Advair is one of the most sought out medications through the Patient Assistance Program at the health centers through Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH). Advair is used for severe asthma and COPD. According to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the pharmaceutical company who provides this medication, "once asthma control is achieved and maintained, assess the patient at regular intervals and step down therapy." My instincts say that GSK is on to something, but why is this not happening? Are the pharmaceutical companies guilty or are the physicians to blame? Aside from my personal frustrations with the pharmaceutical world, I try to err on the side of caution when interacting with our patients at the health center. A commonly used expression in our office: "I NEED my medicine." I'd like to believe this need is earnest, but I'm not convinced that patients haven't been brainwashed by the medical world, a world notorious for pushing meds and ingra
