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FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

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Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We can hope it's not for the rest of one's life but only until a better solution is found. For people with deadly allergies, a few years of injections might not be too big of a price, I think.

Why would any of the pharma companies out there want to invent a permanent cure, when there's far more money to be made with a cure that is not permanent? Makes no sense. A one time customer isn't lucrative.

First things first, pharma companies are OK with cures. Cures bring money as well, and some cures bring them patient trust.

Pharma companies aren't the only factor here either. Insurance companies, patients, and governments are definitely invested in cures. Preventative measures are OK with these groups as well - vaccines are one of these. Not all research is by big pharma either.

You are assuming other things bring magic profit when they don't do that as efficiently as you think.

Curing one disease doesn't cure them all, and there would still be profit to be made off of your other sicknesses. Probably especially those tied to lifestyle.

You are also assuming that we know how to cure the diseases we have treatments for. This is the real reason we don't have more cures - we know a good deal about the body, but there is a good deal we simply don't know.

It isn't that I think these folks are innocent - I have anger towards those exploiting sick folks to make obscene profits and the industry is greedy - but I don't buy your argument at all. It doesn't allow for the nuance that actual life has and only works if you don't look below the surface.

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been taking fluticasone propionate (which Flonase is) as a nasal spray nightly, and it's completely stopped me snoring and cured sleep apnea that previously I needed a CPAP machine for. Great stuff.

Is that the stuff that you can have withdrawal from? I remember after using a nasal spray when sick, if I used it too much for a week, the next two weeks id get really clogged up.

What you're talking about is oxymetazoline and its analogs, like in Afrin nasal spray.

Oxymetazoline is super potent and works immediately on nasal passages, but it can be risky to stay on for more than a few days straight.

Steroids like fluticasone don't work immediately, and take a couple of days to kick in, but you can use them indefinitely. Also, in addition to opening nasal passages, they have general anti-allergic effects -- i.e. they can help with itchy, watery eyes and facial swelling.

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#93

It's a 16 to 20 week course of treatment and reduces risk of anaphylaxis for accidental exposure to food allergens. There is at least one other drug that is used to treat peanut allergies, but this treats multiple food allergies. Given that anaphylaxis can be deadly and staff at food places can be sometimes less than reliable about food allergy concerns, I can see this being appealing to someone with severe food alle…

> It's a 16 to 20 week course of treatment The study refers to checking patients after this many weeks, but my understanding is that you're supposed to keep taking it forever. From NPR: > The medication is not intended for use during an allergic reaction. Instead, it is designed to be taken repeatedly every few weeks to help reduce the risk of reactions over time. 1: https://www.npr.org/2024/02/18/1232304606/fda-appr…

The medication is not intended for use during an allergic reaction. Instead, it is designed to be taken repeatedly every few weeks to help reduce the risk of reactions

Deep in the bowels of corporate HQ, at a board meeting:

"And the best part is, if people ever stop using it, their allergic reactions become more severe than before they started!"

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#94

It's a 16 to 20 week course of treatment and reduces risk of anaphylaxis for accidental exposure to food allergens. There is at least one other drug that is used to treat peanut allergies, but this treats multiple food allergies. Given that anaphylaxis can be deadly and staff at food places can be sometimes less than reliable about food allergy concerns, I can see this being appealing to someone with severe food alle…

There are countries with significantly less allergies amongst children. The difference is so stark as to be visible at the country border level. This is well studied. For political reasons, I'm gonna let you search what those countries are for yourself.

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#95
post #61
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

maybe you're just allergic to glyphosate, not wheat. glyphosate is in pretty much everything now

This might be true for people in general, but people who have been diagnosed with Celiac disease are definitely allergic to wheat.

Not wheat, gluten

edit: for the downvotes, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coeliac_disease

> where individuals develop intolerance to gluten

> Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction to gluten

> While the disease is caused by a permanent intolerance to gluten proteins,[10] it is distinct from wheat allergy, which is much more rare

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Our daughter is allergic to a few things,nuts being one of them. When we ask for food information at restaurants, often staff have no clue. We had cases where they couldn't confirm for sure even after checking with the kitchen( we walked away).

I'm sorry, but why would you expect someone to know all of the food ingredients on the menu - even if they work there - if they don't personally prepare all of the foods? Heck, in the US, most of the places aren't even paying their staff a decent wage. Servers go by the menu as well. It isn't like there is a list most places. If the owners cared about your allergies, they'd make sure their staff could find out easily…

In many countries, the restaurants are expected to know allergens by law. Each food on the menu is supposed to have list of allergens available. Usually they are available right there in the menu, you do not even have to ask.

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Our daughter is allergic to a few things,nuts being one of them. When we ask for food information at restaurants, often staff have no clue. We had cases where they couldn't confirm for sure even after checking with the kitchen( we walked away).

I'm sorry, but why would you expect someone to know all of the food ingredients on the menu - even if they work there - if they don't personally prepare all of the foods? Heck, in the US, most of the places aren't even paying their staff a decent wage. Servers go by the menu as well. It isn't like there is a list most places. If the owners cared about your allergies, they'd make sure their staff could find out easily…

I didn't read GP as blaming servers so much as demonstrating what is effectively systemic ignorance in the restaurant industry. The inability to 100% confirm ingredients is highlighted as not only being due to servers not knowing the exact contents of all meals (which is understandable), but also the fact that those who prepare and cook the meals as also being uncertain.

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#98
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Move to Australia? On a script, cost is AUD $31.60 per syringe, a rather stark saving from $410 . I wonder how that latter price compares to the price in the US, I couldn't quite get the prices I read without insurance to compute in my head. https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/med... https://m.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/10109c-10110d-10118m-1012...

> I wonder how that latter price compares to the price in the US My guess is not favourably for the US. My wife was diagnosed with MS about a year before we moved to America and, since I knew we were moving and was thinking about insurance, I asked the pharmacist once what they billed the govt per dose (monthly). We paid $40 out of pocket and the govt paid $1300 AUD. Our insurance in the US pays nearly $10k USD/m for…

No wonder why I couldn't process it; this sounds like a complete rort - it's just mind boggling.

More importantly, wishing you and your wife resilience, strength and as much good luck in health as is possible for your journey ahead.

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#99
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This might be true for people in general, but people who have been diagnosed with Celiac disease are definitely allergic to wheat.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3945755/ "Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases II: Celiac sprue and gluten intolerance" Here, we propose that glyphosate is the most important causal factor in this [celiac disease and gluten intolerance] epidemic.

Did you read the paper? My guess is no.

Classic HN, references a paper as if the conclusions are fact and all references are equivalent.

This is a paper where the authors did no experiments of their own, just put forth a hypotheses.

The lead author is an “independent scientist”.

Suffice to say I’d be very suspect of the conclusions drawn.

Re: FDA approves first medication to reduce allergic reactions to multiple foods

#100
post #44
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So hard to believe that this is so complicated. People’s lives and health. I wish it was easier.

Move to Australia? On a script, cost is AUD $31.60 per syringe, a rather stark saving from $410 . I wonder how that latter price compares to the price in the US, I couldn't quite get the prices I read without insurance to compute in my head. https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/med... https://m.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/10109c-10110d-10118m-1012...

It still costs the government AUD $221.57 (minus $31.60). So it is still pretty expensive, it is just being paid for collectively.
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