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 'drugs'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:47:23 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181742&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FWtTkmF-1j1A%2F Cancer Among 9/11 Responders: Research published in the Lancet finds that firefighters who worked at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks were 19% more likely to later develop cancer than firefighters who didn’t work at the site, the WSJ reports. Still, experts and study authors said the study isn’t definitive and that it will take many years for data on cancer incidence to accumulate. In addition, the number of cases wasn’t large enough to draw conclusions about the rates of specific cancers, the paper says. Pulling “Firepot” Fuel: Reports of burns have led to the recall of gel fuel used in outdoor “firepot” decorations by nine companies, the Associated Press reports. The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission says consumers should stop using the f... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181742 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:25:31 +0100 5181742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182316&cid=t_91990_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Ff5uWuvV6ctE%2F Once again, a web page is deemed problematic by the FDA. In a letter sent by the agency earlier this week, Pfizer was chastised because its Lipitor web page made misleading representations and suggestions about several other drugs. The issue came to light, by the way, thanks to the FDA ‘Bad Ad’ program, which encourages people to file complaints about troublesome promotions (see this). What exactly did the FDA find objectionable. In its letter, the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications noted that the Lipitor webpage contained a link that led to a webpage about Lipitor which contained a “Click to Continue” link. This took the visitors to individual product websites for Caduet and Chantix, and to the prescribing information for Norvasc. However, Pfizer ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182316 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:21:40 +0100 5182316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181743&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F4Sw49AJoTU8%2F When kids get respiratory infections like bronchitis or the common cold, most times they don’t need antibiotics to get better. Many still receive the drugs, however, even after public-health campaigns warning against overuse. Unnecessarily administering the drugs does patients no good and can lead to antibiotic resistance — potentially rendering the drugs useless against serious infections. New stats out today from the CDC show that antibiotic prescribing rates for kids 14 and under have improved since the early 1990s. But the prescribing rate “remains inappropriately high,” the report says. Overall prescribing rates fell 24% to 229 antibiotic prescriptions per 1,000 office visits in 2007-2008  from 300 in 1993-1994. Looking specifically at acute respiratory infections... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181743 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:58:18 +0100 5181743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181740&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F09%2Fsafe-cosmetics-act-addresses-gaps-in-safety-regulations Many U.S. users of cosmetics may not realize that they do not require FDA testing or approval and the federal agency is not authorized to require a manufacturer to recall unsafe products from the market. Because cosmetics are not regulated in the same way drugs are, it’s more difficult for consumers to make informed decisions, and the FDA has less power to regulate the cosmetics industry and respond to problems. The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011, introduced by Janice Schakowsky (IL-D), is intended to help close some of these gaps in cosmetics regulation. The Act would give the government the power to recall unsafe cosmetics, require better disclosure of ingredients, establish additional safety standards and require manufacturers to submit data on the safety of their products, mandate re... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181740 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:28:10 +0100 5181740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182329&cid=t_91990_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Faging-and-addiction%2F Addiction among older adults is a hidden and hushed problem. Signs and symptoms of alcohol or medication abuse can easily be mistaken for conditions related to aging. And even when friends or family members recognize signs of addiction, they often discount the need for intervention or treatment. With an estimated three million older Americans struggling with alcohol and drug misuse and abuse, Aging and Addiction is a much-needed resource. The authors, both experts in the field of addiction treatment and intervention, provide a respectful, definitive guide for recognizing and addressing substance abuse among older adults. Key topics include: understanding the relationship between aging and addiction, finding help for a loved one, and recognizing the treatment needs of older adults. ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182329 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:34:53 +0100 5182329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181745&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FyTvDE7iBcpA%2F Tracking Implants: An FDA official said silicone breast implants made by Johnson & Johnson’s Mentor and Allergan will stay on the market, and that the agency will work with the companies to increase participation in post-approval studies, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Companies have struggled to maintain follow-up on the 80,000-plus women originally included in those studies, originally planned to last a decade, with Allergan tracking about 60.5% of them for two years and Mentor following 21% for three years. If more women aren’t tracked, the studies won’t be able to detect possible long-term health issues. Evaluating CPR: Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that performing CPR for a longer period prior to gauging a patient’s heart rhythms ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181745 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:56:23 +0100 5181745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182090&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Flooking-at-risperdal-for-adhd-and-alternatives-to-psychostimulant-drugs-for-adhd-are-you-up-to-date.php Being up to date in the ADHD drugs world requires a lot of study and dedication. Drugs come and go and there has been a lot of debate and controversy about the side effects of drugs such as Adderall, Concerta and Ritalin. Risperdal and ADHD is another popular choice. A recent survey by Consumer Reports asked over 900 parents of children with ADHD about which treatment options they had selected. They found that over 84% said that their kids had been treated with psychostimulants at some point in the treatment cycle. Are they really safe and are they effective in reducing some of the symptoms of restlessness, hyperactivity and lack of attention span? Well, like most of the psychostimulants on the market to-day, a fair number of children with ADHD may experience some rather nasty side effects... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182090 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5182090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181703&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fjama-article-begs-key-questions-about.html There was a recent reminder of the case of the tainted heparin, which begged more questions than it answered.  (A case summary is appended to the end of this post, and nearly all our posts are here.)  The case is of fundamental importance because it involves the failure of pharmaceutical companies to fulfill their core mission, to supply pure, unadulterated drugs.   Three years later, how the heparin was adulterated, and who was responsible are still unknown. JAMA just published a major news article (Kuehn BM. As production goes global, drug supply faces greater risks to safety, quality.  JAMA 2011; 306: 811-813.  Link here.) This, in turn, was based on a five page case study of the heparin incident in a report by the Pew Health G... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181703 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:53:00 +0100 5181703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182096&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-multiple-sclerosis-spell-checker%2F The more I write about multiple sclerosis, the more I realize that I’m smarter than my computer about said topic. Sometimes I feel like my spell-checking software hasn’t caught up with the vernacular of our disease. Other times, I feel like we’re just making up words for stuff — oft, we are! Myelin, Cog-Fog, Assistive, PML, CCSVI… not something your everyday word processing program recognizes; and I need it too! In my current state, I find myself relying more and more on the brain under my fingertips more than I trust my own T-Cell infested gob but squiggly red, blue or green highlights (GREAT! Now I’m to understand color-coding as well) splash their way across my screen as I type. I once mentioned, a few years ago now my issue with typing my passwords when my fingers aren�... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182096 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:13:11 +0100 5182096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181751&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FQa2nPPR_42c%2F “Niche Blockbusters”: Pfizer’s newly approved lung-cancer therapy crizotinib, to be sold under the brand name Xalkori, represents a relatively new tack for the pharma giant: a drug aimed at a small group of patients with a serious disease whom tests show will likely benefit from the treatment, the WSJ reports. Drug makers can bring these potential “niche blockbusters” to market quickly and more cheaply than drugs aimed at a mass audience, and because the medical need is dire, insurers will pay up for them. Xalkori will sell for $115,200 per year. Asking the Uninsured: The Kaiser Family Foundation’s latest tracking poll finds only 31% of uninsured people think the health-care overhaul law will help them get coverage, NPR’s Shots blog reports. A full 37% of... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181751 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:20:05 +0100 5181751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174611&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcancer-drug-demonstrates-no-survival-benefit-receives-fda-approval%2F2011.08.29 Recently, the FDA announced its approval, upon accelerated review, of a new drug, Adcetris (brentuximab) for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma that has relapsed after bone marrow transplant and for some patients with T-cell anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). This interests me for a lot of reasons, among them that I used to work in the field of lymphoma immunology and spent some time in my life studying molecules like CD30, the protein to which the new antibody binds. First, a mini-primer on the disease and numbers of patients involved: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medical Lessons* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174611 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:19 +0100 5174611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174606&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fdont-use-medicines-affected-by-hurricane-irene.html If Hurricane Irene left you with flooding and water damage, chances are food, drinking water, and even medicines in your home were affected, exposing you and your family to potential illness and other serious health risks. To lessen these risks, the Food and Drug Administration is recommending that you discard any drug products—even those in their original containers—that have come into contact with flood or contaminated water. That includes capsules, tablets, and liquids in drug containers with screw-top caps, snap lids, or droppers and injections, inhalers, and skin medications. If needed, contact your doctor or pharmacist for replacements. In addition, medications that have been placed in any alternative storage containers should be discarded if they have come in contact wi... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174606 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5174606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174589&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F2BbP583QpPw%2F Superior to the Standard: Data from an 18,201-person study show that apixaban, a blood thinner being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, reduced the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation patients by 21% and the risk of death by 11% compared to the standard treatment, warfarin, the WSJ reports. Apixaban also cut the risk of bleeding by 31% compared to warfarin. The drug will be submitted to the FDA for approval this year, the paper says. Bird Flu, Again: The United Nations is warning that a strain of avian flu against which current vaccines may not protect is spreading among birds in China and Vietnam, the Associated Press reports. Meantime, the avian flu virus, officially called H5N1, is now showing up in wild birds in areas that haven’t seen it for many years, thanks to mig... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174589 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:42:13 +0100 5174589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174759&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fthe-dangers-of-overprescribed-adhd-medications.php Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become the fastest growing diagnosed disorder among children under the age of 18. Many children in countries such as the US, New Zealand and Australia are being prescribed medications at an alarming rate. As the FDA requires ADHD drugs to carry warning labels, the overmedication of children with ADHD is becoming a real concern. Most ADHD drugs are stimulant that contain amphetamine. Various side effects have been reported from taking these drugs. Some of them tend to suppress feelings of any kind, making children unhappy. Some are addictive and prone to substance abuse. In some cases, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. Ritalin is a common prescription medication for ADHD in children to help them concentrate better. The s... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174759 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174760&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-research%2Fadhd-news-about-substance-abuse-smoking-and-drugs.php This study confirms that children and teens with ADHD are more likely to have problems with drug abuse, smoking and bad behavior. The children studied were ten years old and they were actually followed for a full ten more years until they reached the age of twenty. The teens with ADHD were one and a half times more likely to be involved in substance abuse and alcohol.  The interesting fact from this study shows that those teenagers who had come to terms with the Read More (Source: Life With ADHD) Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174760 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169520&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F2YxfexmzmAo%2F Poison Protection?: Pharmacy-services provider PharMerica said it adopted a poison-pill provision to prevent unwanted takeover bids, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Earlier this week the company rejected a $15-per-share bid from Omnicare, saying it undervalued PharMerica and that regulatory risk was too high. Omnicare said it was still willing to talk with PharMerica about how to “allocate” risk that a deal would run into antitrust hurdles. Cracking Down on Papayas: The FDA has restricted papaya imports from Mexico after inspections showed more than 15%, from a host of different producers, were tainted, Reuters reports. Producers can have the fruit tested by independent labs to show they’re salmonella-free. After five consecutive clean shipments, producers may be exempted from ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169520 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:41:02 +0100 5169520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158994&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-shown-to-protect-obese-mice-from-the-diseases-of-obesity%2F2011.08.25 I usually choose not to write about the “new new scientific thing” that gets picked up by the press,  because early research is usually not reproducible and good science takes a long time to validate as true.  But since we know that mice and rats that are kept on low-calorie diets live 30% longer (and healthier) than their fat cohorts, I was interested in a new research compound, SRT-1720,  that was shown to protect obese mice from diseases of obesity.  Fat mice lived 44% longer if they were given this drug. The “designer” drug works by (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158994 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5158994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158927&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FAoTeqa6gMPE%2F Stepping Aside: Steve Jobs, who ended his tenure as Apple’s CEO yesterday, has faced health problems over the years including a rare form of pancreatic cancer and a liver transplant, the WSJ reports. A physician not involved with Jobs’ care tells the paper a recurrence of the cancer is more likely than complications from the transplant. Jobs, who becomes chairman of Apple, has been on medical leave since January. An Apple spokesman didn’t respond to a WSJ request for comment. Tit for Tat: Scientists have infected mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria in an attempt to curb the insects’ ability to spread the dengue virus to human beings, NPR’s Shots blog reports. Mild strains of the bacteria spread easily from mosquito to mosquito and prevent them from transmitting the ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158927 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:30:26 +0100 5158927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159476&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fbest-medicine-for-adhd-it-may-come-with-a-suicide-warning.php Is there a ADHD NEW medication which has no side effects? Many parents are asking this question as they look around desperately for some wonder drug which will be the best medication for ADHD! As the numbers of children with mental disorders seems to spike every year (latest figures show that 10% of American children suffer from a mental or emotional disorder), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other behavioural disorders are still at the top of the list. If ADHD continues into adulthood untreated, then these adults have a much higher likelihood of becoming smokers (60%) and drug abuse (about 50%). Some estimates have put the number of untreated children as high as 17%. Suicide Warnings! After all the bad press about ADHD drugs, such as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall, the FDA... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159476 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5159476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158969&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Ffda-warns-that-high-doses-of-celexa-are-linked-to-heart-problems.html People should not take more than 40 milligrams a day of the antidepressant citalopram (Celexa and generic) because higher doses appear to trigger potentially fatal heart rhythm problems, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. People at greatest risk include those with heart conditions or low potassium or magnesium levels. The FDA's warning is based on reports it received of people taking the drug who developed abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that could lead to deadly heart rhythm conditions. In addition, a study involving 119 adults found that higher doses of citalopram (up to 60 mg per day) increased the abnormal heart activity. Other research suggests that doses over 40 milligrams are no more effective than lower doses. Bottom line: If you’re ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158969 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:55:00 +0100 5158969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158928&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FDjiNCnb7b5E%2F It’s official: Google is paying $500 million to settle a Justice Department investigation into the company’s acceptance of ads from online Canadian pharmacies targeting U.S. consumers. Here’s the WSJ story and here’s the WSJ Law Blog’s post. Here’s the Justice Department’s statement. The DOJ says Google should have known as early as 2003 that the pharmacies were using the company’s AdWords program to market to U.S. residents. Importing drugs to U.S. consumers is “almost always unlawful because the FDA cannot ensure the safety and effectiveness of foreign prescription drugs that are not FDA-approved,” the DOJ says. The drugs “may not meet FDA’s labeling requirements; may not have been manufactured, stored and distributed under proper c... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158928 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:03:26 +0100 5158928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158930&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FGM3h8DIfMuk%2F Food as Medicine: People who ate a diet rich in plant-based foods such as nuts, soy, plant-based margarine spreads, barley and oats saw levels of their “bad” cholesterol drop 13% more than people who simply cut back on saturated fats, the WSJ reports. Results from the randomized trial, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, add to the evidence suggesting it’s better to replace dietary saturated fats with healthy fats rather than with simple carbohydrates, an expert tells the paper. Interpreting Results: Another study appearing in JAMA, this one a review of previously published research, found that a new group of psoriasis drugs called anti-IL-12/23 agents doesn’t seem to raise the risk of serious heart problems — though the study has limitati... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158930 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:31:57 +0100 5158930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159201&cid=t_91990_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Fis-it-really-mind-over-matter-the-mind-and-body-are-one%2F You have probably heard the phrase mind over matter, which implies the mind and matter are separable.  Or maybe you have heard it’s all in your head, or it’s mental.  Both of these phrases imply the separation of mind and brain (or body). So to explore this issue, I’d like to share some videos that discuss the unity of mind-body.  They can help us better understand how inseparable the mind and brain (body) really are. Mind vs. Brain: In the above video, Yale psychologist Paul Bloom says, “The mind is a product of the brain.  The mind is what the brain does.” Can we overload our brains? Steven Pinker, a scientist at Harvard, discusses the mind-brain myth in the video above.   Substance Dualism *Mirror* This is an excellent video (above) that discusses and re... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159201 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:29:31 +0100 5159201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158934&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FzMYls8wdiwU%2F Men and Women, Sleeping: Men and women sleep differently, with women experiencing deeper sleep, waking up fewer times during the night, and tolerating a lack of shut-eye better than men — even as men report greater overall satisfaction with their sleeping patterns, the WSJ reports. Research into gender and sleep differences may help explain the generally better health status of women compared to men, the paper says. Hip Problems: Complaints about metal-on-metal hip implants have risen by more than 5,000 since January as some patients have experienced problems with the devices and had them removed, the New York Times reports. The implants can release small fragments of metal that can damage tissue and cause pain in some people, the paper says. Raising Good Cholesterol: Roche reported p... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158934 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:26:44 +0100 5158934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159670&cid=t_91990_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F22%2Fparp-inhibitor-olaparib-has-activity-in-high-grade-serous-ovarian-cancer-without-inherited-brca1-or-brca2-gene-mutations%2F Researchers affiliated with the British Columbia Cancer Agency reported Phase 2 clinical study results indicating that advanced ovarian cancer, with and without germline (inherited) BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutations, responded to treatment with the PARP inhibitor olaparib. The Phase 2 study results were published online in the August 21 edition of The Lancet [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159670 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:39:54 +0100 5159670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159480&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Falternative-treatment-for-adhd-is-your-medicine-chest-locked.php Parents were shocked by a recent report which stated that a majority of teenagers engaged in dealing in ADHD drugs (such as Ritalin and Strattera and Vyvense) had gotten their supplies from the family medicine chests ! Parents are now becoming much more aware of alternative medicines for ADHD and know that there are alternatives out there which will not turn their children into drug users and ruin their childhood and adolescence. Teacher Knows Best? Many thousands of ADHD children are treated with powerful psychostimulant drugs. I read a recent blog post about a thirteen year old boy whose teacher insisted that he should be put on Ritalin. The parents’ doctor agreed to give him Ritalin but after some time noticed some strange side effects :- he was moody, ate paper and pencils an... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159480 Sun, 21 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5159480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139731&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-cancer-treatment-gains-momentum%2F2011.08.18 You heard about it first on Patient Power when, a couple of years ago, we interviewed Dr. Andrew Lowy, oncology surgeon at UC San Diego Medical Center. He explained how some patients with advanced cancer spread in their abdomen could benefit from an open surgery – perhaps as much as nine hours long – where, after snipping out visible cancer – the organs are bathed in heated chemotherapy for 90 minutes. You may recall the story of Jennifer Ambrose, a young mom from suburban Chicago, who developed cancer of the appendix. She tracked down Dr. Lowy after spotting him on the Internet. She traveled to San Diego, had the “hot chemo” procedure, recovered and then went on to have a second child – her “miracle baby.” Today Jennifer remains fine and her story is featured in my book, T... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139731 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:15:57 +0100 5139731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139676&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FAME30H7R28I%2F Melanoma Treatment Option: The FDA approved vemurafenib, a treatment from Roche Holding and Daiichi Sankyo aimed at the half of metastatic melanoma patients whose cancer is driven by a specific genetic mutation, the WSJ reports. The treatment, to be sold under the brand name Zelboraf, will be taken for about six months and will cost about $56,400, according to Roche. Back Too Soon: Research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology suggests most physicians are screening women for cervical cancer too frequently, Reuters reports. CDC researchers found that physicians are bringing back women with negative Pap smears and HPV tests are to be re-screened annually, though guidelines from the American Cancer Society and other groups recommend a three-year-wait in between nor... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139676 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:45:55 +0100 5139676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139628&cid=t_91990_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fthe-safer-management-of-controlled-drugs-annual-report-2010%2F Scan or click 'The safer management of controlled drugs annual report 2010' Title: The safer management of controlled drugs annual report 2010 The Skinny: Recommends that: Chief executives and accountable officers should continue to keep the safe management of controlled drugs a high priority on their organisation’s agenda during the reorganisation of the NHS to ensure that the gains in safety made over the past four years are not lost. Chief executives and accountable officers should ensure that CD LINS have robust working arrangements and are fit for purpose and adequately prepared for the transition. Non-designated bodies should also participate in the information-sharing process to ensure that intelligence-gathering is thorough and complete, capturing information fr... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139628 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:36:29 +0100 5139628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139632&cid=t_91990_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fmaking-best-use-of-medicines-report-of-a-department-of-health-roundtable-event-hosted-by-the-king%25e2%2580%2599s-fund%2F Title: Making best use of medicines: Report of a Department of Health roundtable event hosted by The King’s Fund Scan or click to download ‘Making best use of medicines: Report of a Department of Health roundtable event hosted by The King’s Fund’ The Skinny: Considers the implications of the research findings of the scale, causes and cost of medicines wasted, published by university of London and York Health Economics Consortium, to develop a practical plan for collaborative action to minimise wastage of medicines and improve health outcomes. Publisher: DH Published: 09/08/11 Size: 16p Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Cost control, Drugs, Financial Management, Grey Literature, Management, Medicinal products (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139632 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:39:57 +0100 5139632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139680&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FyiAwAf1m6jo%2F In 2009 the FDA recalled an over-the-counter weight-loss supplement called Pai You Guo because it contained two drugs — sibutramine, the active ingredient in the now-defunct Abbott drug Meridia, and phenolphthalein, an ingredient removed from over-the-counter laxatives after it was pegged as a potential carcinogen. Sibutramine can significantly raise blood pressure and pulse rate and might harm patients with a history of heart problems, the FDA said. Well, the banned supplement never went away, at least in one area of the country, according to a new study. The study, published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, looked specifically at the prevalence of Pai You Guo pill and tea use among Brazilian-born women in Massachusetts. Why them? Previous data suggest those women... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139680 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:30:05 +0100 5139680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139879&cid=t_91990_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F16%2Fis-addiction-simply-a-brain-disease-it-is-now%2F Among addiction experts and researchers, there’s been a long-running debate as to whether drug or alcohol addiction, and even “behavioral addictions” such as compulsive gambling, are actual diseases or not. It’s not just a matter of semantics — if researchers can trace addiction’s root causes to an actual medical malfunction in the brain, perhaps that disease could be directly treated. Who am I to disagree with a “four-year process with more than 80 experts actively working on it?” Their result? Addiction is a “chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavioral problem.” I suppose if we wanted, one could argue that all mental disorders can be viewed as “brain disorders” and not “simply behavioral problems.”... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139879 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:39:38 +0100 5139879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139683&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FIyG05aaQWBI%2F Viagra Protection: A federal judge ruled yesterday that a Pfizer patent on the erectile-dysfunction treatment Viagra is valid and enforceable, protecting the blockbuster drug against generic competition until 2019, the WSJ reports. Teva Pharmaceutical had proposed a generic version of the drug, arguing that certain claims of that 2019 Pfizer patent were invalid, the paper says. Cheap Screening: Hospitals are advertising inexpensive low-dose CT scans for current and former smokers on the heels of a government study that found such lung-cancer screening can save lives in a certain group of people, Kaiser Health News reports. But the study didn’t fully answer questions about who might benefit from the screening and how they should be screened, and the tests produce a lot of false positi... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139683 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:43:51 +0100 5139683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140048&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2F5-facts-about-adhd-and-homeopathy.php It is alarming to learn that ADHD drugs like Ritalin (methylphenidate) are not fully understood as regards how they actually work on the brain and neither are their side effects fully documented. Any drug will have side effects and very often the full extent of these are not known when clinical trials are done. They are only discovered after masses of patients take them. That is the case with the ADHD drugs because now there are serious doubts about their actual effectiveness and their risks. This is why ADHD and homeopathy are deservedly becoming more popular. ADHD and homeopathy are a safer option The first fact is that homeopathy and ADHD are a totally safe and effective combination. Compare that to Ritalin and Adderall which are now being used by students to enhance their academic p... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140048 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5140048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130722&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fx8oUYjAGyGk%2F Johnson & Johnson is recalling from wholesalers and stores almost 2.5 million packages of Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Rapid Release Gelcaps. The company says the recall — which doesn’t apply to consumers who already have the drug at home –  stems from the discovery of higher-than-expected levels of chlorpheniramine ammonio acetate (CPAA) in certain capsules. Dow Jones Newswires reports the compound is formed by the combination of two product ingredients and hasn’t been associated with any health problems. We’ve been keeping tabs on J&J’s string of recalls, which cost it about $900 million in sales last year. Here’s a running list: In late June, McNeil Consumer Healthcare division said it was pulling one lot, or 60,912 bottles, o... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130722 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:21:01 +0100 5130722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130723&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FxxtIfBchEDw%2F Social media can be a minefield for pharma companies given the FDA’s requirements to keep product information fairly balanced and promote only approved uses of drugs. Until now, Facebook has helped drug companies control the information on their sponsored pages by disabling the comment  function. That’s supposed to end today. As the Washington Post reports, most pharma pages — except those for specific prescription products — will now allow reader input. (The change doesn’t seem to completely be in effect yet.) “What [Facebook says] is that their philosophy is about promoting dialogue, and this wasn’t doing that,” Monique Levy, vice president of research at Manhattan Research, a pharma and health-care market research firm, tells the Health B... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130723 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:11:39 +0100 5130723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130657&cid=t_91990_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fpiloting-payment-by-results-for-drugs-recovery-%25e2%2580%2593-draft-outcome-definitions%2F Title: Piloting Payment by Results for Drugs Recovery – draft outcome definitions Scan or click to download 'Piloting Payment by Results for Drugs Recovery – draft outcome definitions' The Skinny: The Government has set the following high-level outcomes: Free from drug(s) of dependence Offending Employment Health and well-being A Co-design Group has developed proposals to measure these outcomes and set eligibility criteria and now invites comments from the sector on draft proposals. Publisher: DH Published: 13/07/11 Size: 13p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Addiction, Addiction units, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol abuse services, Alcohol and drug consumption, Clinical Governance, Drug Abuse, Drugs of Abuse, Grey Literature, Health Outcomes, Health Services, Outcomes, ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130657 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:04:28 +0100 5130657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130724&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FvhZooslpidM%2F Raising Questions: The debate over whether antibiotics should be used less frequently in livestock has been revived by the recent recall of ground turkey tainted by salmonella bacteria that is resistant to many of the drugs, the WSJ reports. Food-safety experts say that routine use of antibiotics in feed as a preventive can promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria and threaten human health, while industry groups counter that the practice reduces animal diseases, promotes growth and keeps meat prices low, the paper says. Crop Inspections: Mushrooms grown about 25 miles away from the Japanese nuclear plant damaged in the March earthquake and tsunami have been found to be contaminated by radiation, Bloomberg News reports. Rice is also a concern, with about half of the country’s crop grown ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130724 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:43:25 +0100 5130724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130909&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-resources-the-smart-parentamp039s-guide-to-getting-help-for-your-child.php If you’re looking for ADHD resources, there are plenty of trusted information sources online. In this article, you’ll learn about how to find information when you need it, so you can get your child the best help available. Online ADHD Resources There are many helpful websites that are dedicated to the topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Some of these web sites offer articles on different topics, others are non-profit organizations and others are forums where parents discuss the challenges and triumphs of raising a child with ADHD. Parenting-child-development.com has an excellent forum and resources dedicated to ADHD. Cafemom.com also has an active forum. Treating-adhd-naturally.com is a site that looks at the benefits of natural remedies and a good diet to r... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130909 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5130909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125710&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fyuvnx5yNOGI%2F Did you know that bats are the primary source of human rabies in the U.S.? Neither did we, until today, when we heard not one, but two bits of bat/rabies related news. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the first reported death by rabies via a vampire bat in the U.S., in 2010. Before you resolve to stay indoors for the rest of your life, though, know that vampire bats aren’t found here (yet) — the transmission of the virus occurred in Mexico. Last summer, a 19-year-old migrant farm worker there was bitten on his left heel. He didn’t seek medical help. According to National Geographic, vampire bats usually stick to pigs, horses and cows but will occasionally go after humans. Ten days later, the man left for the U.S., and ended up on a sugarcane planta... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125710 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:11:49 +0100 5125710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125923&cid=t_91990_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F12%2Ffda-approves-clinical-protocol-for-additional-phase-1-study-of-tkm-plk1-in-primary-liver-cancer-or-liver-metastases%2F The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the clinical protocol for an additional Phase 1 study of TKM-PLK1 in patients with either primary liver cancer or liver metastases associated with select cancers including ovarian. RNA Interference Nucleic acids are molecules that carry genetic information and include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Together these [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125923 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:03:27 +0100 5125923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125732&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fis-it-too-early-for-a-flu-shot.html Seasonal flu shots have already begun arriving at drug stores across the country, for $32 for people paying out of pocket. Since the outbreak of the H1N1 flu two years ago, and the recent recommendation that all people older than 6 months get vaccinated, drug manufacturers have ramped up production. That means more doses, and earlier supplies. But the flu season doesn’t usually get going until the fall and winter. Is August too early to get the shot? No, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They recommend getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available in your community. Whether that is late summer or early fall, the protection will last through the flu season, they say. But it’s important to get vaccinated every year—even though this year’s ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125732 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:40:00 +0100 5125732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125712&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FhIsW-y19vVc%2F More Victims: An estimated 107 people in 31 states have fallen ill from salmonella-tainted ground turkey, up from the previous total of 78 victims in 26 states, the WSJ reports, citing updated figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One death has been linked to the turkey, which was produced by Cargill. The company has recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey. Hot Bath?: Some hospitals are offering a so-called “hot chemo bath” to people with colon and ovarian cancers, despite what critics call a lack of solid evidence that the benefits of the procedure outweigh the risks for those patients, the New York Times reports. The procedure involves major abdominal surgery to remove any organs affected by cancer, followed by an infusion into the abdominal cavity ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125712 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:41:05 +0100 5125712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118597&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F-v7ZpnrS1Qc%2F Serial Killers: Genetically engineering certain immune-system cells to identify and then destroy a certain protein found on leukemia cells can put patients into sustained remission from their cancer, the WSJ reports. Research on three people published in the New England Journal of Medicine and Science Translational Medicine shows that the treatment has harsh side effects, however, and much larger studies are needed to prove that it works. The genetic immunotherapy will also be studied in other cancers. Identifying Variations: Scientists have published in the journal Nature an analysis of the genetics behind multiple sclerosis, finding 29 genetic variations associated with the disease and shoring up the notion that it is an autoimmune disorder, the Los Angeles Times’ Booster Shots blo... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118597 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:49:11 +0100 5118597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118822&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Ftry-adhd-herbs-some-surprising-facts-for-parents.php There is no doubt now that America’s children are over-drugged. Comparing ADHD statistics with EU and UK, America’s children come out on top. Risks of drug abuse and stunted development from psychostimulant ADHD drugs are now influencing parents to look at ADHD alternative treatments such as ADHD herbs. Herbs for ADHD or indeed any other medical condition is not new at all – after all, herbs were the first medicine available to mankind from the earliest times. Why choose ADHD herbs over psychostimulant drugs ? They are perfectly safe and above all are non-addictive. You can rest assured that your child will not be pushing psychostimulants that he has left over from his last ADHD prescription ! There are also no effects of withdrawal which can be a real problem with the ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118822 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5118822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118598&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FMqsXcJkPvxY%2F Shortages of drugs for humans are also affecting the health care of pets. Nearly 200 drugs approved for people are currently in short supply, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The FDA has its own list, which is shorter because it tracks only drugs deemed medically necessary. That affects veterinarians, who are allowed to use FDA-approved human drugs off-label in pets under certain conditions. There are also sometimes shortages of animal-specific drugs. “It’s been terrible,” says Edward Javorka, a veterinarian at the Hobart Animal Clinic in Hobart, Indiana. “There’s no rhyme or reason to it.” Not only do drugs go off the market unpredictably, he says, but when they come back, the price has gone up — sometimes by ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118598 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:30:10 +0100 5118598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118997&cid=t_91990_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FO0w2-RYQDAk%2F Last week, Arena Pharmaceuticals did some advance work surrounding the impending release of crucial data about its Lorqess diet pill, which was denied approval last fall by the FDA due, in part, to concerns the drug may cause tumors in rats and that efficacy was marginal. To allay those fears, the drugmaker conducted one new study and retained a group of independent pathologists to review other data (see this and this). The latest trial showed that concentrations of cerebrospinal fluid exposure were lower in human brains than in rat models given their pill (read here). The results prompted Needham analyst Alan Carr to write investors that the results “may alleviate certain FDA concerns with respect to the potential for brain tumors.” And Arena ceo Jack Lief, who has been critic... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118997 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:47:48 +0100 5118997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118600&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F0nhUIx08wws%2F Dire Straits: A new report from Moody’s says that nonprofit hospitals have been squeezed by a drop in elective surgeries and by state Medicaid cuts, and stand to be pressured even further by Medicare cuts stemming from the health-care overhaul law and future deficit-reduction efforts, the WSJ reports. A review of 401 hospitals financial results from 2010 finds only 4% revenue growth, the lowest since Moody’s started tracking these stats 20 years ago, with 20% running a loss on an operating basis. Most of the hospitals had margins of 5% or less. Working on Settlements: Johnson & Johnson said in a regulatory filing that it has a tentative agreement to resolve misdemeanor criminal charges over its marketing of the antipsychotic Risperdal, though certain issues are still not fi... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118600 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:41:26 +0100 5118600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107514&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysician-discusses-the-confusing-aspects-of-medicare-part-d%2F2011.08.09 I have discussed Medicare Part B and Part F in recent blogs. A reader asked about Medicare Part D: Dr. Feld “Please discuss Medicare Part D, the drug benefit plan available to seniors. It is very complicated and completely confusing to me. My physician gave me a prescription for Levequin 500 mg once a day for 10 days. The pharmacist told me it would cost me $330 dollars. Medicare Part D would pay an additional $110 dollars for a total of $440 dollars. I asked the pharmacist if there was a generic equivalent. The answer was yes. It cost $10 dollars. This is unconscionable. It is highway robbery. Sincerely a.g.” Several issues are presented in this readers note. It is essential to understand these issues. The issues are an indictment against government “controlled” programs. (m... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107514 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:00:44 +0100 5107514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107479&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FkrelOZaRn9g%2F Conclusions: Studies by two researchers suggesting things like obesity, smoking and depression can spread through social networks like infectious diseases are coming under fire, the New York Times reports. Other scientists have criticized the methodology and have said observational data can’t be used to support their conclusions. The researchers, Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler, say their work has limitations but “maintain that their conclusions are robust,” the paper says. Image: iStockphoto (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107479 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:56:39 +0100 5107479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107901&cid=t_91990_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2F12-steps-for-young-women%2F Hazelden Study Signals Importance of Twelve Step Meeting Attendance for Young Women in Early RecoveryThe frequency of attending Twelve Step mutual support meetings following addiction treatment can help predict success in early recovery for young women, according to a data analysis study.Meeting attendance frequency predicted both abstinence from substance use and number of drinking days at six months post-treatment for young women studied, reports Audrey A. Klein.Analysis focused on 139 young women, age 17-23, attending Twelve Step-based residential treatment for a substance use disorder. They were statistically compared to a sample of 237 young men who attended the same treatment program during the same time period. The analysis showed young women were as likely as young men to attend Tw... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107901 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:10:01 +0100 5107901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107480&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FIiCmhrGO5qA%2F At first blush, Washington’s tough talk about fiscal austerity doesn’t look good for drug makers. Government programs including Medicare and Medicaid spend $99 billion each year on prescription medicines, according to Washington consulting firm Avalere Health, making for a ripe cost-cutting target. Not surprisingly, drug stocks have dropped with the rest of the market recently. As the WSJ reports, pharma companies have ramped up their lobbying, warning that cuts to the drug prices paid by Medicare’s drug benefit, for example, could mean loss of some of the industry’s 675,000 jobs and investment in new lifesaving treatments. Yet pharma’s prospects aren’t necessarily so dire, say experts like Avalere’s CEO Dan Mendelson, a former Clinton administrati... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107480 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:37:40 +0100 5107480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107794&cid=t_91990_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F6pmycmcma9U%2F Almost 80% of antidepressants are prescribed by non-psychiatrists—and almost three-quarters of these prescriptions aren’t accompanied by a formal psychiatric diagnosis, Psych Central reports. Perhaps that sounds like cause for major alarm, but let’s remember that a) primary care doctors may not be psychiatric specialists, but they’re not clueless either, and b) many people don’t have access to, or can’t afford, specialized psychiatric care. For the uninsured, being able to get anti-depressants during a physician visit could be a godsend; even those with insurance may find the added expense of psychiatric care too much (especially if they’re under a plan without good mental health coverage). And what if you just plumb can’t get to a psychiatrist at a given time, but have a p... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107794 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:07:43 +0100 5107794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107482&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FKLbI3tp5P4c%2F Sorry, soy supplements. Women in the first five years of menopause who took the supplements saw no differences in bone-mineral density and experienced more hot flashes than women who took a placebo, a new study finds. Many women sought out alternatives to hormone therapy after studies suggested health risks. Soy products are attractive because they contain plant estrogens, specifically two isoflavones called genistein and daidzein. “The concept is that they can provide some estrogen-like effects, hopefully the benefits but not the risks,” Silvina Levis, an author of the new study and professor and director of the Osteoporosis Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, tells the Health Blog. But the research, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, combined... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107482 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:06:19 +0100 5107482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107600&cid=t_91990_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fbipolar-disorder-missed-when-presenting-with-depression%2F Coming as a surprise to more than a few mental health professionals, a new study out today suggests that bipolar disorder is often missed in patients who present only with major depression. The study examined 5,635 adults seen at community and hospital psychiatry departments in a number of different countries. The discrepancy was reported because of the use of “bipolarity specifier criteria” that are broader than the DSM-IV criteria, the standard for diagnosis of mental disorders by mental health professionals. Using the broader bipolar criteria developed by the researchers found an additional 31 percent of patients who could have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. So what’s really going on here? Are professionals really “missing” bipolar disorder? Or have ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107600 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:49:39 +0100 5107600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107483&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FzI5sxWjKWVE%2F Reversal of Course: The federal government won’t try to force the resignation of Forest Laboratories CEO Howard Solomon after the company last year plead guilty to drug-marketing misdemeanors, the WSJ reports. Solomon wasn’t named in the criminal action but the government had sought to exclude him from doing business with the government under a clause of the Social Security Act. Bad Habit: New research shows that when it comes to lung-cancer risk, smoking within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning is worse than waiting at least an hour before lighting up, the BBC reports. It’s not clear why, but one possible explanation is that people suck in smoke more intensely when they smoke first thing in the morning, increasing exposure to chemicals. Unclear Effectiveness?: The U... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107483 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:40:52 +0100 5107483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107571&cid=t_91990_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FKQpYUu2tK7w%2Freview-of-nsaids-effects-side-effects.html Recently I gave in and went to see a rheumatologist after more than 3 months of intense morning stiffness and swelling of my hands (especially around the PIPs and MCPs) and wrists which improved during the day but never went away.  It had gotten to the point where I could no longer open small lid jars (decreased strength), do my push-ups or pull ups (pain and limited wrist motion), and OTC products (Tylenol, Advil, etc) weren’t working.  I can’t take Aleve due to the severe esophagitis it induces.  I didn’t want to write a prescription for my self-diagnosed (without) lab arthritis. BTW, all the lab work came back negative with the exception of a slightly elevated sed rate and very weakly positive ANA.  The rheumatologist was impressed with the swelling, pain, and ... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107571 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:15:01 +0100 5107571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107741&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-medication-is-this-what-you-want-for-your-child.php Welcome to the ADHD Psychostimulants supermarket! Our latest drug on offer is Tenex which is a high blood pressure drug. The substance used is an alpha blocker. Look at any website for medications and Tenex and ADHD is up there with all the rest of them and of course as it is a non-stimulant drug, it is quite an attractive option. Let’s be serious for a moment. Tenex is not approved by the FDA as an ADHD drug so I do not think that Tenex and ADHD will be a winning team. Apart from the usual side effects which, by the way, are non existent in an ADHD homeopathic cure, there are other things that parents should be aware of before accepting Tenex . Tenex used for ADHD may cause the following problems. I read all the time on the blogs about children as young as five years of age being pr... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107741 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5107741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103482&cid=t_91990_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F05%2Fin-depth-review-the-cancer-genome-atlas-reports-on-landmark-analysis-of-high-grade-serous-ovarian-cancer%2F An analysis of genomic changes in high grade serous ovarian cancer provides the most comprehensive and integrated view of cancer genes for any cancer type to date. Ovarian serous adenocarcinoma tumors from 489 patients were examined by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network and its analyses are reported in the June 30, 2011 issue [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103482 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:24:26 +0100 5103482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096149&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FbrUJztOZS6E%2F Early Focus: Research increasingly suggests that Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain years before symptoms appear, raising the possibility that treatments should be focused on this early phase if there’s a hope of slowing or reversing the disease, the WSJ reports. That’s why Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb are looking to treat patients with signs of milder memory loss, the paper says. Hackable Devices: Security researcher Jay Radcliffe says insulin pumps and blood-sugar monitors can be hacked, too, raising the question of how to keep high-tech medical devices secure, the Associated Press reports. Many devices contain wireless chips, but most are too small to contain encryption technology, the AP says. Lab-Grown Sperm: Mouse sperm created from embr... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096149 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:33:21 +0100 5096149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096184&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fover-the-counter-lipitor-thats-risky.html Pfizer hopes consumers will soon be able to get its cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) without a prescription, according to two news reports. But our medical advisors say that’s a bad idea because Lipitor and other statins are potent medications that can cause dangerous side effects, and should only be taken with a doctor's supervision. The company is likely looking for ways to make up lost sales—the drug racked up nearly $11 billion last year according to figures from IMS Health—when the patent expires in November. The Food and Drug Administration would have to grant permission for the switch, but that seems unlikely because it has previously said no to over-the-counter sales of two other statins—Mevacor (lovastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin)&#8212... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096184 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:01:00 +0100 5096184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096151&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FmKAJato-F-Y%2F Shares of Dendreon are getting hammered today after the company reported yesterday that sales of Provenge, its $93,000 prostate cancer treatment, won’t meet forecasts despite expanded manufacturing capacity and recent favorable reimbursement decisions. The company’s CEO, Mitch Gold, says the problem is headwinds from a phenomenon he calls “cost density.” Here at the Health Blog, we’re always grateful for vocabulary-building exercises and it occurred to us when Gold dropped the term during an interview it was Dendreon-speak for “really expensive cancer drugs.” We wondered whether Provenge’s price tag was meeting resistance from patients concerned about the treatment’s cost-benefit equation: studies that led to FDA approval indicated Prov... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096151 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:14:41 +0100 5096151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096152&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FdRsNb5vcuh4%2F Some 17,000 scorpion stings were reported to U.S. poison-control centers in 2009, with about 11,000 recorded each year in Arizona alone. So residents of the Grand Canyon State will likely be particularly happy to learn that the FDA has just approved the first treatment for stings by the most common type of scorpion found in the U.S., the Centruroides scorpion, also known as the bark scorpion. They’re found in the Southwest. The product, Anascorp, is an injection made from the plasma of horses immunized with scorpion venom (and vaccinated against diseases that might hurt humans). Anascorp is made by a Mexican company and is licensed to Rare Diseases Therapeutics, of Franklin, Tenn. It will be distributed by a subsidiary of Medco Health Solutions. The FDA said while scorpion stings are... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096152 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:25:03 +0100 5096152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096705&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-articles-how-to-narrow-your-search.php When looking up articles on the Internet, you may need a few folders on your computer desktop to keep all the information. However it is best if you approach all these ADHD articles in a systematic way. You may be warned by your child’s teacher that something is amiss and that things are not going so well at school. There may be behavior problems such as inappropriate behaviour or punching and kicking other children. If this is the case and if the child is not less than five or six years of age, you can get wised up on the DSM -IV which can be easily found on the Web. This is basically a list of symptoms and the guidelines that go with it which pediatricians are supposed to use when diagnosing this condition. Your child may not have ADHD at all so it is important to be aware of other... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096705 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5096705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096154&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FjQR12buOyUs%2F Pfizer is hoping to milk even more dollars from its blockbuster Lipitor by introducing an over-the-counter version of the cholesterol-lowering drug, the WSJ reports, citing people familiar with the matter. Whether Pfizer can get the FDA to swallow an OTC statin is another matter entirely. The WSJ reports the company would first need to conduct research demonstrating consumers could follow instructions and properly take an OTC iteration of Lipitor. (That wouldn’t happen before patent protection for the prescription drug expires in November.) Pfizer spokesman MacKay Jimeson tells us in an email that the company has “strategic plans in place for Lipitor’s loss of exclusivity and will comment no further at this time.” The notion of an OTC statin isn’t new. Merck tried ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096154 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:06:20 +0100 5096154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096157&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FBHxwkhyvIwY%2F Medicare a Likely Target: The deal reached to increase the debt ceiling will mean a bipartisan group of legislators will be seeking an additional $1.5 trillion in cuts later this fall, and health-care spending, including on Medicare, is likely to be in the crosshairs, the WSJ reports. Some form of means-testing and raising the age of Medicare eligibility will probably be on the table, the paper says. If Congress fails to approve sufficient cuts, automatic spending cuts, namely lower payments to providers, will go into effect automatically. Not Effective: Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that Risperdal — and, possibly, similar antipsychotic drugs — doesn’t ease post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in veterans, the New York T... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096157 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:20:30 +0100 5096157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096211&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F08%2F02%2Ftime-to-say-enough%2F There comes a time in everyone’s consciousness and life when one realizes that too many things are going off beam and that life is becoming more problematic day by day, especially now when it comes to our health, which probably is our most valued personal possession, and which seems to be undermined in various and sundry ways and fashions. Let’s examine some of the medical ‘fashions’ for starters, since most healthcare consumers think that those professionals wearing white coats topped with stethoscopes really know what they are talking about.  White Coats and Cigarettes First, and foremost, I’d like to remind everyone that MDs were proud to recommend Camels cigarettes as the brand most doctors preferred and smoked. Don’t believe me; check out this advertisement http://www.y... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096211 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:14:44 +0100 5096211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086580&cid=t_91990_177_f&fid=38134&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbabybound.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F01%2Fwoah-where-the-fuck-have-i-been%2F Wow. It’s been almost 2 years. A lot can happen in 2 years. Lives can change, people can grow, horrible tragedies can happen…. …yeah some of that happened but let’s not get crazy here. It’s really not all that exciting. In fact it’s kinda downright boring. So last I posted I was moving to Seattle. Yay for me! Holy crap that was a long time ago. Sorry I just can’t get over that. Yeah I moved to Seattle for 10 months and decided that I would be insane to continue living there. Depressed infertile divorcing people should not move to Seattle. There should be a law about it. The sky is a unique shade of grey. Let’s just leave it at that because there is good and bad up there but overall I had a hard time. (And to be fair to the lovely residents of... B a b y B o u n d blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086580 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:59:57 +0100 5086580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086372&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-solutions-for-your-child-making-wise-decisions.php Before even thinking about ADHD solutions for your child, consider the following facts. ADHD may have several causes but one of them is that the levels of dopamine in the child’s brain are decidedly low. Dopamine is responsible for our ‘reward’ system so is very closely linked with attention and motivation . Given that the child’s brain goes on developing until he or she is about 25, do you think it is a good idea to give him a psychostimulant so that it sort of kick starts the dopamine and other neurotransmitters into action ?. Could this be one of the best ADHD solutions for your child? These ADHD drugs or amphetamine salts as they are so often glibly called come with various fancy names such as Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine and Vyvanse. Adderall is in great deman... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086372 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5086372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086135&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fz44fo_4SYfo%2F Developing new drugs is a tricky business. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Active Biotech got a tough reminder of that today; shares in the companies fell after they said their experimental multiple-sclerosis drug, laquinimod, missed the main goal of a major study. The drug — one of a clutch of new oral treatments being developed for MS — failed to significantly reduce the number of relapses when compared to a sugar pill. Teva still plans to file for regulatory approval early next year, saying that an adjusted analysis demonstrates laquinimod’s effectiveness, according to Dow Jones Newswires. “Since this is predefined and it is the right thing to do scientifically, we believe the FDA will accept that, but of course we cannot predict the FDA response,” Rivka... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086135 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:58:54 +0100 5086135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086168&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrlindagalloway.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fgreys-nursery.jpg No one likes pain, least of all pregnant women. Although obstetricians do a great job providing prenatal care and childbirth deliveries, there is always room for improvement regarding patient education. The management of labor pain is usually delegated to the Anesthesia Department within a hospital or an ambulatory center. The goal of anesthesia is to eliminate physical pain and any suffering that might be a result of pain. However pain and suffering may not always be about cause and effect. To quote the literature, “Although pain and suffering often occur together, one may suffer without pain or have pain without suffering.” Some women want to eliminate pain and others view it as a normal process. However, to the well initiated, it is well known that women who are in pain and “suffe... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086168 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:00:35 +0100 5086168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086137&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FY2g0k-H0Yys%2F Paying Up: Getting a drug approved is only the first step for pharma companies as insurance companies and governments crack down on spending by focusing on the value that a new medication will bring, the WSJ reports. AstraZeneca, for example, will be negotiating with U.S. insurers over the next year, hoping to convince them that the new anti-clotting drug Brilinta is worth the $7.24 per day it plans to charge. That’s a 20% premium over the current gold-standard treatment, Plavix, which will lose patent protection next year, the paper says. “Lab On a Chip”: A report published online by Nature Medicine shows that a small device that can be used in the field accurately detected both HIV and syphilis in a group of Rwandan people, the Washington Post reports. The so-called lab... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086137 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:46:43 +0100 5086137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086114&cid=t_91990_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Fsunday-news-round-up-attack-kitty-edition%2F I haven’t done one of these in a while, having been distracted by the heat, the carless situation, dad’s cancer, mom’s hip replacement re-replacement, work, leveling my first character in Warcraft (now a level 71 undead frost mage – I don’t want to duel you!), and life in general. Tonight, though, I’m at my parents’ house (sitting with mom after said re-replacement), in a town with <30 thousand people that gets really, truly dark at night, World of Warcraft won't run on this computer, and I think I've reached the end of the internet. Might as well do something. The FDA has issued a warning not to use emergency contraception labeled as Evital. The agency says, These products may be counterfeit versions of the “morning after pill” ... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086114 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:40:55 +0100 5086114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086562&cid=t_91990_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Frussell-brand-on-amy-winehouse%2F When you love someone who suffers from the disease of addiction you await the phone call. There will be a phone call. The sincere hope is that the call will be from the addict themselves, telling you they’ve had enough, that they’re ready to stop, ready to try something new. Of course though, you fear the other call, the sad nocturnal chime from a friend or relative telling you it’s too late, she’s gone. Frustratingly it’s not a call you can ever make it must be received. It is impossible to intervene. Russell Brand on Amy Winehouse: ‘We have lost a beautiful, talented woman’ | Music | guardian.co.uk. :Ever Wondered Why?Women’s Sexual AddictionWomen’s Sexual Addiction30 Natural HighsI Finally Listened to Their Stories (Source: Recovery ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086562 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:45:39 +0100 5086562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077645&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FBKhJtKRvCh4%2F When you make drugs or other medical products, unwanted contaminants can fall into the mix — say, beetle parts (in baby formula) or glass flakes (in anemia drugs). The latest pharma world example of wow-that-really-shouldn’t-be-in-there comes from Merck. As the WSJ reports, the company says charred bits of plastic shrink wrap have been found in vials of vaccines made at a big plant in West Point, Pa. Affected products include Gardasil, used against the human papillomavirus, as well as shots against shingles, measles/mumps rubella, pneumococcal disease and chicken pox. How’d this happen? It seems pieces of the wrap weren’t removed during vial washing and were charred during a sterilization process. Merck says there are no reports of adverse health problems, though th... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077645 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:25:37 +0100 5077645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077647&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FkY9S264Kuew%2F It’s Merck’s Turn: Merck reported a second-quarter profit increase in line with analysts’ expectations, affirmed its revenue guidance for the full year and said it would cut as many as 13,000 additional jobs by the end of 2015, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Profit rose to $2.02 billion, or 65 cents a share, up from $752.4 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier, helped by a $1.34 billion tax benefit. Excluding restructuring and other charges, earnings rose to 95 cents from 86 cents, in line with forecasts by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Ready to Sell: Pfizer is planning to begin the auction process for its baby-formula business in September by sending out information to potential bidders such as Nestle, Danone, Abbott Labs, Mead Johnson and Unilever, Bloomberg ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077647 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:38:35 +0100 5077647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077882&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fhow-children-get-adhd-and-how-to-treat-it.php When a child is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, most parents want to know how children get ADHD and wonder if they did something to create it. There is nothing that you did to cause your child to suffer with this disorder. In this article, you’ll learn more about this subject along with the best treatment options available today. Since parents love and feel responsible for their children when they start wondering ‘how do children get ADHD,’ they naturally blame themselves because they think that there was probably something that they could have done to prevent it. Due to the fact that researchers have recently discovered evidence of a genetic cause, you need to stop blaming yourself. Blaming yourself mires you in guilt and prevents you from being ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077882 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5077882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077673&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Ftylenols-maximum-dose-reduced-to-help-prevent-overdoses.html The maximum daily dose for Tylenol will be lowered on all acetaminophen-containing adult products from 4,000 mg (8 Extra Strength Tylenol pills) to 3,000 mg (6 pills), the manufacturer said today. The move is intended to reduce the risk of accidental acetaminophen overdoses that can lead to liver failure and death. People can unknowingly take too much acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, because it's included in more than 600 hundred over-the-counter medications that are intended to treat back pain, cold and flu symptoms, headaches, and other conditions. Acetaminophen is also found in certain prescription painkillers, such as Percocet and Vicodin. The reduction in the maximum daily dose will appear on bottle labels in the fall for Extra Strength Tylenol. Regular strength Tyle... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077673 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:35:00 +0100 5077673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077674&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Ffewer-young-people-dying-from-chickenpox-thanks-to-vaccine.html Chickenpox deaths have declined 97 percent among people under 20, and 88 percent overall since the vaccine came on the market in 1995, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published this week in the journal Pediatrics. In fact, the chickenpox vaccine has been so effective that public health officials now foresee a potential elimination of deaths from the disease in the near future. Before the chickenpox vaccine, approximately 13 children between one and four years old, and 16 children between five and nine died every year from complications of the disease. But since the single dose vaccine was introduced the number of childhood deaths from chickenpox has been drastically reduced. Only 3 children from each of those age groups died during the entire six years betw... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077674 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:20:00 +0100 5077674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077650&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FcO9evJrVuvA%2F Choosing a Spinoff: Pfizer is more likely to spin off its animal health division than to sell it, the WSJ reports, citing people familiar with the matter. The pharma company is still likely to entertain offers for the business, which could be worth as much as $15 billion, but tax and antitrust considerations make it unlikely it will opt for a sale and will instead prepare to spin it off, the paper says. Preemptive Strike: An Institute of Medicine report on the medical-device approval pathway known as 510K isn’t due out until tomorrow, but already industry supporters are gearing up to challenge the report and the panel that authored it, the New York Times reports. The Washington Legal Foundation, for example, claims the panel is biased because it lacks representation from industry, in... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077650 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:48:04 +0100 5077650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077675&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fcranberries-or-antibiotics-to-prevent-urine-infections.html Cranberries may help to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), but they won’t work as well as taking antibiotics, a new study shows. If you get recurrent UTIs (more than three infections a year), your doctor may suggest you take continuous antibiotics to reduce the number of infections you get. Many women are unhappy with taking antibiotics continually, either because of unwanted side effects such as yeast infections, or the risk of bacteria becoming resistant to the drugs. So some women prefer the idea of taking a natural remedy like cranberries instead of antibiotics. There is some evidence that drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry capsules may help reduce the chances of getting a UTI. But, until now, there hasn’t been research to show whether cranberries work as... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077675 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:15:00 +0100 5077675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069425&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FmdOsihPBbLU%2F Is it true melatonin can help you sleep better? That’s the question the WSJ’s Christina Tsuei posed to Lawrence Epstein, a sleep expert from Harvard Medical School. His answers are in the video below. Watch to find out what melatonin is, for whom a melatonin supplement is likely to work best, how you can use one to ease your next transatlantic trip and how to identify your sleep needs. This is the first in our “Is It True?” video series here at the Health Blog. We’re aiming to answer everyday health questions. Have a suggestion for a future video topic? Please email us at healthblog@wsj.com. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069425 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:21:46 +0100 5069425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069426&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FbMwzK-w9qD8%2F Takeover Talks?: Valeant Pharmaceuticals has approached Meda AB in the last two weeks about a takeover, though the status of the talks is unclear, as is the amount Valeant might be willing to pay for the Swedish drug maker, the WSJ reports, citing people familiar with the matter. Assuming a premium of 30%, Meda could be sold for $4.4 billion, the paper says. Ontario-based Valeant previously made an unsuccessful hostile bid for Cephalon. Pharma Earnings Roll In: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries reported higher-than-expected second-quarter earnings of $984 million, or $1.10 per share, up from $981 million, or $1.08 per share, a year earlier, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Net sales rose 11% to $4.2 billion. No Scientific Signs: So far there’s no medical evidence linking exposure to Ground ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069426 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:10:30 +0100 5069426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069479&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnsaids-might-be-risky-for-people-with-heart-problems%2F2011.07.26 As if people with the combination of high blood pressure and heart disease don’t already have enough to worry about, a new study suggests that common painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) pose special problems for them. Among participants of an international trial called INVEST, those who often used NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, and others), or celecoxib (Celebrex) were 47% more likely to have had a heart attack or stroke or to have died for any reason over three years of follow-up than those who used the drugs less, or not at all. The results were published in the July issue of the American Journal of Medicine. Millions of people take NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation. They are generally safe and effectiv... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069479 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:00:35 +0100 5069479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069429&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FiVxCAKiLNj8%2F Boding Ill?: For-profit hospital company HCA Holdings reported a 22% decline in second-quarter profit, in part because of fewer surgical admissions, the WSJ reports. An analyst tells the paper that doesn’t bode well for the results from other hospital companies; shares in Tenet Healthcare and Health Management Associates, among others, fell yesterday, though not as much as HCA shares. Reviewing a Review: Starting in September, the federal government will begin to scrutinize proposed health-insurance premium increases of 10% or more in states it says don’t have sufficient oversight of rates, the New York Times reports. One of the ten states, Iowa, says the Obama administration has not been consistent in its assessment of what constitutes an ineffective rate-review system, while ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069429 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:34:53 +0100 5069429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069659&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Ftreating-adhd-without-drugs-what-parents-need-to-know.php If you’re interested in treating ADHD without drugs, then make sure to read this short article. In it you will learn what to look for in a natural alternative and what other steps to take to help your child overcome the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Although many parents are interested in treating their kids naturally, they are concerned that an ADHD treatment without drugs might not be effective, but this is simply not the case. It’s important to realize that drugs work for some kids, but not at all for others. Some kids simply cannot tolerate the side effects. Although side effects vary with the type of drug, common complaints include sleeplessness, loss of appetite, restlessness, aggression, and heart troubles. Parents may also have to worry about t... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069659 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5069659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062216&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FFHR0zj2kkIs%2F The dividing line between the big generic and brand-name drug makers is increasingly fuzzy. Let’s hope each industry knows what it’s getting into. It used to be that the sides were clear. Big Pharma developed new drugs, while generic companies like Teva copied these medicines once their patent protection expired. Each industry had its own trade group, lawyers and PR teams. Disputes were common. Yet as today’s WSJ reports, the industries are converging. Teva is defending a brand-name multiple-sclerosis drug, Copaxone, from rivals seeking to sell a generic version. Among those rivals is the Sandoz generic unit of Swiss drug giant Novartis, in partnership with Momenta. There’s a host of reasons why the two types of drug makers are treading on each others’ turf, i... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062216 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:03:06 +0100 5062216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062422&cid=t_91990_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FREDMdqdqAGM%2F In just two days, much has been written about Amy Winehouse and her sudden death. The 27-year-old British singer-songwriter made no secret of her battle with drugs, alcohol and depression over the course of her short career. But amidst the speculation of how exactly she died—although many would say an overdose seems like the obvious culprit—some are now asking a bigger question: Who’s to blame? The five-time Grammy winner may be remembered best for her hit song “Rehab” where she sang: They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, ‘No, no, no.’ In a previous interview on the British TV show, The Album Chart Show, Winehouse admitted she had a problem and that song represented a plea from family and friends to seek help: I do drink a lot. I think it’s symp... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062422 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:55:46 +0100 5062422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062218&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FO-b9eVJqNos%2F Tables are Turned: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries mostly makes generic drugs, but now finds itself acting like Big Pharma — defending the patent for a brand-name drug in order to stave off the threat of generic competition, the WSJ reports. Mylan and Momenta are challenging the validity of Teva’s patents for the multiple-sclerosis drug Copaxone, hoping to sell generic copies before the patents expire in 2014 and 2015, the paper says. So far, the FDA hasn’t granted Teva’s requests to require separate clinical trials of the proposed generic versions. Radiation Threat: The Japanese food supply is being threatened by radiation from the nuclear power-plant disaster earlier this year, with more than 2,600 cattle contaminated and some tainted meat put on sale, Bloomberg Ne... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062218 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:31:36 +0100 5062218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057746&cid=t_91990_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theangriestpharmacist.com%2F2011%2F07%2F22%2Fthe-history-of-medicine%2F THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE 2000 B.C. - "Here, eat this root." 1000 B.C. - "That root is heathen, say this prayer." 20 A.D. - "That prayer is good, but you have to pray in my name me to get through to Dad." 1850 A.D. - "That prayer is a superstitious chant, drink this potion." 1940 A.D. - "That potion is merely snake oil, swallow this pill." 1970 A.D. - "That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic four times a day." 1980 A.D. - "Bacteria aren't the problem. Viruses are enemy number 1! Get this vaccination, but you still better take our pills too!" 1990 A.D. - "Taking pills four times a day? That's ARCHAIC! Take this tablet once-a-day." 1999 A.D. - "That once-a-day tablet is cost prohibitive. Take this cheaper generic. It's the same thing." 1999 A.D. - "Their generic once-a-day tablet isn't ... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057746 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 05:46:34 +0100 5057746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057829&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fneed-adhd-help-how-to-get-it-now.php If you need ADHD help, you are probably scared and frustrated. Whether you have a child who has just been diagnosed or is not doing well on prescription drugs, in this article you will learn exactly what you need to do to help your child. Before you learn more, imagine a better life for your child. A life in which your child does not have to struggle to focus, sit quietly, and control his impulses. Imagine how happy you will be the first time your child brings home a good report from his teacher. Imagine how this will affect your home life and your relationship with your spouse or partner. This dream is possible by following the simple steps below, but first we need to take a closer look at prescription drugs. When most parents think about treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disord... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057829 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5057829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050510&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FXBJnKrBGmtg%2F In Short Supply: Johnson & Johnson is experiencing a shortage of its cancer drug Doxil due to production delays at a contract manufacturer, the WSJ reports. The company is advising doctors not to start new patients on the drug and to consult national treatment guidelines for alternatives. A recent survey found 99.5% of hospitals have experienced a shortage of at least one drug in the past six months. Uh Oh: Researchers at Boston University retracted a study published online last year in Science that claimed to pinpoint a set of genetic markers linked to living past 100, the Boston Globe reports. Science said technical errors and inadequate quality-control procedures, not misconduct, sparked the retraction, and that once re-crunched, the data didn’t meet “the journal’s... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050510 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:38:25 +0100 5050510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050914&cid=t_91990_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FO712DJOvAhQ%2F Very interesting new data reinforcing two main themes we have been analyzing for a while: 1) We better start paying serious attention (and R&D dollars) to lifestyle-based and non-invasive cognitive and emotional health interventions, which are mostly ignored in favor of invasive, drug-based options 2) Interventions will need to be personalized. The study below analyzes data at the country level, but the same logic applies to the individual level Many fear Alzheimer’s, want to be tested: survey (Reuters): - “The telephone survey of 2,678 adults aged 18 and older in the United States, France, Germany, Spain and Poland was conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Alzheimer Europe, with funding by Bayer AG” - “When asked to identify the most feared disea... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050914 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:26:15 +0100 5050914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050516&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FOhYXUexF4lE%2F On the heels of data out yesterday from Eli Lilly showing that the company’s shelved gamma secretase inhibitor’s negative cognitive impact on participants didn’t reverse even months after treatment, Bristol-Myers Squibb said today that participants on higher doses of its own gamma secretase compound in a mid-stage trial also showed hints of negative cognitive effects. The data were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Paris. The purpose of Bristol’s phase II trial was to determine if and at what doses its compound, BMS-708163, also known as avagacestat, was tolerable and safe, not to assess its impact on patients’ cognitive symptoms. That said, at the two lower doses, the experimental group and the placebo control group didn’t show... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050516 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:50:09 +0100 5050516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050517&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FCDh_46bNdEU%2F Drug Vote: An FDA advisory panel voted 9-6 against approving dapagliflozin, a new type of diabetes drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca, saying more information is needed on possible risks including breast and bladder cancers, the WSJ reports. Some panel members, however, said teasing out those possible safety problems would be best accomplished not by requiring more studies before approval, but by using post-marketing studies and patient registries. The FDA often, but not always, follows the advice of its outside panels. VC Dollars: Venture-capital investors invested $1.24 billion in biotech companies during the second quarter, 46% more than in the first quarter, Bloomberg News reports, citing a report from the National Venture Capital Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mea... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050517 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:25:51 +0100 5050517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050947&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-alternative-therapy-best-solutions-to-raise-a-happier-healthier-child.php Why is there all this talk of ADHD alternative therapy? There must be something wrong with mainstream therapy. Well, quite frankly, there is. The results are not nearly as good as they should be. Medication with the powerful psychostimulants seems to raise more problems than they solve. Just visit the FDA website to get an idea of their worries and concerns. There are also concerns about how these drugs which are basically amphetamines, are being over prescribed in very large quantities for young children. We also know that ADHD is overdiagnosed and this is another concern. Then there are drugs like Abilify, recently put on the market as a drug for schizophrenia and bipolar being also used for ADHD kids. It is actually an off label drug so not yet approved by the FDA for use with ADHD. Giv... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050947 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5050947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050518&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FQE4VcycYHUM%2F The worsening of cognitive symptoms in patients taking  a now-shelved Eli Lilly experimental Alzheimer’s compound wasn’t reversed even seven months after the end of treatment, according to new data presented today at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Paris. The data raise questions about the efficacy and safety of the many others in the same class of drug that are still being developed. Semagacestat aimed to slow or reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by inhibiting an enzyme called gamma secretase, which is important to building a sticky substance called amyloid that can clump in the brain. Amyloid is thought to be one of the major contributors to Alzheimer’s disease. Bristol-Myers Squibb and other companies also have gamma secretase inhibitors i... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050518 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:05:34 +0100 5050518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050679&cid=t_91990_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fedible-cat-litter-for-drug-delivery.html – Having published a bog about bulldogs and cats, seems quite apt that I was also writing recently about kitty litter the main component of which is the absorbant mineral sepiolite. Sepiolite has been known since Roman times when it was used to filter and purify wine, today it's commonly found in cat litter trays. It absorbs huge amounts of liquid as it is so porous although a detailed understanding was missing. Now, an X-ray study could help explain why and perhaps lead to more technological applications, such as the development of food binders and drug-delivery agents. Related Posts:Composting Chitosan Cat-litter CompositeSpectroscopic science newsCurious X-shooter AntibioticsTuberculosis Waste Disposal Defeats Immune SystemCanned heavy metal and moreEdible cat litter for dru... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050679 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:41:16 +0100 5050679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036274&cid=t_91990_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2Funwasted-an-interview-with-sacha-scoblic-on-the-sober-life%2F As a recovering drunk myself, I was especially interested in the new memoir, Unwasted: My Lush Sobriety by Sacha Z. Scoblic, a writer in Washington, DC, and a contributing editor to The New Republic. I thought I’d ask her more about what she thinks about life without booze. 1. If you knew all that you do today, what would you have done differently your first year of sobriety? Sacha: The first year of sobriety is riddled with basic epiphanies most adults have sooner than do addicts (like: Paying bills is not optional and I don’t have to drink just because it’s Arbor Day) as well as turbulent emotions rising to the surface after years of self-medication through alcohol, drugs, and denial. And then there’s this feeling that no one understands your loss, cravings, or anxieties, bec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036274 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:42:51 +0100 5036274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036428&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fthe-ugly-facts-about-adhd-medication.php You may be shocked to know that the FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) had to issue a warning to doctors and pediatricians across the nation about psychostimulant drugs used in ADHD medication. They have warned of possible heart complications and even a risk of severe psychiatric symptoms which may develop in children who have been prescribed with these drugs. One of the drugs Strattera has been associated with suicidal thoughts in some children and adolescents. I could only shake my head in disbelief when I discovered that Strattera is only for adults with ADHD! Another ADHD drug, Adderall was withdrawn in Canada because of the dangerous side effects. It is interesting to note that a ADHD child may well have a parent who is suffering or has suffered in the past from ADHD – s... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036428 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5036428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036528&cid=t_91990_140_f&fid=34844&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheicarusproject.net%2Falternative-treatments%2Fharm-reduction-guide-to-coming-off-meds-greek-translation The Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs, published by The Icarus Project and Freedom Center, is now available in Greek - thanks to the dedicated volunteer translation work of Marianna Kefallinou.You can download the Greek version here.Οδηγός Μείωσης της Βλάβης για τη Διακοπή των Ψυχιατρικών Φαρμάκων (Source: The Icarus Project - Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness) The Icarus Project - Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036528 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:25:03 +0100 5036528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028127&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FrdrSs832HaA%2F Thumbs-Up, Conditionally: An FDA advisory panel unanimously recommended the accelerated approval of brentuximab vodotin, an experimental lymphoma drug that Seattle Genetics wants to market under the brand name Adcetris, the WSJ reports. Accelerated approval requires further studies to be conducted after the drug is on the market; Seattle Genetics would prefer regular approval, which isn’t conditional. The FDA often, but not always, follows the advice of its outside committees. Fewer Butts: A report published by the CDC finds that Time Warner, Comcast and the Walt Disney Co. cut the number of tobacco scenes in movies rated G, PG or PG-13 by 96% between 2005 and 2010, the Associated Press reports. Those companies had established policies to reduce the prevalence of tobacco in their fil... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028127 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:06:21 +0100 5028127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028739&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-and-lack-of-focus-shocking-pediatrics-report.php A report just published by the Pediatrics journal shows that rate of abuse of ADHD drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall has kept up with the increase of drug abuse! The period they are talking about is from 1998 to 2005. ADHD drug prescriptions rose by about 80% while abuse of the meds for the same period rose by 76%. You can draw your own conclusions. Now if your child has ADHD and lack of focus is one of the symptoms, think twice before putting him on amphetamines because that is basically what these powerful mind altering drugs are. College kids are now misusing Adderall to get the edge on their peers and getting high on these drugs is rather old fashioned as other drugs have taken their place. Just because your child has ADHD and a lack of focus, why risk compromising his future by putti... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028739 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5028739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028128&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FmE-ZDBu4msg%2F Placebo treatments didn’t improve an objective measure of asthmatics’ lung function. But they sure did make patients feel better. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine took 39 asthma patients and had them make 12 visits each to a medical facility, each time after having been off long-acting asthma medications for 24 hours. On each visit, a patient was randomly assigned to either a real albuterol inhaler, a placebo inhaler, sham acupuncture treatment, or no intervention. (So at the end of the study each patient had been given each treatment three times.) Their lung function was measured every 20 minutes for two hours. At each visit, the patients also scored their perceived symptom improvements on a scale of one to 10. Researchers found stark differences betwee... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028128 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:01:06 +0100 5028128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028517&cid=t_91990_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FTIy93UnlV6M%2F I was doing some research on clinical trials and it is much more complex than I dreamed!  First of all, any new treatment must go through numerous stages of testing before its benefits and risks can completely be known.  New treatments are discovered in the laboratory and it can take many years of research before they are given to patients.  Why?  Because it is essential to identify that the new treatment is actually better than what is already available.  These research studies are also called clinical trials.  If a treatment has definite potential in the final stages of development, then research is carried out in patients with the particular type of illness that the treatment aims to help.  Furthermore, I always believed that clinical trials were only regarding drugs, and that is... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028517 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:37:10 +0100 5028517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028130&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FUWutRQPKQBI%2F Chip-Factory Cancer Cases: Samsung Electronics Co. says a report by consulting firm Environ International found no link between cancer in six workers and the chemicals they were exposed to at a semiconductor manufacturing facility, the WSJ reports. Previous reports by South Korea’s occupational health and safety agency have also found no link. But Samsung workers and others have said there were far more leukemia and lymphoma cases among chip-factory workers. Data from the latest study are not being immediately released. Reconsidering Risk: The FDA warned that when used to prevent pelvic organ prolapse, surgical mesh carries a higher risk of adverse effects like pain, bleeding and infection, without necessarily providing additional benefit over traditional surgical stitches, the Assoc... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028130 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:43:45 +0100 5028130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028143&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fn3H3JMIWUMg%2F By Walter OlsonPhilip Greenspun discovers that an FAA inspector is happy to march a little helicopter charter outfit run by a single owner/pilot through the same paperwork slog that a much busier operation would face: Finally, the FAA inspector looked at my random drug testing program to make sure that everything was in place. I’m subject to the same drug testing requirements as United Airlines. I am the drug testing coordinator for our company, so I am responsible for scheduling drug tests and surprising employees when it is their turn to be tested. As it happens, I’m also the only “safety-sensitive employee” subject to drug testing, so basically I’m responsible for periodically surprising myself with a random drug test. As a supervisor, I need to take training so that I can re... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028143 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:38:29 +0100 5028143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028134&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fk5W9J0x-YwM%2F Curbing HIV: Two new studies show the same drugs used to treat HIV infection can also be used to lower the risk of heterosexual transmission of the virus, the WSJ reports. The studies, conducted in Africa, showed antiretroviral drugs marketed by Gilead Sciences could help cut the risk of infection by at least 62%. Research has previously shown that one of the drugs can help reduce transmission of the virus in gay and bisexual men by 44% — 73% when taken every day, as directed. Happier Meals?: Nineteen restaurant chains say they will take steps to up the nutritional quality of their menu offerings for children as part of the National Restaurant Association’s Kids Live Well campaign, the Los Angeles Times reports. Burger King will give parents the option of swapping out fries and... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028134 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:54:44 +0100 5028134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028136&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FkUilAEHGz9M%2F Two new surveys give a snapshot of how bad the drug-shortage problem has become. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has called the recent rash of shortages “unprecedented.” Today, the American Hospital Association and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reported what their members are saying. (The WSJ wrote about this issue earlier this year.) The AHA says that 99.5% of the 820 community hospitals that responded to the group’s June survey reported experiencing at least one drug shortage in the past six months. A full 44% reported shortages of 21 or more different drugs. All treatment categories were affected, hospitals said, with 80% or more respondents experiencing shortages of surgery/anesthesia, emergency care, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal/nutrit... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028136 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:02:22 +0100 5028136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028744&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Ftreating-adhd-in-children-fda-on-alert.php The FDA is concerned about ADHD drugs because they can and do, cause heart problems and hallucinations. The numbers are small but enough to force the FDA to recommend that the drug companies put the black box warning on the boxes of medication. That is the strongest warning possible so we are not talking here about minor side effects. Is this the best we can do in treating ADHD in children ? There are many doctors now who are convinced that the drugs are being over prescribed for ADHD. In addition, as if that was not enough, ADHD is being over diagnosed.. The Harvard Medical School in a recent paper estimates that up to 8 to 10% of children may have ADHD. Also there could be up to 2.5 million children being treated with these medications. So, what is wrong with treating ADHD in children wi... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028744 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5028744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028462&cid=t_91990_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F10%2Fbetty-ford-dies-at-age-93%2F Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States died Friday at the age of 93. Dr. William Van Ornum gives this succinct summary of her life in a tribute on the website of the American Mental Health Foundation (AMHF): Mrs. Ford was born in Chicago, grew up in modest circumstances, became a dancer, and married Mr. Ford shortly after he returned from the Navy in World War II. She thought she was signing up for a life with a mid-western lawyer; instead he chose politics and she was thrust into the role of a political wife, all the while raising 4 children and trying to keep her own interests as well. Political life became difficult for her and she felt an emptiness inside from which she sought solace in alcohol and prescription pills. She was open about her addiction at a time when othe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028462 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:23:09 +0100 5028462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028071&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fguest-blog-health-care-in-dangerous.html Health Care Renewal presents another guest blog by Steve Lucas, a retired businessman who formerly worked in real estate and construction who has a long standing interest in business ethics, and has long observed the health care scene.Health Care Renewal has often covered the disconnect between the stated goals of companies and the realities of their day to day operations. This raised the following question: Has medicine moved from being dysfunctional to being dangerous?There is certainly no lack of material to support this question as in the last two weeks we can find examples of pharma/biotech/device companies all engaged in questionable behavior. Medtronic and Manipulation of Study DataIn the print media, The Wall Street Journal, a pro-business newspaper regularly highlights storie... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028071 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 20:02:00 +0100 5028071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028673&cid=t_91990_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fpreventing-migraines-meds-close-eyes-truth%2F It is well known that the majority of migraine patients know when a migraine attack is coming because they have so called aura (1) The aura is usually visual and in the form of a wave that lets the sufferer know a headache is coming. They may have fatigue, muscle tightening, nausea, visual disturbances, vomiting, photophobia, etc.  They can then take medication from the triptan group to prevent a migraine.  This is the conventional approach (2).  There is also long-term migraine prevention with beta blockers, anti-seizure drugs, etc.  These drugs do an excellent job in preventing migraines. But is taking medication the right thing to do to? Another way to prevent migraines is to find out the root cause of your headache and eliminate it. Here are some possible reasons for migraines tha... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028673 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:49:11 +0100 5028673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008120&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F2KlBS-xNuZs%2F Hip Suits: Artificial hips made by Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics unit are the subject of about 1,000 lawsuits claiming J&J knew about problems with some of the metal-on-metal joint replacements before it ceased their production in 2009, the WSJ reports. A Wells Fargo analyst says J&J stands to lose more than $1 billion in liability and other costs; J&J says it boosted its product-liability reserves by $570 million last year and has also set aside $280 million to cover medical costs of people who received the joints and experienced problems. Last year the company recalled the joints that remained on the market. Privacy Penalty: UCLA is paying $865,000 and will tighten its internal controls as part of an agreement settling federal allegations that unauthorized ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008120 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:36:28 +0100 5008120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008464&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Ftreating-adhd-without-using-drugs-a-simple-effective-guide.php Want to learn about treating ADHD without using drugs? You’re not alone. A growing number of parents around the world, frightened by the dangerous side effects or fed up with the fact that drugs seem to make their children worse, are turning to natural solutions. In this article, you’ll learn an easy three-step approach that can help your child become symptom-free and get him back on track at home and in school. Before we get into that approach, let’s talk about the downside of drugs. As you may know, the research is clear: ADHD drugs work for some kids, but make other kids much worse. This means that they aggravate symptoms and create new issues like loss of appetite and stomach aches, sleeplessness, aggression, heart issues and even psychosis. If your child is already ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008464 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5008464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008123&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FkGlP4i5wdh0%2F Pfizer says it will “explore options” for its animal-health and nutrition businesses — in other words, look to spin off or sell the units. But the company plans to hang on to its established products (generics and branded generics) and consumer-health businesses, which may disappoint investors hoping for more sweeping restructuring plans. Here’s the Dow Jones Newswires story and here’s the company’s press release. Pfizer has been weighing the sale of various business units to focus on neuroscience, cardiovascular medicine, oncology, inflammation, immunology and vaccines, and three specialized units for pain, sensory disorders and biosimilars. In April it said it would sell its Capsugel unit for $2.38 billion. The company said today it will “continu... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008123 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:17:22 +0100 5008123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008125&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FX3sqYp9NFv8%2F Surgical Threat?: U.S. officials are warning that terrorists are considering surgically implanting explosive devices in would-be suicide bombers, who then might board planes; surgeons tell the WSJ the medical procedure itself wouldn’t be that difficult. Breast, pectoral or buttock implants could be filled with liquid explosives and explosive implants could be placed in the chest cavity or elsewhere, experts tell the paper. Plea Deal: Canadian physician Anthony Galea pleaded guilty to charges that he brought human growth hormone into the U.S. with the intent of using it in unapproved ways to treat pro athletes, the New York Times reports. Galea also admitted to carrying in a derivative of calf’s blood –  unapproved in the U.S. — that he also used to help athletes re... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008125 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:54:41 +0100 5008125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008126&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FbSF8_krQPVs%2F What does a sunburn have to do with scientific progress? According to UK researchers, the results of recent experiments on humans and rats exposed to UVB rays — those are the burn-causing ones — may point towards potential pain treatments. And the methods used may suggest a different way of hunting for new drugs. The findings appear in Science Translational Medicine. Rather than starting with the animal models, as happens with most drug research, Stephen McMahon, of King’s College London, and colleagues began with humans. They exposed a small patch of their subjects’ arms to UVB rays, which, as anyone who’s spent too much time in the sun can tell you, sensitizes the skin to pain. Then they took small samples of the skin and looked for molecules that seemed to ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008126 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:07:21 +0100 5008126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008129&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fu18c7VOxgNE%2F A new paper offers a possible road map for getting more drugs approved to treat rare diseases. One key recommendation: improving access to the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway, originally developed to quickly get treatments to patients with life-threatening diseases. The paper, written by Brigitta Miyamoto and Emil Kakkis of the Kakkis EveryLife Foundation and published today in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, says the FDA should offer specific guidelines on how companies seeking to develop drugs for rare diseases can better utilize accelerated approval. Kakkis helped develop and guide the approval process for three treatments for rare diseases at BioMarin Pharmaceutical, where he served as chief medical officer. He’s now CEO and president of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, whic... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008129 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:29:27 +0100 5008129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008202&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F07%2F06%2Fis-there-payola-in-pharmacology%2F Do you remember a child’s saying, “Pishper shame, pishper shame, you ruined your name”, when someone was caught telling a fib? Well, what should we be saying now that it’s revealed that several respected medical researchers have been caught with their ‘disclosure pants’ down? According to the social causes network site Care2’s recently posted article, “3 Harvard Psychiatrists Disciplined Over Drug Company Ties,” (http://www.care2.com/causes/3-harvard-psychiatrists…), “Drs. Joseph Biederman, Thomas Spencer and Timothy Wilens are said to have accepted more than $4.2 million from drug companies including Johnson & Johnson for psychiatric research and other activities between 2000-2007, and not reporting the income to Harvard, MGH or the f... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008202 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:02:00 +0100 5008202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008468&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fhome-%25c2%25bb-health-and-fitness-addadhd-who-is-pushing-the-drugs.php The drug pusher may not the guy on the street corner. It could be someone who you would not suspect. It could be your child selling your prescription drugs to his peers, these mood alternating drugs taken from your medicine cabinet. It could be a teacher who recommends drugs to calm over active children. It could be our school system which support drugging our children to make their job easier. It could be the doctor who recommends drugs for Add/Adhd. There are no real tests for this Adhd condition, only guesses. We observe the child actions and make guess and call this guess a diagnosis. And then put the child on mood alternating drugs which can lead to drug usage for life. And it is the drugs company who take a small co-payment from you and huge profit from the insurance company. I don&#... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008468 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5008468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008179&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Flooking-for-an-alternative-to-recalled-tylenol.html Since the recall last week of nearly 61,000 bottles of Tylenol Extra Strength pain relief because of a musty, moldy odor, you may be finding it hard to find the product on pharmacy shelves. Or the string of Tylenol recalls for that same problem going back over a year now might make you think that it’s time to look for alternatives. Our advice: Look for store-brand or generic versions of acetaminophen instead. Generic acetaminophen typically costs much less than brand-name versions, is just as safe and effective, and hasn’t been implicated in these recalls. Read more about our tips on using generic drugs. (Source: Consumer Reports Health Blog) Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008179 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:30:00 +0100 5008179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992826&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Ftreatment-of-adhd-in-children-should-be-safe-and-effective.php Discovering that their child has ADHD is upsetting to many families who are suddenly faced with the option of dosing their youngster with strong medications every day. Parents and family members are often unsure where they need to look to find the best treatment of ADHD in children. The first place that most people turn to is the medical community. While this does offer a lot of resources that can be effective in giving you help with ADHD children, there is a tendency to rely upon drugs as the first line of treatment. Today parents are wondering if there are options that can be used that will still be useful for treatment of ADHD in children. As more of the side effects of drugs are being publicized, parents are becoming much less eager to involve these powerful stimulants in treatment of ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992826 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4992826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992647&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FRb9MlJdtTh4%2F Coverage Decisions: Medicare will cover Dendreon’s Provenge for certain forms of advanced prostate cancer, calling the $93,000 treatment “reasonable and necessary,” the WSJ reports. (Here’s the decision memo.) Medicare will also continue to cover Roche’s Avastin for breast-cancer patients, even if the FDA follows the advice of its outside advisory committee and revokes approval for that use, the New York Times reports. Anti-Obesity Laws Challenged: Local laws requiring restaurants to eliminate trans fats, label menus with calorie counts and institute other anti-obesity measures are being banned by state legislatures, the NYT reports. Public-health groups say state restaurant lobbies are behind the new state-level efforts; the National Restaurant Association te... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992647 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:49:19 +0100 4992647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984445&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpediatric-emergency-drug-calculator-great-idea-not-ready-for-prime-time%2F2011.06.30 Pediatric Emergency Drugs is designed to be a quick med list calculator for pediatric emergencies. For folks who deal with pediatric emergencies have the challenge of not only determining the proper drugs to use, but also to get the dosage right by age. At the first page you are met with a screen to enter the age of the child and either allow the program to pick the estimated weight or put your own weight in. This is a nice feature as often in pediatric emergencies patients arrive through the door needing immediate care and a weight is unavailable. The estimated weight it appears to pick is the 50% for a boy of the selected age. Allowing you to pick the gender of the child would be helpful in narrowing down the weight a little further since girls of a given age would weigh a little less. �... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984445 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:00:57 +0100 4984445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984413&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FNYfw_VMWbrM%2F Avastin Vote: An FDA appeals panel made up of outside experts voted 6-0 to recommend the agency remove Avastin’s approval for breast cancer, the WSJ reports. Panel members said studies showed the Roche drug provided no meaningful benefit to patients while raising the risk for serious side effects. The ultimate decision on the drug’s breast-cancer indication rests with FDA head Margaret Hamburg. Regardless of what she decides, the drug will remain on the market since it’s approved for other cancers. Focus on Fenugreek: The search for the culprit in the E. coli outbreak in Germany and, most recently, France, has focused on fenugreek seeds from Egypt, the New York Times reports. Sprouts from contaminated seeds are “implicated in both outbreaks,” according to a Eu... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984413 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:42:44 +0100 4984413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984689&cid=t_91990_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FEygW_voyKzU%2F Rise and shine. Another glorious day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are moving along like a cool breeze. Of course, there is much to be done - phone calls, meetings, reading documents. You name it. And we know you can related. So grab that cup of stimulation - no excuses, please - and pick up your to-do list. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits from around your world. Have a good one… US Court Orders Seizure Of Cipla Pet Drug For Patent Violation (Dow Jones) Lilly Plans 10 Drug In Final-Stage Trials By End Of 2011 (Bloomberg News) Niaspan Prescriptions Fall After Negative Study Results (Dow Jones) Pfizer Signs Deal With Russian Venture Capital Firm For R&D (Associated Press) Forest Files COPD Drug For FDA Approval (Pharma Times) ‘Neurontin Kille... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984689 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:53:38 +0100 4984689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984414&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FlFCjZwNJcCQ%2F Research led by the National Institutes of Health may suggest new avenues of treatment for a rare childhood disorder–and insights into the aging process. A group of scientists led by NIH director Francis S. Collins are reporting that the drug everolimus clears out a protein called progerin from cells of children with progeria. This protein builds up to toxic levels in patients with progeria, a rapid-aging disorder that causes children to die of heart attacks or strokes in their teens. Everyone makes progerin, a mutant form of the protein Lamin A, which is critical to organizing the genome inside the body’s cells. As WSJ has reported , there is a growing body of research that shows progerin accumulates as we grow older. In today’s study, the researchers found that everolimus also re... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984414 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:32:46 +0100 4984414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984610&cid=t_91990_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F3uQnB31DzeI%2F Whether you were a pothead in college, enjoy an occasional toke, or are straight-laced and never touch the stuff, you’ve probably taken part in at least one debate about medical marijuana. Recently, during a girls’ night out, my fellow ladies and I somehow got onto this subject. What struck me as funny listening to everyone opine about the issue was not so much which side they were on, it was the fact that we were debating it over cocktails. So here we were saying whether or not someone with a serious illnesses should be allowed to get high when we were in fact getting high ourselves. Kind of ironic, I thought. There is a general acceptance in this country that people can consume as much alcohol as they want (providing they are over 21 and don’t drink and drive, of course... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984610 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:13:15 +0100 4984610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984439&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F06%2Frecall-nearly-61000-tylenol-bottles-have-that-musty-smell.html Johnson & Johnson issued a recall notice for 60,912 bottles of its Tylenol Extra Strength pain relief medicine after receiving a small number of reports regarding a musty, moldy odor. As in recent recalls of Tylenol and another drug, Topomax, the foul stench is believed to be caused by trace amounts of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA). The chemical isn't believed to be toxic or cause any serious health risks, however, it may cause temporary "gastrointestinal symptoms." As a precaution, Johnson & Johnson and its McNeil Consumer Healthcare are recalling the drug. The recall affects one lot (ABA619) of Tylenol pain killers and were made in February 2009. The bottles bear the label "Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets, 225 count" and a UPC code of 300450444271. Consumers with the tainted Tylenol pil... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984439 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:15:00 +0100 4984439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984416&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FC_mtNuxv7nI%2F No Mystery: The Obama administration halted plans to have “mystery shoppers” posing as patients cold-call doctors’ offices to see how difficult it was to get appointments, the New York Times reports. The White House had said it wanted to measure access to primary-care doctors before the health-care overhaul adds more than 30 million people to the ranks of insured patients. But doctors and politicians had criticized the plan as a wasteful breach of trust. Nondisclosure: A new study says surgeons who conducted clinical trials to test a Medtronic Inc. bone-growth protein used in spine surgery didn’t report serious complications that arose in those trials, The Wall Street Journal reports. According to a Journal analysis, 15 of those surgeons have collectively received at least $62 mil... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984416 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:49:05 +0100 4984416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984485&cid=t_91990_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FA4C4TLM6rbA%2Fcocaine-and-ear-necrosis.html Last week Science Daily had a brief article noting the association of contaminated cocaine with ear necrosis:   Contaminated Cocaine Triggers Decaying, Dying Skin  (photo credit)  I’ve written about skin complications from drug abuse in the past, but this is not one I knew of.  Most common are skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). The crusty, purplish areas of dead skin (purpura) that can occur with this contaminated cocaine are extremely painful and can open the door to nasty infections.  (note the lower lobe of the ear in the photo) Apparently the cocaine is contaminated with a de-worming drug commonly used by veterinarians called levamisole,  noted by the U.S. DEA to have been found in 30% of confiscated cocaine in 2008 and 70% in 2009. This compl... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984485 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:15:00 +0100 4984485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984584&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-medicines-aspect-consequences-looking-at-safer-and-a-lot-much-more-successful-selections.php ADHD Medications Facet Consequences – Searching At Safer And A lot Much more Efficient ChoicesWhy ought to we expose our young children to medicines that could lead to a specific dependency? That is just a person of the extended record of difficulties affiliated with ADHD medications side consequences. Most of the drugs such as psychostimulants and even non stimulants have a very long list of aspect consequences. Children are ever more exposed to medication in the classroom and the street so why should we risk that they start off selling their personal medicines?   A recent report from Washington DC unveiled that a fourth grader had been charged with drug possession and bringing it to a incredibly famed elementary college and sharing it around. We now have a phrase for individuals y... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984584 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4984584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975816&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F_GArf64_q8M%2F Johnson & Johnson can’t seem to shake the “musty, moldy odor” that has prompted a series of product recalls. Today it was Extra-Strength Tylenol caplets. J&J’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare division is pulling one lot, or 60,912 bottles, of the painkiller in the U.S. following “a small number of odor reports.” The smell has been linked to trace amounts of a chemical that’s a byproduct of a preservative sometimes applied to wooden pallets used in storage and transportation. It’s not toxic but can cause GI upset. It’s also been blamed for stinking up the antipsychotic Risperdal, HIV/AIDS drug Prezista, different types of Tylenol and two lots of the anti-epilepsy drug Topamax. We’ve been keeping tabs on J&J’s string of... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975816 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:57:54 +0100 4975816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975856&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fcr-secret-shoppers-find-dangers-with-prescription-labels-and-inserts.html It seemed like a straightforward “spot check.” We sent Consumer Reports Health staffers to five pharmacies—Costco, CVS, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart—near our Yonkers, N.Y. office to fill prescriptions for the blood-thinner warfarin to see what kinds of instructions and warnings we’d find on the prescription bottles and patient-information sheets. But what we found was troubling. We expected clear and consistent label information for two reasons. First, if not taken correctly warfarin, the generic version of Coumadin, can cause bleeding problems, which can be fatal. In fact, it’s the second most commonly implicated drug in emergency room visits in the U.S. In addition, it’s taken so often that it ranked among the top 20 most prescribed medication... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975856 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4975856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975819&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fvra3c12TJyY%2F No Hearing: The Supreme Court yesterday rejected an appeal from insurers and other payers who said they paid too much for Eli Lilly’s antipsychotic drug Zyprexa because the drug company misrepresented the benefits of the medication, the WSJ reports. A lower court had ruled that there wasn’t a sufficient link between the high prices and Lilly’s marketing practices; the Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to that ruling. Hospice Questions: There are concerns that commercial hospices are seeking out patients with better prognoses in an attempt to boost income, Kaiser Health News and the New York Times report. The inspector general of HHS is looking at “unusual patterns of hospice stays,” while whistleblower lawsuits have alleged efforts to keep patients in... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975819 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:57:19 +0100 4975819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975822&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FheOl2vQ08lE%2F Avastin Arguments: At an FDA appeals hearing tomorrow and Wednesday, Roche’s Genentech unit will argue that the conditional approval for its drug Avastin to be used against breast cancer shouldn’t be pulled, despite evidence showing it doesn’t help patients live any longer and carries the risk of serious side effects, the WSJ reports. FDA head Margaret Hamburg will ultimately make the decision about the drug, which is already approved for use in other cancers. Sprouts, Again: The deadly E. coli strain implicated in the German outbreak that killed 43 people has now popped up in France, though authorities say it appears to be an isolated instance, the New York Times reports. Once again, the illness is linked to sprouts; seven people were in the hospital as of Sunday, the NY... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975822 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:34:33 +0100 4975822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976054&cid=t_91990_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Flooking-critically-at-what-meds-work-for-adhd.php What do the three types of ADHD drugs commonly prescribed for ADHD all have in common ? They all come with a long and frightening list of warnings and possible side effects. Any parent before deciding which type of medication to opt for will have to take a long hard look at what meds work for ADHD and the risks involved. What three types of drugs are prescribed ? There are psychostimulants which are basically made from amphetamines. These go by various names such as Ritalin whose main component is methylphenidate, Concerto and Focalin. Then we have antidepressants such as Welbutrin. Finally we have drugs such as Strattera (atomexetine) which is the only nonstimulant drug but it has not been found to be so effective for hyperactivity. The latest warning about this particular drug issued by ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976054 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4976054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968489&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-approved-drugs-are-not-always-effective-the-benefits-of-alternative-medicine%2F2011.06.25 On Saturday, while thousands of Boston Bruins fans gathered at Government Center to celebrate the team’s recent Stanley Cup victory, a hundred or so true die-hards met a few blocks away at a Massachusetts General Hospital conference to talk about complementary and alternative medicine for psychiatric disorders. While I hated to miss the Bruins parade, I’m glad I attended the MGH conference. I’ve always been a bit of a skeptic about so-called natural therapies for one simple reason: they don’t have to go through the same rigorous testing in clinical trials that medications do. At the same time, I realize that FDA-approved drugs don’t work for everyone. One in three adults with major depression, for example, can’t completely improve their mood and other symptoms even after trying... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968489 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:00:31 +0100 4968489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968542&cid=t_91990_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2Fv_fF9FquzRA%2F Just recently my colleague and I have published two research papers. I am very proud of the first one titled “Mobile phone in the Chain of Survival”, which was published after a lot of research in the Resuscitation journal. This short paper gives an overview of vast possibilities possessed by mobile phones to be of assistance in medical emergencies. It represents a continuation of my work with CPR mobile applications. I have also now published a video of the lecture I gave during the Resuscitation 2010 congress about the same subject. You can watch my 10 minute lecture here, and read our paper at the Resuscitation website. The second paper we wrote appeared in the Croatian journal Lijecnicki Vjesnik (in English this would be something like Physician’s Newsletter). It i... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968542 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 09:54:12 +0100 4968542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968448&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FyZrEdU9ywW8%2F Weight-loss drug development is not for the faint of heart. Three companies — Orexigen, Arena and Vivus — had promising candidates before the FDA last year. All walked away empty-handed. Orexigen said earlier this month it was suspending U.S. development of its own candidate, Contrave, because the bar set by the FDA was impossible to clear. Arena and Vivus are pushing ahead to provide the agency with the information it has requested. Ken Fujioka thinks the current state of affairs is a shame. He’s a diabetologist and internal medicine specialist who directs the Center for Weight Management at the Scripps Clinic-Del Mar. (He’s also conducted clinical research with “multiple companies” working on obesity drugs.) In an op-ed that ran in the Washington Post ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968448 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:45:54 +0100 4968448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968478&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F06%2Frecall-rugby-child-pain-and-fever-dropspackaging-not-childproof.html Almost 900,000 bottles of children’s concentrated pain and fever drops were recalled because the dispenser fails to meet standards for child-resistant closure. Although the original bottle has child-resistant packaging, a dropper for dispensing the drug to children does not. A child could access the medicine, posing serious health problems or death if more than the recommended dosage is consumed. No injuries or incidents have been reported in relation to this product. This over-the-counter medicine was sold at drug and grocery stores plus other retailers nation wide since January 2009. The drops contain acetaminophen, which calls for child-resistant packaging under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. To arrange for a free replacement dropper, contact Altaire Pharmaceuticals at 80... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968478 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:45:00 +0100 4968478 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968449&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F3bKtGFhC-I0%2F Generic Distinction: The Supreme Court ruled that makers of generic drugs, unlike their counterparts making the branded versions, aren’t liable for medication injuries that could have been avoided by an updated warning label, the WSJ reports. The logic: branded drugs are required by law to demonstrate safety and effectiveness and to have a label with adequate, up-to-date information, while generic drugs only have to be equivalent to the branded version and  must carry the same label as the brand, the paper says. Separately, the court ruled that Vermont can’t outlaw the sale of physicians’ prescribing data to drug makers. A Call for Sleep: A report by physicians and sleep experts published in Nature and Science of Sleep calls for all U.S. trainee doctors’ work hours... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968449 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:04:57 +0100 4968449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968464&cid=t_91990_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FkY82WaVaaUo%2F By Jim HarperThe Supreme Court’s decision in Sorrell vs. IMS Health is being touted in many quarters as a privacy case, and a concerning one at that. Example: Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released a statement saying “the Supreme Court has overturned a sensible Vermont law that sought to protect the privacy of the doctor-patient relationship.” That’s a stretch. The Vermont law at issue restricted the sale, disclosure, and use of pharmacy records that revealed the prescribing practices of doctors if that information was to be used in marketing by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Under the law, prescription drug salespeople—”detailers” in industry parlance—could not access information about doctors’ prescribing to use in focusing their effort... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968464 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:37:08 +0100 4968464