Asthma and Allergy Patients Prescribed Montelukast Instead of First Line Therapy and Shows Low Rate of Persistence
“Patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies), initially prescribed montelukast (Singulair) instead of typical first-line therapy have low rates of persistence on montelukast and may ultimately discontinue therapy altogether, according to a new study presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s 23rd Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The study will be presented by Prime Therapeutics (Prime), a thought leader in pharmacy benefit management.” http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=62619&sid=2
FDA approves the montelukast for the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. It inhibits the chemicals that cause the inflammation which is leukotrenes. Montelukast is known to be the second line of defence against asthma or allergic rhinitis. The first line therapy is inhaled corticosteroid for asthma and nasal steroids for allergic rhinitis. Inhaled steroids works locally by concentrating the effects directly within the passage of breathing that have a fewer side effects outside the lungs or sinuses.
About 907 participants were identified by the researchers with asthma and claimed for newly initiated montelukast therapy in the fourth quarter of 2009. Additional 373 were with allergic rhinitis or allergies who took montelukast therapy during the same period were also identified. The patients were followed for about 120 days after their first claim that was filled to asses if they will continue to take montelukast for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days.
After undergoing to montelukast therapy on their 120th day, about 30.9 percent of the patients with asthma had a supply of the medication. Similar poor determination of montelukast treatment on 120 days was seen and noted among patients with allergic rhinitis. After the montelukast therapy was initiated, the majority of the asthma and allergic rhinitis patients were lacking any therapy.
According to Patrick Gleason, PharmD, director of Clinical Outcomes Assessment at Prime, a continuous drug treatment for asthma is important and the study suggests that the utilization of the management programs may warrant making sure that the patients who starts in the therapy have tried the other first line medications. It is essential to the patients to take the recommended medications first because it will be a great help to a number of patients to manage their illness and will save costs.
