On October 17, 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that Victor D’Costa Bourne received a sentence of life in prison for his role in a huge international drug trafficking ring.  

James T. Hayes, the special agent in charge of HSI New York, stated, “Victor Bourne and his crew of corrupt former American Airline employees mistakenly viewed drug smuggling as a path to riches.  The sentencing today serves as a stern warning about the consequences awaiting drug smugglers.”  

Bourne was a leader for a drug trafficking organization that smuggled drugs from the Caribbean to the United States through the John F. Kennedy International Airport.  During the investigation of Bourne’s case, 20 convictions were handed out, 19 airplane employees were arrested, 13 kilograms of cocaine and 2,900 pounds of marijuana were seized, and $6.9 million was forfeited.  

According to court documents, Bourne’s organization recruited employees from American Airlines and other airlines at both domestic and international ports of entry.  Bourne gave crew chiefs money to assign certain baggage handlers, and the baggage handlers were then paid thousands of dollars to retrieve the cocaine when it arrived on the flight.  

The cocaine was smuggled into the United States in aircrafts’ cargo holds, ceilings, wing assemblies, avionics equipment, and other parts of the planes.  The investigation proved that Bourne was responsible for smuggling more than 150 kilograms into the United States.  He was also making plans to smuggle larger amounts of cocaine in cargo containers.  

U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch stated, “Bourne not only abused the trust of American Airlines to satisfy his own financial greed, but by compromising security at JFK Airport he placed all travelers at risk.  In this post-9/11 era, we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those at our ports of entry who violate our nation’s drug trafficking laws and threaten the integrity of our borders.”

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

What is Advair?

The topic of Advair and pregnancy is a fervent one. Although the use of Advair is strongly discouraged for pregnant women, the negative effects associated with Advair and pregnancies is still widely unknown.  That being said, based on what is known with Advair and pregnancy, consuming the medication while pregnant could potentially damage the developing fetus.

During several animal studies, it was revealed that Advair caused significant birth defects and increased the chances of miscarriage when given to pregnant mice. While your doctor or healthcare provider may prescribe Advair to a pregnant woman, he or she should only do so after weighing the options and the benefits of combatting the medical condition against the risks posed on the unborn child.

Advair and Pregnancy: Is Advair Safe During Pregnancy?

When looking at Advair pregnancies, one must understand the side effects associated with the two drugs (fluticasone and salmeterol) that make-up Advair. As a combination drug, that is inhaled daily, it is assumed that Advair is not a risk-free situation. Although there is no clinical evidence to suggest Advair pregnancy is dangerous, based on the results of the aforementioned animal studies, it can be stated that using Advair during a pregnancy is not safe.

The United States Food and Drug Administration utilizes a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks associated with a fetus when specific medicines are taken during pregnancy. Currently, Advair pregnancy is listed under Category C, which is applied to medications that have not been studied in pregnant human beings, but do appear to dispose damage or cause harm to the unborn fetus in animal studies. Moreover, medications that have yet to be studied in pregnant animals or women automatically receive a C-rating.

Advair was given a Category C rating because of the damaging side effects observed in animal studies. When given to pregnant mice, Advair caused birth defects including bone problems and cleft palates. Moreover, the drug, when administered to pregnant mice, greatly increased the risk of miscarriage.

With the above information taken into account, it must be noted that animals do not always respond to medications in the same way that a human being does. A pregnancy category C medication may be given to a pregnant human being if their respective healthcare provider believes that the benefits of the drug outweigh the projected risks disposed on the fetus. Because medications like Advair are effective in combatting respiratory conditions, such as asthma, a healthcare provider will often recommend that women continue Advair and pregnancy.

If you’re currently taking Advair and become pregnant you must immediately let your medical professional know. Your healthcare provider will consider both the risks of taking Advair during pregnancy and the benefits of the drug’s respiratory solving abilities before affirming a recommendation for your particular situation.   

What exactly is Advair?

Advair is a combination drug that uses salmeterol and fluticasone to manage asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Advair, in the United States of America, is marketed by GlaxoSmithLine under various names. It must be stated: patent protection for Advair in the United States expired in 2010. The availability of Advair, in the generic forms, may be delayed because the Food and Drug Administration has not established a standard concerning the bio-equivalence of inhaled steroids in dry powder or multi-dose inhalers.

Advair is available in a number of dosage strengths, depending on the patient’s location and their need for the drug. The smallest dosage is 100 ug of fluticasone and 50 ug of salmetrol, while the immediate dosage is 250/50 and the highest dosage is 500/50.

Advair is used daily; the medication should never be applied during the beginning or throughout the course of an asthma attack. Instead, Advair is applied daily to form a protective shield and promote the flow of oxygen in the body. The common side effects of this combination drug are those of its individual components. For example, the use of an inhaled corticosteroid is associated most notably with oral candidiasis.

Advair Alternative:

Although the Advair drug lost its American patent protection in 2010, there is no generic equivalent in the United States. That being said, there are a few common Advair alternatives that will be discussed below.

Because Advair is a combination medicine, the bulk of Advair alternatives will utilize two drugs to combat respiratory problems. A few medications on the open market utilize the inhaled steroid feature of Advair with a bronchodilator medication. These Advair alternatives include: Budesonide and formoterol (known as the Advair alternative symbicort).

In addition to above Advair alternative, there are a series of medications, that when combined, can offer the same benefits as Advair. These miscellaneous medications can serve as an Advair alternative if used properly. If you wish to take these Advair alternatives only do so under the direct supervision of a licensed medical professional. The following Advair alternatives, again, should only be used to treat COPD and asthma under the direct consent and supervision of a medical professional:

• Advair alternative: Montelukast (marketed as Singulair)

• Advair Alternative: Zafirlukast (Accolate)

• Advair Alternative: Zilueton (Zyflo)

There are a few other Advair alternatives, including therapy and other steroids. If you wish to look into an Advair alternative please contact your healthcare provider. Note: an Advair alternative should only be discussed or looked into if Advair, by itself, is not effective in the treatment of your respiratory problem. Moreover, an Advair alternative should be looked into if the associated side effects are too intense to handle.

What are the Abilify side effects?

Similar to the majority of medications, a number of side effects are attached to Abilify use. The presence of Abilify side effects increases when the drug is used in conjunction with other medications or interacts with existing conditions. Your doctor’s diligence and your disclosure to with regards to preexisting conditions are paramount to avoiding some of the worst Abilify side effects, however rare they may be.

What are the most common Abilify side effects?

Abilify is an antidepressant which alters chemicals in the brain to regulate dopamine levels. If you notice any of the following Abilify side effects please do not hesitate to contact your medical professional:

– Headaches

– Trouble sleeping

– Restless and anxious feelings

– Fatigue

– Constipation

The most common side effects for Abilify happen in 10 – 20% of patients. If these side effects are severe or persistent you must contact your medical professional or 911 immediately.

What affects the side effects for Abilify?

Like all medications, certain factors contribute to the severity of a side effect.  For example, taking Abilify on an empty stomach can increase the presence of some Abilify side effects, such as headaches. To minimize Abilify side effects, please follow the dosing instructions provided by your doctor or labeled on your prescription. Adhering to said instructions is typically beneficial to the patient and ensures the effectiveness of the drug.

Is there a risk of dependency as part of Abilify side effects bipolar?

There is little to no risk of an Abilify side effects bipolar including dependency.  Proper dosing should be followed and the physicians will modify dosing as necessary to ensure that the medication is effective and avoids Abilify side effects bipolar.

What are Abilify side effects bipolar?

Those who take Abilify for the treatment of bipolar disorder encounter many of the same Abilify side effects, including headaches and fatigue.  In addition to these basic Abilify side effects, the drug comes with long term Abilify side effects, such as weight gain, diabetes and high blood pressure. If you notice these reactions, please report to them to your medical professional; your doctor, upon evaluating your situation, will run tests to see if discontinuation is appropriate.

What is the Ortho Evra patch?

Manufactured by Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals, the Ortho Evra is a skin patch that possesses the same hormones as several birth control pills. Women may wear the Ortho Evra patch on the abdomen, upper torso (aside from the breasts), the buttocks or the outer region of the upper arm. The patch, which is 99% effective, is used to prevent pregnancy by delivering estrogen and progestin into the blood stream through the skin. The Ortho Evra patch does not prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

Side Effects

Side effects of the Ortho Evra patch include breast tenderness, headache, rash at the site of the patch, nausea, and menstrual cramps.  The most serious of these side effects is fatal thromboembolic events.  This risk is increased greatly in women over 35 years old who are also smokers. 

Government Regulation

Due to the increased risk of cardiovascular conditions associated with users who are smokers Ortho-Evra inserted a warning stating that "Women who use hormonal contraceptives, including Ortho Evra, should be strongly advised not to smoke."  In 2005 Ortho McNeil, with the FDA, revised the label to warn women about higher exposure to estrogen if they use hormonal patches instead of daily birth control pills.  Increased estrogen has shown to increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disorders.  The label was revised twice more in subsequent years. 

Lawsuits

There have been a number of lawsuits against Ortho McNeil and Johnson & Johnson over the safety of the Ortho Evra patch.  The lawsuits revolve around a series of cardiovascular conditions resulting from the use of the patch.  In 2008 Johnson & Johnson settled lawsuits totaling $68.7 million. These suits were filed by hundreds of plaintiffs who suffered blood clots, heart attacks and strokes as a result of using the patch.

Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals–and its parent company Johnson & Johnson–is currently facing a class action lawsuit over problems associated with the Ortho Evra patch.  Many women's health organizations have called for the recall of the product.

What if I have used the Ortho Evra patch?

Given the aftereffects associated with the product, if you have used the patch and are facing cardiovascular problems, you should consult a medical professional. Your problems may be directly associated with using the patch. Moreover, it is in your best interest to seek legal advice.  You should consult a class action attorney as soon as possible.  The class action suits involving Ortho Evra are in the planning stages and it is beneficial to get involved.