Asthma Sufferers and Asprin

[Mr T.]

"1.5m asthma sufferers 'at risk from over-the-counter drugs'"
By Celia Hall, Medical Editor
(Filed: 20/02/2004)


Family doctors were told yesterday to give clear advice to people with asthma after researchers found that taking aspirin could bring on an attack in as many at 1.5 million people.

They have discovered that 21 per cent of adults and five per cent of children with asthma are sensitive to aspirin. Of these 98 per cent are also at risk of an attack if they take another common painkiller, ibuprofen, 93 per cent are sensitive to diclofenac and 100 per cent to naproxen both used to treat rheumatic pain.

Patients are being advised not only to avoid aspirin but any other painkillers and cold cures that contain the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. People who are sensitive can expect an asthmatic attack to develop within 30 minutes to three hours after taking aspirin.

Dr John Costello, the clinical director of medicine at King's College Hospital, London, and colleagues say today in the British Medical Journal, that asthmatic patients should instead use paracetamol, which produced sensitivity in only seven per cent.

They call for warnings on packets of aspirin and other over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs "alerting asthmatic patients to the potential risks".

Dr Costello said: "It is a startlingly higher prevalence than we had thought. This is the first time a broad and in-depth look at all the studies has been undertaken.

"There are dozens of preparations on the market and people should look very carefully at the package information. Asthma can be a very serious condition."

Dr Simon Fradd, the chairman of the Doctor Patient Partnership said: "It is important that family doctors give clear advice to people with asthma about what over-the-counter pain relief drugs they should take."

Dr Fradd added: "Paracetamol should always be recommended as the first choice for pain and fever relief in asthmatics."

[Fee]

<font color='#0000FF'>Good advice.

sadly like so many &quot;new&quot; breakthroughs this advice has actually been around for many years - I was told it as a student.
What many people are not aware is that salicylate ( the ingredient in aspirin that is the culprit) is also found in many foods, especially beer and curry (I kid you not). &nbsp;Aspirin sensitive asthmatics should try and avoid these as well.

Fee &nbsp;

[Jay]

Why not just plug me in to the mains while you're at it? Nurse ....

[dlegros]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Heads Up @ Feb. 20 2004,20:51)]Why not just plug me in to the mains while you're at it? Nurse ....

Yes? ....



Dom

[ahar]

Blimey

Might do a quick test to see if I'm sensitive.......

[Phill]

Breathlessness - DVT? Breathlessness - DVT? Breathlessness - DVT? Breathlessness - DVT?
Oh b----r flying, I'll just walk.

[Ian B]

<font color='#0000FF'>All ibuprofen-containing products carry the appropriate warning for asthmatics, but sadly not all aspirin-based products. If you're an asthmatic its always best to ask your pharmacist before buying medicines &quot;over the counter&quot;.

If you're not in a pharmacy then check with your GP, as more adverse drug reactions are being notified regularly for asthmatics.

As stated above, paracetamol is the safest OTC painkiller for asthmatics.

[Dr Stevil]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Fee @ Feb. 20 2004,19:54)]What many people are not aware is that salicylate ( the ingredient in aspirin that is the culprit) is also found in many foods, especially beer and curry (I kid you not

In case too many people become overly concerned about this, it's worth pointing out that salicylate (salicyclic acid) is a naturally occuring compound which is integral to the defence mechanisms of a wide variety of plants, and was first identified in the bark of willow trees Salix spp. hence it's name. &nbsp;In fact it had been hypothesized that our species have a natural requirement for salicylate which evolved parallel to our evolution, due to our ancestors consumption of pathogen-stressed plants.

[Helen F H]

<font color='#000080'>As an asthmatic cleared to dive i know the risks of asprin and ibuprofen products. &nbsp;Also most over the counter cold preparations cant be taken by an asthmatic as they contain a cough surpressant which isnt a good idea if your lungs produce too much mucus anyway.
Cheap orange juice makes me wheeze, but cigarette smoke is the main culprit though for me.
By the way, if you contact the DDRC regarding advice for broncodilators (spelling?) they send some contradictory advice - you shouldnt take a salbutamol or similar type medication for at least 72 hours pre dive as the side effects of increased heart rate and vaso dilation are not good. &nbsp;They sent me some sheets saying that &quot;you should take a good puff of inhaler before you dive&quot; which i knew to be wrong. &nbsp;Apparently it was an old sheet!

[ahar]

You know, I've had asthma for 20 years (had medical and cleared to dive though - I'm sure that's another thread) and I never heard of this until I read that report. &nbsp;Either I'm not sensitive to them, or I don't notice the effects