Viagra may combat Jet Lag
May 31, 2007
Researchers are reporting that Viagra appears to reduce symptoms of jet lag in hamsters. Though it is a bit too early to tell if it will work on humans.
In the study, researchers administered small doses of viagra to the animals before adjusting cycles of light and dark. This adjusted their circadian rhythm as if they’d taken a six-hour plane trip to the east. The effects mimmicking the same trip to the west did not have the same results.
The hamsters recovered 25 percent to 50 percent more quickly from the equivalent of human jet lag, needing less time to adjust themselves to the new schedule.
A sleep specialist called the new reasearch “promissing”.
Accutane user awarded $2.6 Million
May 30, 2007
Accutane’s links to suicidal behavior and birth defects are well known side-effects. The package inserts include a black box warning about psychiatric disorders and have large icons that say “Causes birth defects” and “Do not get pregnant.”
Lesser known is Accutane’s risk of causing inflammatory bowel disorder. And this was the first suing Roche over the Inflammatory Bowel Disorder claim. There are three more trials are scheduled this year in Florida and Illinois.
A patient was awarded $119,000 for past medical expenses and $2.5 million in damages to cover future medical costs, plus pain and suffering.
Roche said in a statement that they will appeal. Adding, “The cause of inflammatory bowel disease remains unknown and there is no reliable scientific evidence that Accutane causes inflammatory bowel disease.” However, A brief, plain-type warning states Accutane has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
New Look
May 24, 2007
I have changed the look of CPhTLink.com to look more like the news website that it is. The left colum is the most recent articles. The middle are random articles that were posted in the past, and at the far right is the usual menu.
I am still playing with font sizes and where to place somee graphics. Anybody have any thoughts? Place a comment or post in our forum.
From Blockbuster to Bust
May 24, 2007
A good editorial titled “Vioxx, Avandia, What Next?” by Marilynn Marchione of The Associated Press.
Generic Lotrel Blocked
May 24, 2007
On May 18th the FDA granted a final approval to Teva of its AB rated Lotrel generic, and they immediately started shipping the product.
Then On May 19, the US District Court granted Novartis an emergency request for a temporary order restraining Teva’s launch. The temporary order is in place until May 29 and stopps Teva from shipping any further generic copies of the medication.
However, the judge has allowed Teva to continue to sell any generics of Lotrel that had reached distributors and customers before the restraining order was placed.
Continue to check CPhTLink.com for further updates on this and other stories.
Safety Alert Issued On Avandia
May 22, 2007
Dr. Steven Nissen and Kathy Wolski conducted a study that compared patients taking Avandia with patients not using the drug. The Results were to appear in the June 14th edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.
The study found the risk of a heart attack was increased 43% among the patients that were taking Avandia. There is also a 64% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular causes while taking the drug.
These findings were considered enough of a public health matter for the New England Journal of Medicine to release it several weeks before they were to appear in the print edition.
Glaxo downplayed the report of heart risks. Dr. Lawson McCartney, who heads-up Glaxo’s diabetes drug development team, said the company is not seeing anything like the problems reported.
Experts say the overall risk is small and cautioned people not to stop taking the drug on their own but to talk to their doctors.
(Via FoxNews and EMaxHealth
Congress Must Give Pharmacies Negotiating Power Against Pharmacy Benefit Managers…
May 19, 2007
Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ (PBMs) persistent under-reimbursement to independent pharmacies for Medicare D drugs threatens to destroy patient access to medication counseling and care. Since the Medicare D benefit began, many independent pharmacies have closed because PBMs have under-paid them to fill prescriptions at a loss to their businesses. The Association of Community Pharmacists Congressional Network (ACP*CN) urges Congress to pass H.R. 971, giving pharmacies collective bargaining rights under the US antitrust law to band together and negotiate fairer contract terms with PBMs.
Click Here for more information.
Click Here for ACP*CN site news update.
Purdue pleads guilty in OxyContin case
May 10, 2007
Via The Orlando Sentinel:
The maker of the powerful painkiller OxyContin and three of its current and former executives pleaded guilty Thursday to misleading the public about the drug’s risk of addiction, a federal prosecutor and the company said.
Purdue Pharma L.P., its president, top lawyer and former chief medical officer will pay $634.5 million in fines for claiming the drug was less addictive and less subject to abuse than other pain medications, U.S. Attorney John Brownlee said in a news release.
The plea comes two days after the Stamford, Conn.-based company agreed to pay $19.5 million to 26 states and the District of Columbia to settle complaints that it encouraged physicians to overprescribe OxyContin.
“With its OxyContin, Purdue unleashed a highly abusable, addictive, and potentially dangerous drug on an unsuspecting and unknowing public,” Brownlee said. “For these misrepresentations and crimes, Purdue and its executives have been brought to justice.”
MyAlli.com
May 8, 2007
The FDA approved orlistat as an OTC weight loss aid for adults on Tuesday.
Xenical was initially approved in 1999 as a Rx item to treat obesity, and remains a prescription drug for obesity at a higher dose than the OTC version, named “Alli”. Alli is indicated for use in adults ages 18 years and older along with a “reduced-calorie, low-fat diet, and exercise program”.
Orlistat blocks the absorption of fat into the bloodstream, therefore reducing the amount of calories a person gets from a meal.
GSK has begun marketing, and launched a website MyAlli.com that will feature an “online action plan called” that will help comsumers track their diets, and provide advice and support for those who sign-up online.
What do you think of a diet pill being sol over the counter? Will customers have the mind and courage to ask the Pharmacist for advice on pursuing a weight-loss plan?
NPTA responds to recent media attacks on medication errors and pharmacy tecnicians.
May 6, 2007
President of NPTA (National Pharmacy Technician Assosiation) responds to news with a letter. Click here to read response.
