I use a Trelogy Elipta inhaler for my asthma. I refill monthly since last June. My original co-pay was $149 which went up to $175 in October. I went to pick up my refill today and pharmacy said my co-pay went up to $559!! I called SilverScript, my Part D Medicare insurance company and they said Astra Zeneca raised the price. I told the pharmacy no thanks and notified my pulmonologist to call the insurance co. to remove it so I can drop back down to tier one. I researched for a generic but there is none and Trelogy is the ONLY inhaler available with the three ingredients which includes a steroid. I will choke before I will pay that! Only the poor on medical assistance will get it at OUR expense. Thanks for the vent….I feel better.
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I hope something (or many somethings) in here helps:
https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/respiratory/asthma
Example:
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are polyphenols (found in fruits, vegetables, red wine, and tea) that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Flavonoids have been associated with improved lung function (Garcia 2005). The following flavonoids/ flavonoid-containing plants have been studied in the context of asthma:
Quercetin. Part of quercetin’s chemical structure is similar to cromolyn, a mast cell stabilizer sometimes used to treat asthma (Weng 2012). In one study, a high dietary intake of the flavonoids quercetin (found in wine, tea, and onions), naringenin (found in oranges and grapefruit), and hesperetin (found in oranges and lemons) was associated with a lower prevalence of asthma (Knekt 2002). Several animal models of asthma have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin. In one study, a single-dose oral administration of quercetin caused significant broncodilation, both in culture and in vivo (Joskova 2011). In another study, oral administration of quercetin significantly reduced levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-5 and IL-4 as well as inhibited mucus production in the lungs (Rogerio 2010). In yet another animal model, quercetin significantly inhibited all asthmatic reactions when it was administered before an asthma-inducing substance (Park 2009).
Proanthocyanidin. Proanthocyanidin is the main constituent of Pycnogenol®, an extract from the French maritime pine bark. Proanthocyanidin is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals (Cos 2004). A randomized, placebo-controlled trial found that children with mild to moderate asthma who received Pycnogenol® for 4 weeks in addition to daily and/or rescue inhalers had significantly improved lung function and asthma symptoms compared to the placebo group. Also, the treatment group was able to reduce or discontinue use of rescue medication(s) more often than the control group (Lau 2004). Similar results were found in a more recent trial among adults with stable, controlled asthma who used Pycnogenol® as an adjunct compared to inhaled corticosteroid only or placebo (Belcaro 2011).
Ginkgo biloba. A flavonoid-rich extract of leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree appears to be an effective asthma therapy (Mahmoud 2000; Li 1997; Tang 2007). In one study, ginkgo biloba extract was added to corticosteroids for 2 weeks. Researchers found that the sputum of patients on the ginkgo therapy had significantly less inflammatory cells compared to the drug-only or placebo groups, suggesting that ginkgo extract may relieve the airway inflammation associated with asthma (Tang 2007). In an animal model of asthma where an allergy challenge was followed by treatment with ginkgo, the extract inhibited the release of eosinophils in the lung tissue and mucus-secreting cells in the airways (Chu 2011).