MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'ambien'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:09:29 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848150&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpzooZ2Wh0sg%2F Early last year, Merck sales rep David Turkheimer was instructed by his supervisor to tell a doctor that his patients would die if he did not prescribe the Gardasil HPV vaccine. The rep was was also told to inform another doc that his insurance rates would drop if Gardasil was prescribed. But he refused to do so and told his supervisor that such statements might run afoul of the FDA. That’s when Turkheimer allegedly ran into difficulty, according to a lawsuit he filed earlier this month against the drugmaker. He claims his persistant refusals prompted his supervisor to search for ways to terminate his employment. And his supervisor came up with an interesting rationale - he cited a car accident that Turkheimer insists was actually a medically induced episode of sleepdriving. Here&#8... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848150 Fri, 20 May 2011 15:53:56 +0100 4848150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549875&cid=t_110561_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FOhvRkM0JHPY%2F photo: Thinkstock I didn’t mean to become a junkie. It just kind of happened. My addiction to the prescription drug Ambien occurred back in 2001. There I was, in my late 20s, happily traveling to a lot of cool domestic and international locations thanks to my job as an editor at a travel magazine. But I’d planned to cut back on my usual 10-day-a-month work jaunts just for the summer, so I could do some serious hanging out at a pretty house I’d rented with a few other friends in New York’s Hudson Valley. It was going to rule: Long weekends, bike rides, nightly barbecues, cold beers, fireflies, picnics on the grounds of historic mansions, inordinate amounts of time logged at local swimming holes, and plenty of nights of good sleep in our sprawling, 19th-century careta... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549875 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:14 +0100 4549875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349700&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F5NrfDeio_0c%2F And so another working week will soon draw to a close. In this case, a long weekend is about to begin, at least on this side of the pond. Have any special plans? We expect to tidy up around the Pharmalot corporate campus, spend time with our short and not-so-short people, and take a long walk or two. What about you? Take in a movie or read a good book? Maybe get rid of some flab? Whatever you do, have a great time and come back energized. Meanwhile, here are a few tidbits to help you along. See you next week… Abbott Labs Withdraws Psoriasis Drug (Wall Street Journal) Sanofi Tells Docs About Liver Transplants In Multaq Patients (CardioBrief) Glaxo Malaria Vaccine Works For 15 Months: Study (Bloomberg News) Ambien Makes Older People Too Sleepy (Reuters) Allos Therapeutics Lays Off 13 P... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349700 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:43 +0100 4349700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3953763&cid=t_110561_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fstudy-links-sleeping-pills-to-mortality.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3953763 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:25:00 +0100 3953763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3736888&cid=t_110561_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Flearning-from-lindsay-lohan-follow.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3736888 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:36:00 +0100 3736888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490298&cid=t_110561_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fambien-zombies-sleepwalking-fears-and.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490298 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:50:00 +0100 3490298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3441056&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPzAoXvU6U6Q%2F In response to generic threats on two older meds - the Ambien CR sleeping pill and Aplenzin antidepressant - and declining sales of the Actonel osteoporosis med - the big drugmaker notifed employees that 400 positions, mostly sales reps, are being eliminated. The move is the latest cutback by Sanofi-Aventis, which is grappling with the same patent cliff as rivals. To cope, Sanofi is outsourcing sales for Aplenzin, which is a not a substantial revenue generator, and restructuring its promotional arrangement with Warner-Chilcott (see this) for Actonel, which notched $264 million in sales and is a declining product (see page 85 here). The bad news - and a source says there will be more - was delivered by way of email from Jerry Durso, Jerry Durso, vp of the specialized therapeutics business u... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3441056 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:37:01 +0100 3441056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977569&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAJal4KDWV30%2F Judging by a recent survey, that may seem to be the case. Direct-to-consumer ads are mentioned mostly by docs to increase patient acceptance for a medicine that’s already been chosen. But unaided - or spontaneous - mention by patients or actual patient requests for a specific med is a rare phenomenon, according to the survey by Verilogue. The firm tracked brand requests coupled with a reference to specific ad campaigns across 12,500 doctor-patient conversations from 2008 and covered 20 disease states and 46 different branded prescription drugs. Overall, DTC ‘pull-through’ in conversations in a doc’s office is low - just 3 percent - and specific patient requests for advertised med are even lower - .002 percent. Significantly, the most frequently pulled-through brand... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977569 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:20:15 +0100 2977569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2788441&cid=t_110561_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fis-ambien-miracle-cure-for-severe-brain.html Most people who take zolpidem – the generic name for Ambien – have insomnia and want to fall asleep. But can the drug help some people wake from an unconscious state?For years ReGen Therapeutics in London has been working on a “zolpidem project.” It is developing new, low-dose, non-sedating formulations of zolpidem; the goal is to use zolpidem to reverse “brain dormancy.”Now the Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute (MRRI) in Philadelphia has announced that it will launch a federally-funded study of zolpidem. It intends to enroll about 100 people who are in a vegetative or minimally conscious state due to brain injury. The study will be led by Dr. John Whyte.The NINDS reports that people in a vegetative state are unconscious and unaware of their surroundings; but they maintain... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2788441 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:31:00 +0100 2788441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2683999&cid=t_110561_149_f&fid=35784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheChemBlog%2F%7E3%2FsELSZxp52N8%2F I haven’t done a drug Sunday in a while, but I feel as though I should, given the heinousness of my previous post.  You see, I have some sort of anxiety disorder or something which appears to run in my family.  I usually work this out with running but haven’t been able to do that for a while and, consequently, the anxiety gets the better of me.  NOW, a consequence of said anxiety is insomnia – which is essentially the most annoying side effect.  (Most of my family are insomniacs.  At any given point, I could wake up and find some member of my family awake in the house, watching TV or playing on the internets or, in the case of the grandparents, smoking cigarettes reading newspapers…) Whatever.  The short of the long of it is sometimes I can’t sleep and s... The Chem Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2683999 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 05:07:35 +0100 2683999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610667&cid=t_110561_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Funderstanding-unusual-ambien-side.html A new study may help explain why some people have unusual side effects when taking the sleep aid zolpidem – also known as Ambien.Reuters reports that the drug can shut down brain circuits that normally inhibit some activity. This may release the brakes on other brain circuits while you sleep.“In a way, Ambien is awakening other circuits because the brakes are not in place," study co-author Molly Huntsman told Reuters. “It's a population of neurons that is normally in place to stop activity. We find what Ambien does is inhibit their function to inhibit.”Ambien is a sedative-hypnotic that is FDA-approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia in adults. The most common side effects include drowsiness and dizziness.But other unusual side effects can occur. In 2007 the FDA requested ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610667 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:07:00 +0100 2610667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2427576&cid=t_110561_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fcombining-cognitive-behavioral-therapy.html For people with insomnia, taking a medication can help break the cycle of sleepless nights. And cognitive behavioral therapy can lead to long-lasting improvements with little risk of side effects. But what happens when you combine these two treatments?A new study helps to answer this question. The results were published today in The Journal of the American Medical Association.The study involved 160 adults with chronic insomnia. For six weeks they were treated with either CBT or CBT combined with 10 mg of zolpidem at bedtime. Zolpidem is the generic name for Ambien.Then the study continued for six months. Some of the people treated with only CBT attended monthly treatment sessions; others had no further treatment. Some participants in the combined treatment group continued with CBT and zolp... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2427576 Wed, 20 May 2009 14:44:00 +0100 2427576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2269054&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Frooster-and-friends-win-pharm-exec-ad.html (Source: Pharma Marketing Blog) Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2269054 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:57:00 +0100 2269054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260640&cid=t_110561_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Feconomic-upturn-for-makers-of-sleeping.html Another sign that the economy is affecting our sleep: We’re taking more sleeping pills.Advertising Age reports that sleeping-pill prescriptions increased seven percent last year. Sales rose even though ad spending dropped by hundreds of millions of dollars.Sepracor had revenues of $161.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 from sales of Lunesta. This was up from $149.8 million for the same quarter in 2007. Full-year revenues were a little more than $600 million in both 2007 and 2008.But sales aren’t up across the board.Fourth-quarter net sales of Ambien CR (controlled release) in the U.S. were $170 million for sanofi-aventis. This was down from $190 million in the same quarter of 2007. Full-year sales dropped from $751 million in 2007 to $681 million in 2008.Full-year net sales for ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260640 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:50:00 +0100 2260640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2240977&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Feconomy-down-insomnia-depression-up.html (Source: Pharma Marketing Blog) Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2240977 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:08:00 +0100 2240977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074630&cid=t_110561_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theangriestpharmacist.com%2F2008%2F12%2F29%2Fzolpi-whaaaat%2F I got a note from The Ole Apothecary about a new drug he got wind of after reading my old post, Removing the Wool. TaestP, I can’t remember if you were the one who was blogging about ripoff prescription drugs such as Treximet or Solodyn. How about adding Zolpimist to the list? http://www.novadel.com/pipeline/zolpimist.htm I’ll just let you ponder this one. I’m glad he brought this to my attention. This is yet another product that serves no purpose other than to milk the public dry. It’s ridiculous how a company could do this and continue to remain a respected corporate citizen. It just doesn’t make any sense. “Faster absorption - quicker to reach steady state.” What a crock a shit! So, you take an Ambien - you fall asleep in 45 minutes. You spray s... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074630 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:00:06 +0100 2074630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2079027&cid=t_110561_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F495728856%2F This article provides is a very good market overview. The reporter and I also discussed in depth the need for better consumer education and professional development, so people can make informed decisions, and for cognitive assessments to serve as independent baseline, help identify priorities and measure results. Please note that our market estimates do include revenues of computerized cognitive assessments, today mostly used in clinical trials, and wthin the military and sports teams. 2) Navigating the brain fitness landscape: do's and don'ts (McKnight's Long Term Care News) Comment: "Choosing the right cognitive fitness product or program for senior living residents is harder than it sounds. But understanding residents' needs, identifying your objectives and considering the total c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2079027 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:03:07 +0100 2079027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947960&cid=t_110561_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F447995271%2F My apologies for not writing in a few days...the Global Agenda Summit in Dubai has required all my attention - I will summarize the great experience when I land back in San Francisco tomorrow night. The concepts of night and day do become challenging when working for a few days in a place with a 12-hour time difference with one's home base. Sleep is indeed very important to maintain top cognitive shape...which leads me to a fascinating news announcement: Health insurance firms offering online cognitive therapy for insomnia (Los Angeles Times) - "helping consumers get a good night's sleep has become a priority for most of the top-tier U.S. health insurance companies, including WellPoint, Aetna, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente and several Blue Cross plans. Their new programs don't involve slee... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947960 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:52:44 +0100 1947960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924710&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F437284446%2F Hmm… Here you have five people spinning around on Ambien CR, the Sanofi-Aventis sleeping pill, as seen on a new web site. And if you look very closely in the right-hand corner, in hard-to-read gray lettering, Sanofi confesses this is “not actual pill size.” Who would have known? Seems that in this era of increasing pressure to comply with disclosure regs, an over-anxious lawyer must have told the marketing team to make sure there was a disclaimer. As if we couldn’t have figured it out for ourselves. Hat tip to ePharmaRx (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924710 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:04:37 +0100 1924710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1920979&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Falice-35-is-not-real-ambien-cr-patient.html You've GOT to check out the new Ambien CR web site to witness what has to be a new low for "authentic" pharmaceutical marketing: patient testimonials from people who are "not actual patients" and not real people at all!Take Alice, for example. That's her on the left in the above image, which is a collage of two iterations of an animation of a rotating Ambien CR pill with what appear to be real Ambien CR users telling us why they are "sticking" with Ambien CR. Brian, shown on the right, was "tired of over-the-counter sleep aids leaving me groggy the next day." Alice, on the left, says she "wasn't treating my sleeping problem."You can click on Alice and get more information, including a detailed testimonial as shown in the screen image below:Click on the image to enlarge it and see what Alic... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1920979 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:40:00 +0100 1920979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1871103&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F416933478%2F Would you be surprised if the answer is AstraZeneca’s Nexium? The web site for the heartburn med, known as purplepill.com, generated the most site traffic in this year’s second quarter, with more than 1 million unique visitors, a 55 percent increase from a year earlier. Runners-up include sites for Takeda’s Actos diabetes drug and the Sanofi-Aventis Ambien CR sleeping pill. “AstraZeneca has aggressively marketed Nexium this year, running approximately twice as much online display advertising in Q2 as either of its major competitors, Prevacid and Aciphex,” John Mangano, senior director of comScore, says in a statement. “This additional marketing muscle appears to have helped generate strong site visitation.” (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1871103 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:20:21 +0100 1871103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856277&cid=t_110561_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F413011962%2Fjohn-mccain-and-ambien.html Is he sleep-driving through the campaign?After the last three weeks of erratic and unpredictable behavior from presidential candidate John McCain, it seems reasonable to revisit an issue first raised in May by ABC News: Is McCain’s use of the drug Ambien as a sleep aide affecting his behavior and judgment?After the press was allowed a brief look at candidate McCain’s medical records earlier this year, Dr. Peter A. Fotinakes of the St. Joseph Sleep Disorders Center in Orange, California, told ABC News that, while Ambien was generally a safe medication, “Taking more than the recommended dosage of Ambien or combining it with other sedative-hypnotics--for example, alcohol—may result in amnesia, fugue states, and sleep walking.”Ambien’s official website lists other reported effects:... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856277 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:02:00 +0100 1856277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1837488&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F405499147%2F Such a busy pharma world and so little time to keep up, yes? Like you, we always poke around for items of interest, and so we thought we would point out a few you may enjoy from the past week. Think of it as a little bit of catching up. Meanwhile, we hope your weekend is enjoyable and look forward to seeing you again tomorrow… The droll Jim Edwards points out that Sanofi-Aventis has become the latest drugmaker to get into the online video game business, or advergames. This one is for the ubiquitous Ambien Cr sleeping pill, and the game is called “Silence Your Rooster.” You can check it out here. By striking a deal to fill certain generics for free as part of a trial with Caterpillar, Wal-Mart is subtly undermining the economic model used so well by pharmacy benefit manage... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837488 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:34:00 +0100 1837488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779681&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F386603651%2F You may recall that Sanofi-Aventis recently launched a 15-second ad using a rooster to promote its Ambien sleeping pill, without mentioning the drug. The move is part of a renewed trend toward running so-called unbranded ads that avoid citing a drugmaker or a med, but steer viewers toward web sites where specific info is available. But how did Sanofi-Aventis come up SilenceYourRooster.com? Doug Farrago of The Placebo Journal has the scoop, and more medical insights… Hat tip to Pharmagossip (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779681 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:38:05 +0100 1779681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742938&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F378360108%2F Several weeks ago, Pfizer returned its Chantix ads to television, although the drugmaker chose not to run typical ads touting the name of the controversial anti-smoking pill, which has been linked to suicidal thoughts and other side effects. Instead, Pfizer is trying unbranded advertising, which means the product name isn’t used and, therefore, costly ad time needed to list side effects can be avoided. Here is the MyTimeToQuit site. The idea, writes The Wall Street Journal, appears to be undergoing a revival for drugs with chequered pasts, especially as drugmakers come under attack from some lawmakers over direct-to-consumer advertising. Sanofi-Aventis, for instance, just launched a 15-second ad that uses a rooster to promote a web site called silenceyourrooster.com, which promotes A... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742938 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:01:47 +0100 1742938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683441&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F356533871%2F In its latest bid to track prescription drug use, Consumer Reports conducted a survey last spring of 1,466 Americans who took sleeping pills and found that nearly half have difficulties. Consquently, many are turning to prescription meds with what CR calls “frightening results.” Here they are… Almost one in five Americans took prescription or over-the-counter medicines at least once a week to help them sleep better. Although sleep meds are usually recommended for no more than two weeks or so, 14 percent of the respondents took some type of pill on at least eight of the past 30 nights, and 5 percent turned to prescription drugs every night of the month. Side effects occurred in 63 percent of those who took sleep meds; 24 percent became dependent on the med they used, and 2... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683441 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:56:23 +0100 1683441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1500283&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F306161056%2F Seven months after sergeant Christopher LeJeune started scouting Baghdad’s dangerous roads — acting as bait to lure insurgents into the open so his Army unit could kill them — he found himself growing increasingly despondent, Time magazine writes. “We’d been doing some heavy missions, and things were starting to bother me,” says LeJeune, whose unit was protecting Iraqi police stations targeted by rocket-propelled grenades, hunting down mortars hidden in dark Baghdad basements and cleaning up its own messes. “You don’t always know who the bad guys are. When you search someone’s house, you have it built up in your mind that these guys are terrorists, but when you go in, there’s little bitty tiny shoes and toys on the floor — things like t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1500283 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:12:43 +0100 1500283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492322&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F303973122%2F Spending was off slightly - $1.2927 billion compared with $1.2935 billion - according to DTC Perspectives, citing Nielsen Monitor-Plus data. In other words, no growth. However, the consulting firm notes that the results marked a turnaround from last year’s fourth quarter, when spending declined 15.2 percent, which marked the first quarterly drop since DTC began 10 years ago. The two top media channels struggled as DTC advertising on network TV fell 3.3 percent, excluding pharma corporate advertising, and print DTC in consumer magazines dropping 2.5 percent, also excluding corporate ads, according to DTC Perspectives. Network TV, the consulting firm adds, captured almost 34 percent of all measured DTC advertising in the period. Among brands, a decline in spending by the leading slee... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492322 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:09:06 +0100 1492322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1477894&cid=t_110561_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F29%2F2142%2F “Sleep-driving” while under the influence of Ambien has captured wide attention and continues to be an alarming problem. Ambien (zolpidem) is one of the new “Z” drugs used as sleeping pills that are popular in commercials and doctor’s sample cupboards. But alternatives exist (most obviously the other Z’s - zopiclone/Lunesta, and zalepron/Sonata). There have been occasional newspaper reposts of sleep-driving of individuals arrested while sleep-driving, people who took Ambien at bedtime and didn’t even wake up during the arrest process. Like Devin Dove, who remained asleep until he woke up in a hospital bed and was handed a ticket for DUI by a nurse. The previous night he’d had no alcohol, no drugs - only his prescribed Ambien - and no recolle... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1477894 Fri, 30 May 2008 01:31:17 +0100 1477894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1291147&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F249048313%2F Last week, we wrote about an AARP study that concluded drugmakers increased their prices last year by an average of 7.4 percent for brand-name meds most commonly prescribed to the elderly, and the increase was about 2.5 times the overall inflation rate. However, the the study was criticized over methodology and motivation. One reader, for instance, wrote: “The two drugs among the top 25 with the greatest increases (Ambien and Norvasc) are both available generically. Thus, the vast majority patients (more than 90 percent) on either drug experienced a cost decrease of 50 percent to 80 percent. AARP intentionally ignores this so it can grab headlines. Not only do the headlines help AARP to advance its political agenda, it also stands to benefit financially since it has a financial inter... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1291147 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:59:14 +0100 1291147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1279510&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F245741630%2F Drug makers increased their prices last year by an average of 7.4 percent for brand-name meds most commonly prescribed to the elderly, and the increase was about 2.5 times the overall inflation rate, according to AARP, which released the report and has been tracking prices charged to wholesalers since 2002. In discussing the findings, AARP notes the price increases have been slightly greater since the Medicare drug benefit began Jan. 1, 2006, the Associated Press reports. In the four years before the benefit, wholesale prices rose between 5.3 percent and 6.6 percent annually, according to AARP. This is the study. AARP officials say the outcry over high drug prices has diminished since the Part D benefit was created. “Unfortunately, many manufacturers have taken the absence of an outc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1279510 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:59:21 +0100 1279510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1222427&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F233303328%2F Who doesn’t like a list? This one shows the ranking of branded drug sites that drove consumer requests for prescriptions and is based on a survey of 5,112 adults in the US, according to Manhattan Research. Most likely, you won’t find it surprising that the sites are for meds that treat such afflictions as impotence, insomnia and nicotine addiction. 1 - Chantix 2 - Cialis 3 - Viagra 4 - Aciphex 5 - Ambien CR 6 - Levitra 7 - Lamisil 8 - Lunesta 9 - Wellbutrin XL 10 - Ortho Evra (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1222427 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:11:00 +0100 1222427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1166386&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fsleep-aid-drug-print-ad-triptych.html I found the following 3 full-page ads for sleep medications in the January 28 issue of Time Magazine (click for an enlarged view):I think I arranged these in the order of market share in the US from left (highest) to right (lowest): Ambien CR, Lunesta, and Rozerem. I posted the following pie chart back in June (see "Rozerem DTC Ads: New Paradigm or Paradox?"). I doubt much has changed.Let's play the Sesame Street game "What's Different, What's the Same" and see if there is any connection with how well these drugs are doing. Maybe the "kids" at Abelson-Taylor should also play this game.I notice that both the Ambien CR and Lunesta ads prominently feature someone enjoying a nice snooze or night's sleep and they look happy. The Rozerem ad, on the other hand, does not have any image showing the... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1166386 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:03:00 +0100 1166386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=935266&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Frozerem-wall-street-analysts-miss-you.html Rozerem is not on equity analysts' radar screens!That's my conclusion after reading the BusinessWeek article "Sleep Drugs Rouse Big Pharma," which talks about current and future insomnia medications. The article summarized an "Insight" report written by Steven Silver and Herman Saftlas, both equity analysts for Standard & Poor's.The analysts mentioned Ambien, Ambrien CR, and Lunesta in their analysis plus several generics (temazepam and zolpidem). But nowhere in the story was there mention of Rozerem!My interpretation: Rozerem's market share is too insignificant for it to be included in a serious analysis of the insomnia market!This is even more surprising because the analysts claim only 10% - 15% of insomnia sufferers seek treatment primarily because of side effect (ie, dependence) fe... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=935266 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:44:00 +0100 935266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=934111&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F166968868%2F Another work week is under way, although US government offices are closed today for a holiday. Still, the rest of the world continues to spin. And so here are a few items that may interest you while you take the ride… In the wake of Wyeth’s acquisition of Haptogen, which was announced last Friday, curious minds may want to know more about what the big drugmaker is getting. However, that’s not possible. Wyeth has taken the Haptogen web site down. A visit to the site - type in www.haptogen.com - routes us to the Wyeth site (and the cached version is of no help, either). A UK pension fund has been appointed to as the lead plaintiff in a US class action lawsuit against Glaxo over charges the drugmaker misled investors by withholding info about the risks of its Avandia diabet... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=934111 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:16:47 +0100 934111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=864409&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F155093256%2F The folks at Mental Floss, the provocative web site that prompts you to laugh and tax your brain all at once, are daring us to match drugs with side effects. Perhaps they think everyone is paying attention to those fast-as-lightning disclaimers announced at the tail end of TV ads. In any event, here is the list of drugs, followed by the list of side effects. Take a look, then go to the Mental Floss Pop Quiz (right here), type in your answers and see how much you really know… 1 - Alli 2 - Levitra 3 - Accutane 4 - Rogaine 5 - Ambien 6 - Botox 7 - Lipitor 8 - Topamax 9 - Frontline Plus 10 - Paxil “Babies born to mothers who have taken [this drug] in the latter half of pregnancy have reported complications, including difficulties with breathing, turning blue, floppiness, stiffness,... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=864409 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:07:44 +0100 864409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=847521&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F153014168%2F Pfizer’s computer network is spamming the Internet with e-mails and touting Viagra, along with ads for knockoff Rolexes and shady junk stocks, Wired reports, adding that the e-mails aren’t part of Pfizer’s official marketing efforts. The drugmaker’s computers appear to have been infected with malware that has transformed them into ‘zombie computers’ that send spam at the behest of a hacker. Oddly enough, they are spamming the public’s inboxes with ads for the company’s own product. “There is a disaster inside this company, and they don’t know it,” says Rick Wesson, CEO of Support Intelligence, a security company that alerted Wired News to the problem. Much of the spam originating from Pfizer computers pretends to be sent fro... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=847521 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:26:14 +0100 847521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=728703&cid=t_110561_150_f&fid=35781&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.qdinformation.com%2Fqdisblog%2F2007%2F06%2F16%2Fdr-reddys-to-market-generic-ambien-2%2F Since I use Ambien on occasion it was good to hear Dr. Reddy’s Lab is no approved to sell generic Ambien. Dr. Reddy’s Gets Generic Ambien Approval - Forbes.com: I was actually behind someone at my local pharmacy recently and they were concerned they thought they had been given the wrong prescription since they did not recognize the name. The pharmacist explained that it was the generic version of Ambien. This could be a big blow to Sanofi-Aventis since they had sales of $1.2 billion in the last year. While Dr. Reddy’s Lab is the first, there will be several others and the competition will bring down the price. At least 10 other companies have approved generic versions. Both my wife and I use it on occasion and I love it. I especially use it when traveling to get my body i... QDIS Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=728703 Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:15:58 +0100 728703