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 'generic drugs'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:02:04 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107514&cid=t_115577_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=4175693&cid=t_115577_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Funintended-consequences-of-cheaper-generic-drugs%2F2010.11.17 There’s an article in the New England Journal of Medicine entitled the “Unintended Consequences of Four-Dollar Generic Drugs.“ Ever one to hone in on unintended consequences of all stripes, I quickly clicked through. Oh, dear! What bad could possibly come of making drugs significantly more affordable? Were more people demanding prescriptions for drugs they didn’t really need now that they were so cheap? (Dream on. I’m still twisting arms to get my high-risk cardiac patients to take their generic statins.) Were pharmacies going out of business, no longer to make ends meet without massive markups on brand name drugs, contributing to skyrocketing unemployment and otherwise adding to the country’s general economic malaise? Were cardiologists’ incomes plummeting because of saggin... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175693 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:00:35 +0100 4175693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159239&cid=t_115577_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-the-young-pharmaceutical-rep-right%2F2010.11.12 I loved my old status. Perhaps, reveled in it would be a better description. I was a crotchety, generic medicine-only doctor.** Sadly, my status changed today. Dabigatran (brand name Pradaxa) was the culprit. It was a little nerve racking. I wrote the order, looked at it, thought it out again, talking to myself: “John, are you sure you don’t want to do it the old way? [pause to think] No, I am embracing the new.”  And then, I closed the chart and handed it to the nurse. “What’s that? Pradaxa?” asked the nurse. “Stop the Lovenox? You sure?” My face must have told the story. Eight days had passed since dabigatran’s approval. “That’s plenty of time to mourn warfarin’s demise,” I thought. Enough studies, enough bl... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159239 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4159239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3935799&cid=t_115577_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgeneric-drugs-not-so-cheap%2F2010.09.05 I received the following e-mail from a patient (paraphrased): Dear Dr. Fisher, Thank you for trying to switch me from lisinopril to generic losartan (Cozaar) to help me with the irritating cough that has been nagging me since I was placed on lisinopril. I did not pick up my prescription, though. At nearly $200 for a three-month supply, I’ve decided to live with the cough, since the same amount of lisinopril costs me about $12. -Ms. Patient Interesting how the generic drug market for some drugs only marginally discounts prices. Since the companies that make generics did not have to absorb research and development costs, how do they justify the exorbitant prices? Simple: The middlemen still have to get theirs. -WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. *This... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3935799 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3935799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3342893&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FwIIVCswS7LE%2F The move comes just after FDA commish Margaret Hamburg complained out loud about a backlog of generic drug approvals. And so the agency has moved Gary Buehler, who directs the Office of Generic Drugs, to the Office of Pharmaceutical Science. And OPS director Keith Webber will run the OGD until a permanent OGD head is found, The Pink Sheet writes. In a speech last month to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association annual meeting, Hamburg noted that the “unprecedented spike” in applications exceeded the agency’s review abilities. The backlog went from 891 in fiscal year 2005 to 1,912 in fiscal year 2010, according to OGD data presented at the meeting. Hamburg hopes negotiating user fees with generic drug makers will solve the problem (back story). Whether removing Buehler, who... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342893 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:48:01 +0100 3342893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3148997&cid=t_115577_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F06%2Fthe-proposals-to-implement-generic-substitution-in-primary-care-further-to-the-pharmaceutical-price-regulation-scheme-pprs-2009-consultation-document%2F Title: The proposals to implement ‘generic substitution’ in primary care, further to the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) 2009. Consultation document Skinny: Consultation on generic substitution which will enable pharmacists and other dispensers to fulfil a prescription for a branded medicine by dispensing an equivalent generic medicine. Provision will be made to allow the prescriber to opt out of substitution where, in his clinical judgment, it is appropriate for the patient to receive a specific branded medicine. 3 options are presented for consultation: Do nothing Introduce dispensing flexibility but with specific exclusions, so that the arrangements do not apply to a selected group of products on an exempt list. Introduce dispensing flexibility but limiting th... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3148997 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:22:06 +0100 3148997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108411&cid=t_115577_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fnot_all_drugs_are_the_same_after_all.htm By LESLEY ALDERMAN LET me start by saying I'm a fan of generic drugs. They save Americans billions of dollars each year and give us access to wonderful drugs at affordable prices. I've recommended generics in this column many times and use them myself when possible. But there is a gnawing concern among some doctors and researchers that certain prescription generic drugs may not work as well as their brand-name counterparts. More... Copyright 2009 The New York Times CompanyComment:  It works the opther way too. Some people find a generic is better than the brand. I do much better on the generic version of my antidepressant, possibly because the brand tablets have a thick red coating which I may react to. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108411 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:34:00 +0100 3108411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105062&cid=t_115577_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fdo-generics-work-as-well-as-name-brands.html It's my first night of vacation! I saw my last patient today and then started pulling the pictures off the walls in anticipation of my move. I ran over to see the new place, and it still needs insulation (it's on the floor), paint, and carpet. And doorknobs might be nice.So we're expecting quite the snowstorm here. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow, but the current forecast is for up to 20 inches. It didn't take me long to float from the weather to the health section of the New York Times, and here's an article by Leslie Alderman about generics versus name brands.Are generics as good as name brands? I don't have any studies, I'm purely running on anecdotes, but this is my thinking: Usually. When I was resident, I learned that 15% of the time (and this isn't science, I don't think, I b... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105062 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:35:00 +0100 3105062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947029&cid=t_115577_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fgive-us-generic-drugs-for-our-ms-treatment%2F The first therapy for MS (Interferon beta-1b) was made available to us nearly 20-years-ago now.  It was followed, in relatively rapid succession (over the next ten years) by two other interferon therapies and Glatiramer acetate.  Most recently, a monoclonal antibody has been added to our MS arsenal. These are all compounds known as biologic drugs, meaning that they are grown, not synthesized.  They must be grown from living cell cultures in a controlled environment with great care and at great cost. These drugs are not the “$500 Million for the first pill, $.05 for the rest.” A cost which is, as we know, passed along to the consumer…us. Like all drugs, they are patent protected so that the proprietary company can recoup research and development expenses and return a profit to ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947029 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:00:39 +0100 2947029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2761962&cid=t_115577_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FamFqwEO_CPw%2F A new report on MSN Health talks about the dangers of generic drugs. While some of them work just fine, others don’t. The article chronicles one woman’s struggle with feeling lousy and going from doctor to doctor before realizing it was the generics. I can relate to this story. I had almost the same thing happen. I had a VERY bad reaction to one generic and was told by the nurse practioner that it “must be in my head” because the “pills are virtually the same.” They weren’t the same. Not at all. I do take some generics and they work out okay. But this one particular drug did not. I think stories like this reinforce that when you’re feeling lousy, you have to be diligent about getting the care and treatment you need. Some people will just bl... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2761962 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:25:33 +0100 2761962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513151&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEPharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2FGzwv8lw7IKY%2Fobama-to-propose-health-cost-cuts.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513151 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:19:00 +0100 2513151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2188070&cid=t_115577_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F539976257%2Fnews-of-note-this-past-week.html ~ Gender disparities persist in treatment of stroke. Guess which direction this one cuts. ~ TANSTAAFL: Pfizer to disclose payments to doctors, researchers starting in 2010. All right, let’s hear it! ~ Second Stryker sales rep pleads guilty to misbranding a medical device. A felony. ~ Ovaries can be safely saved in some endometrial cancers. ~ 9 flawed genes found in risk of heart attack. Ah, the plot thickens! ~ Are you what you eat?: Mediterranean diet could cut risk of dementia. Quick! Get me some fish and olive oil. ~ Bone drugs may help fight breast cancer. Nice added benefit. ~ Damaged spinal cords in mice improved by transplants of neural stem cells produced with human induced pluripotent stem cells. We can rebuild them . ~ Are fears over bioterrorism stifling scientif... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2188070 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 02:46:35 +0100 2188070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2087096&cid=t_115577_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F-3Cdemw4jKA%2F Brand-name drugs do not offer any advantages, over generic counterparts states the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dr. Aaron Keeselheim of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston found that contrary to the belief, of some doctors and patients that the costly brand-name drugs are no more effective than the generic drugs. There have been 30 studies since 1984 comparing the two types of cardiovascular drugs. The findings of the studies were that there weren’t any advantages to the brand-name drugs. In a interview Dr. Kesselheim said, “if a patient is prescribed a generic drug they should be confident in taking it.” The doctor also stated “that doctors should feel confident in prescribing the generic drugs,” Pharmaceut... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2087096 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:51:55 +0100 2087096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056347&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F489813019%2F An interesting battle has been playing out between the little biotech and the agency over a 2006 decision to allow a different standard for permitting generic versions of it Vancocin antibiotic, which is used to treat gastrointestinal infections. And the latest twist has ViroPharma filing a lawsuit yesterday against the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services to force the agency to turn over its files on its controversial decision. The ruckus began in March 2006 when the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs responded to an inquiry from Infinium Capital, a Canadian investment firm, about agency standards for allowing generic Vancocin. Dale Conner, the director of the OGD’s division of bioequivalence, wrote an Infinium broker that in vivo, or human studies, would no longer b... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056347 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:49:19 +0100 2056347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826151&cid=t_115577_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Ftevas_generic_wellbutrin_xlreg_comes_under_fda_microscope.htm The FDA is considering a postmarketing study of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' generic version of the antidepressant Wellbutrin® XL (bupropion) in patients who have reported problems with it, agency spokeswoman Crystal Rice said. More... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826151 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:38:00 +0100 1826151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516776&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F311410649%2F If you answered ‘too long,’ you win a free subscription to Pharmalot. The Office of the Inspector General of the Health and Human Services Department has just issued a report on the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs and the results are, well, not too stellar. One key reason - the Abbreviated New Drug Application submissions have increased at more than double the rate of review resources in the last 5 years, the OIG notes. We should point out that all drugmakers must submit ANDAs to the OGD, which has three divisions conducting reviews - chemistry, bioequivalence and labeling. However, most disapprovals are handled by the chem squad. Now, to the findings - the FDA “exceeded the 180-day review requirement for nearly half of original ANDAs under review in 2006 because Chem... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516776 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:20:19 +0100 1516776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478031&cid=t_115577_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F300770199%2Fethics-of-branded-vs-generic-drugs.html On May 15, 2008, an article in the Wall Street Journal reported that a United States appeals court upheld a lower-court ruling striking down patents for Lovenox, an anticoagulant manufactured by... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478031 Thu, 29 May 2008 20:25:54 +0100 1478031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454756&cid=t_115577_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fusa_first_generic_paroxetine_extended_release_now_availabl.htm Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. has launched its Paroxetine Extended-release (ER) Tablets, the generic version of Glaxo-SmithKline's Paxil CR®. As the first company to successfully file an abbreviated new drug application containing a paragraph IV certification for the 12.5 mg and 25 mg tablets, Mylan has earned 180 days of marketing exclusivity for these two strengths. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454756 Tue, 20 May 2008 08:16:00 +0100 1454756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1311477&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35779&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmamanufacturing.com%2Fonpharma%2F%3Fp%3D1591 Forget about championing one side or another. The politically charged “generics vs. namebrand drug” debate offers an opportunity to study the impacts of process and ingredient variability on drug manufacturing and on clinical effects in patients.   (For material to analyze, click here). At IFPAC 2008 in January, FDA’s Dr. Janet Woodcock noted the fact that [...] (Source: On Pharma) On Pharma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1311477 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:20:37 +0100 1311477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1232041&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35779&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmamanufacturing.com%2Fonpharma%2F%3Fp%3D1443 If the recent Science Board report on science within the Agency wasn’t enough and you needed more evidence of the urgent need for better IT infrastructure, staffing and other resources for FDA, the Wall Street Journal released this bombshell this morning.  Click here to read.   Baxter’s recalled generic Heparin may be linked to API manufactured by a [...] (Source: On Pharma) On Pharma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1232041 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:05:10 +0100 1232041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1188769&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35779&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmamanufacturing.com%2Fonpharma%2F%3Fp%3D1437 We love the progressive thinking that’s going on in pharma. That’s why I enjoy my job and what makes covering this side of the industry so much more interesting and positive than looking at the financial side and all the marketing scandals. As we do every year, we’ve covered this year’s IFPAC process analytics conference, [...] (Source: On Pharma) On Pharma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1188769 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:32:42 +0100 1188769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1064626&cid=t_115577_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fexamining_the_strengths_and_limitations_of_generic_formulati.htm Primary Psychiatry. 2007;14(12):35-38 In Session with Michael E. Thase, MD What factors most commonly influence clinician perceptions of different antidepressants? A clinician's firsthand experiences shape how he or she views a medication's efficacy and tolerability. The first 10 experiences involving the prescription of a new medication is usually what determines whether one values it as a well-tolerated or highly effective medication. More... © 2007 Primary Psychiatry a Publication of MBL Communications (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1064626 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:51:00 +0100 1064626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1018961&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35779&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmamanufacturing.com%2Fonpharma%2F%3Fp%3D1381 FDA issued a press release today (see below), noting that the Agency is calling for safety-related labeling changes for three biopharmaceuticals used to treat certain types of anemia. The release suggests that erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) may pose serious health risks and have questionable efficacy in alleviating symptoms of anemia and fatigue in cancer patients. In addition to [...] (Source: On Pharma) On Pharma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1018961 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:38:27 +0100 1018961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1017860&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35779&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmamanufacturing.com%2Fonpharma%2F%3Fp%3D1381 FDA issued a press release today (see below), noting that the Agency is calling for safety-related labeling changes for three biopharmaceuticals used to treat certain types of anemia. The release suggests that erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) may pose serious health risks and have questionable efficacy in alleviating symptoms of anemia and fatigue in cancer patients. In addition to [...] (Source: On Pharma) On Pharma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1017860 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:53:12 +0100 1017860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1012491&cid=t_115577_150_f&fid=35779&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmamanufacturing.com%2Fonpharma%2F%3Fp%3D1370 Installment 5 ISPE management deserve special praise for inviting a high-ranking engineer from a generic pharmaceutical manufacturing company—in this case, the rapidly growing Teva, to speak at this meeting.  As  ISPE vice chair Bruce Davis affirmed, generics manufacturers are not “the enemy,” but an increasingly important part of the global healthcare system.  They also face margin and [...] (Source: On Pharma) On Pharma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1012491 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:02:42 +0100 1012491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=941865&cid=t_115577_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F167996160%2Fglenmark_pharmaceuticals_limited_receives_fda_approval_to_market_generic_version_of_trileptal_.html Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited (NSE:GLENMARK)has received final U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to market generic Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) tablets.Trileptal is currently manufactured by Roxane Laboratories Inc (Google Finance), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (BOM:524715) in three strength (150 mg, 300 mg and 600 mg) and is used alone or in combination with other drugs in the treatment of partial epileptic seizures in adults and children over the age of 4.Trileptal was the 74th best selling brand name medication in 2005 according to Drug Topics."FDA requires generic drugs to have the same quality, strength, purity and stability as brand-name drugs," said Gary J. Buehler, director of FDA's Office of Generic Drugs.... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=941865 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:00:36 +0100 941865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908619&cid=t_115577_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F162038583%2Fwalmart_stores_inc_launches_phase_2_of_4_prescription_program.html WalMart Store Inc. (NADSAQ: WMT) announced the launch of the second phase of their $4 prescription drug program. Phase 2 offers more medicines in more categories like attention deficit disorder, glaucoma, fungal infections and acne. Fertility and prescription birth control will also be included at a price of $9 for a month's supply. Also included is savings on new-to-market generic drugs such as Carvedilol and Coreg.Walmart now offers 361 prescription products that cover up to 95% of the prescriptions written and includes a list of cover medications on its website."This program has exceeded all of our expectations," said Bill Simon, executive vice president, chief operating officer, Wal-Mart Stores Division. "So many Americans rely on our $4 prescription program to ... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908619 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:30:04 +0100 908619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891625&cid=t_115577_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F159594569%2Fwhat_is_the_walmart_effect.html An article today in The New York Times, by Stephanie Saul, debates different reasons for the slowing of inflation in drugs cost.One of the aspects she discusses is "the WalMart effect" which is the initiative that was launched last fall where many generic prescriptions were made available at a cost of $4 a month. Other stores such as Target, Kmart and other retailers quickly followed suit with similar offers."A Labor Department economist, Francisco Velez, said his office noted a drop in generic drug prices shortly after the large stores’ promotions began, particularly in the South, where Wal-Mart started its program. His colleague, Mr. Ginsburg, called the drop in prices for generic drugs “dramatic.” Wal-Mart and other large chain stores make up 15 to ... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891625 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:00:34 +0100 891625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=822306&cid=t_115577_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F25%2Fplavix-and-thailand-why-you-should-care%2F Filed under: Drugs, Daily newsThe Thai government says the heart drug Plavix is way overpriced. And it's going to do something about it: it will begin importing generic versions of Plavix from India. The first batch of two million pills will arrive soon, says the chairman of Thailand's Government Pharmaceutical Organisation. The imported version of Plavix, a blood-thinner, will cost only the equivalent of three US cents per pill. Compare this with the current cost for Thai heart patients: two US dollars per pill!In order to do all this, the Thai government approved a temporary suspension of patent protections for expensive medications. Needless to say, this has seriously ticked off the big pharmaceutical companies! (Plavix, by the way, is sold by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol Myers-Squibb.) H... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=822306 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 822306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=776243&cid=t_115577_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__symptom_relapse_following_switch_from_celexa_to_g.htm This study examines the potential risks posed by a switch from Celexa to generic citalopram. Twenty patients at an Anxiety Disorders Clinic who were unknowingly switched to generic citalopram, from Celexa (Lundbeck, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) and experienced a re-emergence of their anxiety symptoms or development of new adverse events are described in this case series report. The mean time for re-emergence of symptoms or development of adverse events was 3.4 +/- 1.6 weeks (range 0.5-8 weeks). All patients reestablished previous treatment response with a change back to Celexa in a mean time of 3.8 +/- 2.6 weeks (range 0.7-12 weeks). Given these results, it is important for clinicians to be aware of the potential for loss of treatment effect or symptom re-emergence posed by a switch to a gene... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=776243 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:37:00 +0100 776243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=655712&cid=t_115577_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fphysicians_question_fdas_confidence_in_generic_drugs_safet.htm Mark Moran Patients can contact their pharmacy and ask whether they have changed manufacturers and request the original formulation. Typically, pharmacies can accommodate such requests. The call came out of the blue. "It was a patient I had seen years ago for depression," APA President-elect Nada Stotland, M.D., told Psychiatric News. "She had been completely stabilized on a medication and had in fact decided to let her primary care physician prescribe it. That was her decision, and she did well for several years. But when she called, she said she was extremely depressed and asked to come and see me." Predictably, Stotland said, there were events in the patient's life that might have touched off a relapse, in particular the anniversary of a painful loss. But the patient had lived through t... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=655712 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 08:56:00 +0100 655712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=574096&cid=t_115577_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F112395276%2Fadventrxs_anx514_docetaxel_emu.html Preclinical pharmacokinetic testing of ANX-514 (docetaxel emulsion) in a well recognized animal model, yielded positive data as recently announced by ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex: ANX). Results of the study indicated the following: Bioequivalent pharmacokinetics between ANX-514 and the FDA-approved version of docetaxel: Taxotere® ANX-514 administered intravenously did not cause hypersensitivity reactions in this study, as opposed to acute hypersensivity reactions observed following intravenous treatment with Taxotere®. ANX-514 is a novel emulsion formulation of docetaxel - an agent for the treatment of breast, non-small cell lung, prostate and gastric cancers. According to Evan M. Levine, chief executive officer for ADVENTRX: "These preclinical results are important a... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=574096 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:37:42 +0100 574096