Document Detail


The "black box" warning and allergy drugs.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16387582     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In the past years, several drugs commonly used by allergy specialists have received a "black box" warning added to their package insert at the direction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A "black box" warning is the highest level of 5 possible warning categories found in the package insert. The FDA has never articulated the basis for "black box" warnings. They generally appear to be based on clinical data, but occasionally can be based on serious animal toxicity. In the last several years, several drugs commonly used by allergists have received recommendations for "black box" warnings. Long-acting beta-agonists (salmeterol and formoterol) received "black box" warnings because of reports of the occurrences of severe asthma exacerbations in some patients with asthma, with some associated death. Topical calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) received a recommendation for application of a "black box" warnings because of a possible increase of cancer developing in patients taking these drugs. Although the addition of a "black box" warning was recommended by the FDA Pediatric Advisory Committee for these 2 topical agents, the FDA has not yet implemented this warning. Informed consent principles require that a patient be adequately informed of the risks (among other components) of any recommended treatment. The risks, as described, of the long-acting beta-agonists and topical immunosuppressants should be presented to the patients to aid them in deciding whether they are willing to take these drugs when recommended by their physician.
Authors:
Donald W Aaronson
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology     Volume:  117     ISSN:  0091-6749     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.     Publication Date:  2006 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-01-02     Completed Date:  2006-02-09     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  1275002     Medline TA:  J Allergy Clin Immunol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  40-4     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Finch University School of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL 60657, USA. doclaw@post.harvard.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adrenergic beta-Agonists / adverse effects*
Albuterol / adverse effects,  analogs & derivatives
Calcineurin / antagonists & inhibitors*
Drug Labeling*
Ethanolamines / adverse effects
Humans
Hypersensitivity / drug therapy*
Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
Informed Consent
United States
United States Food and Drug Administration*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Adrenergic beta-Agonists; 0/Ethanolamines; 0/Immunosuppressive Agents; 18559-94-9/Albuterol; 73573-87-2/formoterol; 89365-50-4/salmeterol; EC 3.1.3.16/Calcineurin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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