitis media (0.9%, 4.3%, 0%), allergic reaction (3.4%, 0.9%, 1.7%), gastroenteritis (3.4%, 0.9%, 0.9%), and flu syndrome (2.6%, 2.6%, 1.7%). |
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| Like other beta-adrenergic agonists, AccuNeb® Inhalation Solution can produce paradoxical bronchospasm, which may be life-threatening. AccuNeb® Inhalation Solution should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders and patients being treated with epinephrine, oral sympathomimetics, beta-blockers, MAOIs, or tricyclic antidepressants. |
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| Please see Patient Prescribing Information. |
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