[stylin_geek]

Advair runs about $175/mo. full price.

However, severe asthma was controlled relatively well before Advair.

From the way this article reads, the kid was in a constant state of airway inflamation. Generally, this is not the way asthma operates. Asthma usually needs some sort of environmental trigger before it starts.

I’m 51, almost died from my asthma a couple of times in my youth. I survived and managed before Advair was even invented.

I say this, because I think there’s a lot more to this story than is being reported.

[Slump Tester]

"Asthma usually needs some sort of environmental trigger before it starts."

I wonder how many packs a day the "mother" smoked?

[AnAmericanMother]

I don't know anybody who pays full price for Advair. We certainly never have.

Not only can you get free samples from your doctor, there are all sorts of coupons floating around everywhere. Some of the coupons are so good we didn't even submit a claim to the health insurer. And there is also a patient assistance program that Glaxo advertises heavily. Not to mention that if you want to order from Canada you can get it for less than half price.

But, with that said, my husband uses it and it works perfectly. He was never able to keep his asthma under control until Advair (any exercise would start him wheezing). Now he can do martial arts, bike, and hike with no distress.

Our insurer has raised the copay substantially on the stuff, but even if they struck it from the covered drugs we would find a way to get it by hook or crook.

This woman just sat around waiting for the government to do something. As soon as she did go to the doctor he gave her free samples, but she had waited too long.

Government dependency = death.

[Born Conservative]

I think there is some missing info in this piece.

First, why didn’t she keep going to the doctor if this was such a long standing problem? The doc could have done something different. Daily Prednisone perhaps? Not ideal, but it would have managed the inflammation, and once the problem with his benefits was cleared up, he could have gotten back on Advair.

Second, she called every three days for months? That doesn’t seem right; you would think that someone would have done something. And she only spoke with his caseworker once?

Third, why didn’t she go elsewhere? A state or US Rep or Senator? The local newspaper?

The problem is that people dependent on the government think that everything will be done for them, and when it’s time for them to take the initiative, many don’t bother. And when something like this happens, they push the blame on others.

I feel for this mother, as this most likely was a preventable death. But if you bring a child into the world, take some responsibility to do what’s needed to be done.

[Darnright]

>I’m 51, almost died from my asthma a couple of times in my youth. I survived and managed before Advair was even invented.

I say this, because I think there’s a lot more to this story than is being reported.<

You said it. This just doesn’t add up, not to mention I believe I’d have personally done without to buy my child’s meds if necessary. There are cheaper steroid inhalers out there. Prednisone tablets aren’t all that expensive for that matter. Advair and Symbicort are amazingly effective and the drugs of choice.

I wonder if this kid was a preemie and had damaged lungs from neonatal care, as opposed to a typical case of asthma?

[Ditter]

I too had asthma as a child in the 40’s and 50’s, no Advair. I don't remember what I took but I had pills and an inhaler. At times I feared that I was going to die but only had to go to the ER once. This poor boy died a horrible death over a period of 4 months. The system failed him but I feel that his mother failed him as well. I would beg on the street for money to buy my childs medication if that was the only way I could get it. I wonder what was irritating this childs lungs, in my case it was the feather mattress that I slept on. When my parents got me a new mattress I was a new kid. This was long before allergy testing I suppose, at least I knew nothing about it at the time.