Improved lung function and quality of life following guaifenesin treatment in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A case report.

We report improved lung function and quality of life following daily use of guaifenesin/dextromethorphan (Mucinex DM, Reckitt Benckiser) for the treatment of mucus-related symptoms in a patient with COPD, who presented with increasing dyspnea, progressive cough and chest congestion.

Daily use of guaifenesin (Mucinex) in a patient with chronic bronchitis and pathologic mucus hypersecretion: A case report.

We report an improvement in symptoms and quality of life with long-term use of guaifenesin for the treatment of mucus-related symptoms in a patient with chronic bronchitis, who presented with mucus hypersecretion, cough and dyspnea.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction update-2016.

The first practice parameter on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) was published in 2010. This updated practice parameter was prepared 5 years later. In the ensuing years, there has been increased understanding of the pathogenesis of EIB and improved diagnosis of this disorder by using objective testing.

The impact of expired and empty quick-relief asthma inhalers: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's Asthma Inhaler Design Survey.

Background: Despite the available treatments, asthma remains a serious illness, with a considerable socioeconomic burden associated with a high number of unscheduled visits to the emergency department (ED). Poor adherence and inadequate inhaler technique are contributing factors to poor asthma management and control.

Objective: The Asthma Inhaler Design Survey assessed the behaviors, attitudes, needs, and preferences of patients with asthma and their caregivers with regard to quick-relief inhaler usage and device design.

Recommendations for the pharmacologic management of allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects at least 60 million people in the United States each year, resulting in a major impact on patient quality of life, productivity, and direct and indirect costs. As new therapies, data, and literature emerge in the management of AR, there is a need to communicate and disseminate important information to health care professionals to advance the practice of medicine and lessen the disease burden from AR. Treatment recommendations for AR have not been updated since the 2012 Food and Drug Administration approval of nonaqueous intranasal aerosol agents using hydrofluoroalkane propellants and the first aqueous intranasal combination product.

New intranasal formulations for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Intranasal corticosteroids (INSs) have been effectively used for >40 years for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and perennial AR (PAR). Following the Montreal Protocol, the initial aerosol formulations using chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants were phased out. For the past 20 years, aqueous solutions have been the only available option for INS treatment.

Improving screening and diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: a call to action.

This article summarizes the findings of an expert panel of nationally recognized allergists and pulmonologists who met to discuss how to improve detection and diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), a transient airway narrowing that occurs during and most often after exercise in people with and without underlying asthma. EIB is both commonly underdiagnosed and overdiagnosed. EIB underdiagnosis may result in habitual avoidance of sports and physical activity, chronic deconditioning, weight gain, poor asthma control, low self-esteem, and reduced quality of life.

A World Allergy Organization international survey on physical activity as a treatment option for asthma and allergies.

Background: Physical exercise has been shown to improve asthma symptoms, QoL, exercise capacity, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and lung function and is recommended as a supplementary treatment to pharmacotherapy for asthma. Clinicians are well placed to promote physically active lifestyles, but their role and practice towards promoting physically active lifestyles among patients has not been fully investigated. This study was designed to investigate the knowledge, propensity, attitude and practices of clinicians towards the promotion of physical activity among patients with asthma and allergies.

Efficacy and safety of beclomethasone dipropionate nasal aerosol in pediatric patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: Aerosolized intranasal corticosteroid formulations are desirable for many patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), especially children, who wish to avoid the "wet feeling" and "drip down the throat" associated with aqueous formulations. Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) hydrofluoroalkane nasal aerosol has been shown to be safe and effective in adolescents and adults with AR.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of BDP nasal aerosol in pediatric patients with moderate to severe seasonal AR.

An official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline: exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Background: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) describes acute airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise. EIB occurs in a substantial proportion of patients with asthma, but may also occur in individuals without known asthma.

Methods: To provide clinicians with practical guidance, a multidisciplinary panel of stakeholders was convened to review the pathogenesis of EIB and to develop evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of EIB.

Omalizumab and asthma control in patients with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma: a 6-year pragmatic data review.

Controlled clinical trials have shown the recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody omalizumab to improve asthma control and reduce symptom exacerbations in patients with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma who remain clinically unstable despite optimal medical therapy. An objective retrospective review compared clinical experience with the data reported in the controlled studies. Data tracking for 167 patients progressively enrolled between 2003 and 2010 treated with omalizumab included symptoms, forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV(1)), systemic steroid bursts, and need for short-acting bronchodilator rescue measured at the start of therapy; 3, 6, and 12 months after starting treatment, and yearly thereafter.

Allergic rhinitis substantially impacts patient quality of life: findings from the Nasal Allergy Survey Assessing Limitations.

People with allergic rhinitis rate their overall health significantly lower than individuals without nasal allergies. Compared with the general population, more people with AR complain of difficulty getting to sleep, waking up during the night, lack of a good night's sleep, or a combination of these, as a result of their nasal symptoms. More than half of individuals with AR describe their symptoms as impacting daily life a lot or to a moderate degree.

Challenges in the management of exercise-induced asthma.

Exercise and physical activity are common triggers of symptoms in patients with asthma, although some individuals - especially athletes - may have symptoms with exercise alone. Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) describes airway hyper-reactivity that is observed following exercise in a patient who is not otherwise diagnosed with asthma; exercise-induced asthma (EIA) describes airway hyper-reactivity associated with exercise in a patient who has persistent asthma. Specific challenges affecting both the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions are discussed in this review.

Evaluation of olopatadine hydrochloride nasal spray, 0.6%, used in combination with an intranasal corticosteroid in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The combination of intranasal antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids results in superior relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) symptoms compared with monotherapy. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of olopatadine hydrochloride nasal spray, 0.6% (OLO), administered in combination with fluticasone nasal spray, 50 micrograms (FNS), relative to azelastine nasal spray, 0.

Evaluation of olopatadine hydrochloride nasal spray, 0.6%, used in combination with an intranasal corticosteroid in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The combination of intranasal antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids results in superior relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) symptoms compared with monotherapy. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of olopatadine hydrochloride nasal spray, 0.6% (OLO), administered in combination with fluticasone nasal spray, 50 micrograms (FNS), relative to azelastine nasal spray, 0.

Evaluating approved medications to treat allergic rhinitis in the United States: an evidence-based review of efficacy for nasal symptoms by class.

Objective: To evaluate how well the medications currently approved in the United States for allergic rhinitis (AR) treat nasal symptoms when examined according to Food and Drug Administration-indicated uses and dosages.

Data Sources: MEDLINE (1966 onward), EMBASE (1974 onward), and the Cochrane Library (2007) were systematically searched according to the following criteria defined at a roundtable meeting of the authors: randomized controlled trial, at least a 2-week duration, and approved indication and dosage in the United States.

Study Selection: Data from studies that met the inclusion criteria were extracted into evidence tables, which were reviewed twice by the full panel of authors.

Comparison of olopatadine 0.6% nasal spray versus fluticasone propionate 50 microg in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The efficacy of nasal antihistamines (NAHs) for allergic rhinitis (AR) is comparable with or better than second-generation oral antihistamines, with faster onset of action and greater effect on congestion. Limited data suggest that NAHs may be equivalent to intranasal corticosteroids at reducing the full range of nasal seasonal AR (SAR) symptoms, including congestion. The efficacy of olopatadine 0.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is a relatively common condition that affects both recreational and elite athletes. The latest data suggest that it is an inflammatory process, especially in elite athletes. Proper diagnosis is important to differentiate EIB from other respiratory conditions.

Guaifenesin in rhinitis.

Mucus in the airways is a complex mixture of water, lipids, glycoproteins, sugars, and electrolytes that serves as a lubricant for the epithelium. The efficient flow of respiratory mucus is a first level of immune defense that requires an appropriate viscosity and elasticity for optimal barrier and ciliary functions. Thickening and drying of airway mucus by respiratory tract infections, allergies, and drugs can impair evacuation.

Allergic rhinitis-induced nasal congestion: its impact on sleep quality.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an extremely common health problem affecting 20 to 40 million Americans and between 10-25% of the world's population. Patients with AR suffer from both nasal symptoms (congestion, rhinorrhea, itching, and sneezing) and ocular symptoms (itching, redness, and tearing). The negative impact on sleep quality and quantity, and consequently on various aspects of the patient's life, is an under-recognised and under-treated component of AR morbidity.

Update on montelukast and its role in the treatment of asthma, allergic rhinitis and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Montelukast sodium (Singulair, Merck and Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ) is a selective and orally-active leukotriene receptor antagonist with demonstrated effectiveness for treating allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis in adults and children as young as 12 months of age for allergic asthma and 6 months of age for allergic rhinitis.

Therapeutic options for reducing sleep impairment in allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyposis.

Background: Patients with inflammatory disorders of the upper airways, such as allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyposis, often have significant sleep disturbances. Poor sleep can lead to fatigue, daytime somnolence, impaired daytime functioning as reflected in lower levels of productivity at work or school, and a reduced quality of life. Although the exact mechanisms by which these inflammatory nasal conditions disturb sleep is not fully understood, congestion appears to be a key factor and is generally the most common and bothersome symptom for patients with these conditions.