Going Generic

Montelukast (Singulair) is the most widely prescribed leukotriene blocker in the United States. It is used to treat both asthma and allergic rhinitis and is approved for both very young children and for adults. It has been a mainstay of asthma and allergy treatment since first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 … and it is costly! On average, a one-month supply costs approximately $150 or as much as $5 per tablet.  Financial relief may be on the way. The US patent for Singulair expires in August of this year, and it is very possible that a generic version of montelukast will be made available soon thereafter.

In general, manufacturers of generic medications are able to sell their medications at a lower cost than the original brand-name version.  The FDA is charged with ensuring that the generic medications are equally effective and safe as their brand-name predecessors.  This past year has seen approval of generic atorvastatin (Lipitor), the cholesterol-lowering medication, and of levofloxacin (Levaquin), a powerful antibiotic. Now, a low-cost generic montelukast may be on its way.

What's our opinion about generics?  In general, we are big fans.  We perceive them as an important way to reduce medication costs, make medications more widely available to those who need them (because of increased affordability), and help reduce the inflated cost of healthcare in America.  True, one may occasionally find that a brand-name version of a medication works better for you or is better tolerated, but that tends to be the exception rather than the rule.  Many, many people miss generic albuterol by metered-dose inhaler, having come to accept the generic version -- when it was still available -- as every bit as good as the branded albuterol inhalers (ProAir, Proventil, and Ventolin). 

On our wishlist: a generic and lower cost inhaled steroid by metered-dose inhaler (such as a generic fluticasone or beclomethasone).  By making inhaled steroids more affordable and thereby more widely used, it would save lives and reduce asthma hospitalizations and emergency department visits across the country.

By way of introduction...

As Partners Asthma Center enters its 22nd year (having begun as the Longwood Medical Area Adult Asthma Center in 1989), it is high time that we enter the modern internet world of social networking and electronic media. Part of our mission has always been to share reliable and up-to-date information about asthma and related diseases with our patients. Via our website – www.asthma.partners.org – we have also made this information available to anyone who wishes to join us online. Now we propose to take the next step, as we launch our Partners Asthma Center Asthma Blog.

Partners Asthma Center is a collaboration of allergists and pulmonologists at Brigham and Women's/Faulkner Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and North Shore Medical Center. We are committed to excellence in patient care, research, and teaching about asthma and related diseases.

Where exactly are we hoping to go as we enter the “blogoshere?” We have three goals in mind. The first is rapid dissemination of information, posting new pieces about asthma every week or two. The second is the opportunity for interactive dialogue about asthma. With a few keystrokes on your computer keyboard, you can let us know what you think about our blog or anything else about asthma that you have on your mind. You can share your thoughts with a huge community of people worldwide living with similar medical challenges related to their asthma. And third, we can achieve these first two goals at no cost for printing, mailing, or mailing list management. Quicker, more interactive, open to all, and free… that is the promise of the information highway. To it we hope to bring a reliable source of useful information and trustworthy medical opinion.

So join us as we venture boldly forward: visit http://pacasthma@blogspot.com. Beam us up, Scottie!