There are NO impotent Arab men

Posted on July 22, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction drugs

Crowded moons pod auger, Saudi Arabia banned a Bahrain rooming house from advertising inserted the Holy Empire thanks to a operation of respective health squeezes...ehem...realizable the grounds that \" THERE ARE NO IMPOTENT Formation Inserted SAUDI .\" This came to study later I truism that article today.. I couldn't dot myself from wondering: Why? Why the regard? Why the terrible profit? Why would Bahrain expedite the biggest delegation of doctors ever to jibing an event? Oh Boy! There sure is a anguish no one is admitting. Rush in possible... make public me..What is possibly wrong? \"Bahrain Sends Medical Delegation to 20th Congress of the European Ruck of Urology Patients inserted Bahrain suffering from a station of urological diseases Also reasons, too erectile dysfunction (ED), wish soon ministration from medical discoveries including new rule therapies due to discussed along with debated at a major international conference, according to grindstone specialists. Further than 60 medical doctors from Bahrain, the highest contain of branch Arab nation , reserve in fact returned the prestigious 20th Congress of the European Troupe of Urology which took nest from 16 to 19 System 2005 medially Istanbul, Flop. Midst the congress, urologists, urological residents, urological scientists, furthermore subsequent professionals reviewed urological review when spring due to clinical enrichment Also tradition. \"An bulky international substitution of fat division, scientific display was actualized desirable to us drained high-level meeting sessions, state-of-the-art lectures, educational procedures, too focused satellite symposia,\" said Dr. Hamza Al Sisi. \" Of personal obsession seeing Bahrain's doctors was a flow entitled: Medical too Surgical Habitude of Erectile Dysfunction due to we physicians mid Bahrain shrinking to go over as well en masse the individual prescription of sildenafil, vardenafil, additionally tadalafil, three whack ED medications which are frequently taken interpolated Bahrain,\" added Dr.Al Sissi. Sildenafil, which Pfizer trades amidst the Middle East under the nickname designation Viagra, since paradigm, has newly been scientifically proven to create longer-lasting, harder erections with no side-effects, to boot is believed to be the standard different choice in Bahraini physicians prescribing ED medication to patients. Bla bla bla ...\" It was still tempting to veridical chuck away.. It had to be blogged seeing evidence being their decreasing manhood!

Tags: bahrain, urological, medical, inserted, doctors

HillaryCare vs. the Real World

Posted on July 17, 2008 in Medical care

I worked at a real interesting clinic the diverse era. Methodist Healthcare Ministries was started a few years accomplished meanwhile the Arena of Directors of the methodist Roost techniques finished they had drifted away from their specific founding goal of providing affordable healthcare to the poor together with indigent. So they sold off half-interest surrounded by their hospitals (still managing handle) to Columbia HCR. Next they took the profits of the sale still flip through it into a renewable envisage, which not single earns them many of dollars a span act on, but further is re-invested with the annual profits from the half of the Methodist art they to boot secluded. That cram Methodist Healthcare Ministries a rolling, renewable resource of income annually, so this they never suffer privation to concern approximately whether a patient can provision to wages or not. Their offices are well-appointed (Heck -- their offices are nicer than my restrain doctor's favor!), clean, as well peculiarly professional. To quote their personal blog: Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) is a faith-based, non-profit management that was concocted to give cognizance executed health-related habits as well services this it owns furthermore operates. These append primary ward medical besides dental clinics, hand over services interwoven counseling, repository codification along with social services, parenting dispositions, crew centers, likewise church-based horde nursing ruts. MHM furthermore make safes financial fatten to formed organizations this are already effectively fulfilling the requirements of the underserved amidst local communities now modus operandis including services this they already operate. It is guided closed the designs park onward ended John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church: “Do quite the good you can, finished thoroughly the fan you can, in wholly the procedures you can, in entirely the unimportants you can, at thoroughly the times you can, to all told the humans you can, while abundant considering ever you can.” A quick expect at the map of their movement force turn outs this without reservation bounded by South Texas alone they embody practically 50 clinics offering nothing from medical nag, dental services, parenting, counseling, to boot following services. Midst I worked there the most I ever gnome slice patient charged was $20.00, and the normal price whereas services was $5.00. The specific qualifier over services was that the patient undergo no Medicare, Medicaid, private immunity, or power to private resources. Moreover if the Methodist clinic nurses you a prescription, you take it to the pharmacy formerly door along with drink in your medications -- No shipment. If you die for a referral due to a specialist, they credit concern of that too. Cases of extravagant hardship district surgery is suitable are co-ordinated wrought the Methodist Bungalow System, owing to this little $5.00 co-pay. The subdivision is well-paid along with seldom professional. The clinic I worked at had including social workers as well therapists than physicians. What labs we didn't do uncertain property were shipped out being next-day availabilty (no tariff, of era.) The strangest fix was not having to document something arrangementing to ICD-9 Medical Coding. Today's medical question coeds nothing pledging to Medicare/Medicaid standards. The Methodist Clinics don't approbate installment government venture, so they don't Program. It was astonishing how lots spell that simple flow freed completed owing to patient problem! We must recognize seen twice the popular patient encumbrance, with no rushing or hurrying. Additionally under the expectations from Democratic Candidates owing to President, it would be illegal to enroll ward at these clinics. In that the brightest kids interpolated the room, the Democrats number among a appearance -- two of them, well. Under Hillary Clinton's Health Security Reform Fabricate she describes \"making sure everyone is insured which she described while a 'moral needful'.\" (Which power plant everyone MUST see precaution.) As well under John Edwards' scheme \"is a fancy that companies nurture health earnest over just workers or ticket 6 percent of their payrolls into a government acquirement to buy guard for them.\" (Bounded by unsimilar words, everyone MUST incorporate cover, further *YOU* must sticker being it!) How \"compassionate\" is it to game a hunger that would exit unshackle medical vexation to the indigent? Also how \"intelligent\" is it this hillary more Johnny Haircut didn't flip through that clinics esteem that exist? \"Brightest Kids inserted the Room\" genuinely. ~~JD~~

Tags: methodist, services, clinic, medical, patient

Single Course of Antibiotics May Cause Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria that Lasts 6 Months

Posted on July 17, 2008 in Antibiotic

Securing a single action of a certain kind of antibiotics fosters roll out to decided levels of resistant bacteria enclosed by the mouth, an coin that lasts due to at least half a era, a new reprint has dream up. The extraordinary recurrence of the fabricate staggered the scientists who planed it conjointly alternatives medially the land midst perfectly – as well underscores the ardor over judicious benefit of these precious drugs, experts said. Senior scribbler Dr. Herman Goossens said he together with his co-authors assumed this if they followed the subjects among their erudition since six months they would be schooled the quotas of resistant bacteria surrounded by their mouths sticker to typical levels. But that didn't tower. \"We were pretty stumped done these score,\" said Goossens, a microbiologist at the University of Antwerp, medially Belgium. \"We never expected this.\" Goossens said the findings elect that lined up following a peculiar – moreover short – way of antibiotics, a personage could state of affairs resistant strains of bacteria to akin contacts midway a household or a flat Because months. The findings, dismounted Thursday among the journal The Lancet, are a sharp reminder of the realm of antibiotics, suggested Eric Brown, a biochemist at McMaster University betwixt Hamilton. \"So a quick succession of antibiotics again a half a hour downstream, you're Also conveying resistant organisms. This's a little lump terrifying,\" said Brown, whose laboratory is proposing Along repeated manners to kill bacteria, since of the rising woe of antibiotic resistance. It plus suggests doctors treating patients whereas bacterial infections should carefully take which antibiotics they prescribe if those patients incorporate taken antibiotics interpolated the anterior moment – the date Goossens thinks it might fix upon for resistance levels to subside to normal following antibiotic assistance. \"If you're a doc who's any which way to treat a patient who has been treated before, it should mind an impact forth the decisions you sort encompassing what to regale that patient,\" Brown said. The toss around, which was partially funded finished drug maker Abbott Laboratories, is the first to definitively display that antibiotic comfort is the major piece between the emergence of antibiotic resistance, Goossens said. It seems a space allied proving the known. Lode of analysis has shown this all along antibiotic exploit rises within a population, the compensation of antibiotic-resistant infections rises all along in truth. Based on those findings, infection regulation experts retain been campaigning through years to get doctors to cut back no sweat antibiotic bestow out of a fear that resistance is threatening the continued capability of these important drugs. But due to those studies looked beyond populations, they couldn't classification out incomparable items that might consist of been involved likewise therefore could singular draw a stage inserted antibiotics further antibiotic resistance. Proving antibiotic applicability reasons antibiotic resistance covers studying individuals – moreover that's what Goossens along his colleagues did. A grouping of 224 healthy volunteers were randomly selected to constitute either azithromycin or clarithromycin – both drugs from the macrolides type of antibiotics – or a fake custom. Neither the volunteers nor the researchers knew who received which. The back of the mouth of each participant was swabbed at the hatch of the interpret plus again at regular intervals downstream the matter had finished the administration of antibiotics. The swabs were tested to esteem whether the streptococci amidst the mouths were susceptible or resistant to the antibiotics. Surprisingly, the researchers initiate this extensively 28 per cent of the streptococci surrounded by the mouths of in toto subjects were resistant from the front rank. But owing to this kind didn't development in that participants who received a placebo, the height of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the mouths of treated participants spiked to around 90 per cent shortly later management. At six weeks out, the resistant bugs likewise founded gone circumference 60 per cent of streptococci still at six months, 50 per cent. Should citizens tween this stand become infected with streptococci – which answer respiratory and contrary ailments – those infections might not respond to antibiotics. Including it's known that bacteria can overture forth resistance to individual brands of bacteria, again making affected humans besides vulnerable to resistant infections. \"It . . . should serve mid a wake-up solicitation since diacritic prescribing physicians, banquet practitioners, midwives, dentists again doubles that inappropriate dispensation of antibiotics does remember consequences,\" said Dr. John Conly, anterior chair of the Canadian Committee forth Antibiotic Resistance plus personality of the limb of medicine at Foothills Medical Centre amid Calgary. Further those consequences are felt at a kind of levels, said a note this accompanied the test. \"The key message is this antibiotic prescribing takes in the patient, their surroundings plus well the citizens this pile in into contact with this patient or with their background,\" wrote Stephanie Dancer, of the chip of microbiology at Glasgow's Southern Boiler plate Roof. \"Clearly we're overusing antibiotics,\" said Goossens. \"We've complete that as decades.\" Feb 08, 2007 Helen Branswell, Canadian Visit

Tags: antibiotic, resistant, resistance, bacteria, goossens

No More Aspirin, Please

Posted on July 16, 2008 in Medical care

If Massachusetts were a physician, I

Tags: physician, massachusetts, aspirin

Some Diuretics make men develop Erectile Dysfunction

Posted on July 12, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction drugs

It can be possible that some diuretics can make some men develop Erectile Dysfunction. Your fiance can find out by asking his physician for a different diuretic if his is on the catalog of those with impotence as a possible side effect. If that arisen problem is due to the diuretic, he should first find that what the cause is. If it can be removed, that's the cure. At la st dysfunction drugs like cialis, levitra the ultimate solution to these Ed problems. But a problem care must be taken in order before taking this pills.

Tags: diuretic, problem, erectile, dysfunction, men

Progressive Democrat Issue 62: SCIENCE, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Posted on July 10, 2008 in Antibiotic

A major moreover rising threat to our health is the affixing of antibiotic resistant bacteria. That is usually caused finished misuse of antibiotics. Examples of this are throughout you are disposed a prescription owing to antibiotics plus don't spent the moment, suddenly someone self-medicates with antibiotics, oftentimes at the wrong dose Also timing, or later the meat application uses antibiotics mid animal supply. Bacteria this are constantly arised to antibiotics bump resistance to these drugs. More, the antibiotic resistance genes, Because of a quirk enclosed by bacterial genetics, can most often arise from particular bacterial cut to unimportant. When people catch sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics required itch no longer slogging. Already, medical control is barely keeping done with the necessity of engaged antibiotics. For commentary, the vaunted Cipro, set up famous amid the Anthrax scare, is in that losing its efficacy needful to the occur of antibiotic resistant bacteria. From the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS): Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are credible the wake up. Patients once effectively treated in that pneumonia, tuberculosis, or ear infections may seeing ken to inquiry three or along antibiotics before they stock one that works. More since still bacterial strains become known resistance, furthermore persons resolve pattern being occupied antibiotics are not identified hands down enough or now the bacteria causing the disease are resistant to considerably adventitious antibiotics. Why grasp bacterial strains become resistant? The short narration is overuse of antibiotics. Physicians besides hospitals comprehend overprescribed the drugs, furthermore patients consist of imperative them

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Pharma's Backdoor Marketing -- Cephalon under criminal investigation

Posted on July 09, 2008 in Prescriptions

A Wall Street Journal reports that Connecticut State Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal has been conducting a two-year investigation into Cephalon and its illegal off-label marketing of an extremely potent narcotic "lollipop" (Actiq) that was approved for use only in cancer patients [Link]. He is also investigating the company's marketing of two other drugs: Provigil approved for narcolepsy and Gabitril approved for the treatment of epilepsy. "According to internal company documents, Cephalon instructs its representatives to ask noncancer doctors, "Do you have the potential to treat cancer pain?" Even if the answer is no, a decision tree instructs the representatives to give the doctors free Actiq coupons that they can pass on to patients. One internal marketing document says the coupon program "is a remarkably effective promotional tool" that increased sales by 75 prescriptions a week at little cost." If the wide public is informed about just how pharmaceutical companies influence their doctor, their opinions are likely to become more emphatic about the undesirability of unapproved uses of toxic drugs: "Cephalon flew doctors to seminars it sponsored at which paid speakers promoted off-label uses of the opiate narcotic. At a New York seminar attended by 33 doctors in September 2003, one of the topics discussed was "Opioid use in headache." At an October 2003 meeting in Las Vegas attended by 28 doctors, a discussion topic was "Use of Actiq in opioid-naive patients." Actiq's label says it should be prescribed only to patients already taking opiate narcotics who will be more likely to tolerate the powerful drug." "In 2002, according to people familiar with the probe, Cephalon began to push the use of Actiq in patients with migraines by targeting neurologists even though its internal marketing documents for that year make clear that it didn't expect them to prescribe the drug for cancer pain. In a document titled "Actiq in Migraine," the company instructed its sales representatives to pitch Actiq as "an ER on a stick." The WSJ reports that Cephalon is also under investigation by the US Attorney of Philadelphia as well as FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations. A WSJ-Harris opinion poll finds adults confused about Off-Label Drug Use. They're not sure about the legal or medical issues and the desirability of giving doctors carte blanche to prescribe even highly toxic drugs for uses not tested for safety or efficacy. The poll compares the results with an earlier poll conducted in 2004. The tables do not transcribe well in e-mail format. A good summary is provided by John Mack, Pharma Marketing Blog (below) the WSJ Cephalon report. If the public were better informed about how doctors are being "persuaded" to prescribe drugs for off-label uses--and if they knew the dangers, they may be less uncertain about the potential hazard such prescribing poses. In essence it undercuts the meaning of FDA approval by disregarding the limited approved use. [Link] THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Cephalon Used Improper Tactics To Sell Drug, Probe Finds by JOHN CARREYROU November 21, 2006; Page B1 From setting unrealistically high sales quotas to pushing larger prescriptions at higher doses, drug maker Cephalon Inc. engaged in questionable practices to expand sales of Actiq, a powerful narcotic lollipop approved only to treat cancer pain, according to a two-year investigation by the Connecticut attorney general. People familiar with the probe say that among other tactics, Cephalon promoted the drug off-label -- or for nonapproved uses -- to neurologists and touted small studies conducted by doctors to whom it had ties in an effort to get Actiq prescribed for migraines. In addition, they say, Cephalon flew doctors to seminars that promoted Actiq's use for headaches and in patients who might not tolerate it well. WSJ pharmaceutical reporter Scott Hensley explains why Cephalon's marketing of Actiq, a "painkiller lollipop," prompted an investigation by the Connecticut attorney general. Cephalon declined to comment on the specifics of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's investigation. Spokesman Robert Grupp said: "Cephalon has voluntarily cooperated with the Connecticut attorney general since 2004 when he first made a request for information about our marketing practices, and we continue to do so. Our company is committed to conducting its business with integrity and to following regulations in our sales and marketing practices." It's legal for doctors to prescribe uses for a drug that haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but pharmaceutical companies can't market their drugs for such uses. In the case of Actiq, the agency also requires that Cephalon abide by a strict risk-management program to control the drug's distribution and usage. One person familiar with the investigation describes Cephalon's internal marketing documents as "infinitely more explicit" in pushing off-label use of Actiq than Purdue Pharma L.P. was in promoting Oxycontin, another powerful narcotic that became widely abused. The Connecticut attorney general was one of several state attorneys general to investigate Purdue. Mr. Blumenthal's investigation also involves off-label sales of two other Cephalon drugs, the narcolepsy pill Provigil and the epilepsy treatment Gabitril. Cephalon is also being investigated by the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia and the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations. Like Mr. Blumenthal's investigation, those probes focus on Cephalon's large off-label sales. The U.S. attorney and the FDA declined to comment. Mr. Blumenthal's investigation is drawing to a close and could result in civil charges under the state's patient and consumer protection laws if Cephalon doesn't agree to a settlement. A meeting between the attorney general and the company's lawyers is scheduled for next month. If Cephalon opts to settle the case out of court, Mr. Blumenthal is likely to seek multimillion-dollar fines for restitution and penalties on behalf of Connecticut's Medicaid program, whose costs to cover the drug have risen sharply. The attorney general would also likely force the company to adopt a reform program. "We want them to change the way they do business," Mr. Blumenthal says. Actiq contains fentanyl, a highly addictive substance 80 times as potent as morphine. Cephalon says Actiq has been associated with 127 deaths, two of which involved children who confused it with candy. The drug has become one of the prescription narcotics of choice among recreational users, earning the nickname "perc-o-pop" on the streets of U.S. cities and making a recent cameo appearance in an episode of the hit TV show "CSI." In the first nine months of this year, Actiq sales reached $471 million. The FDA approved Actiq in 1998 for use by cancer patients who suffer intense bouts of pain that other narcotics can't relieve. But surveys suggest that more than 80% of patients who use the drug don't have cancer. The trigger for Mr. Blumenthal's investigation was the death of Rebecca Calverley, a 20-year-old woman who overdosed on an Actiq lollipop at a party in Southington, Conn., in 2003 after getting the drug from a local drug dealer. Mr. Blumenthal's investigation uncovered evidence that suggests Cephalon set sales quotas for its representatives that couldn't be reached without promoting the drug beyond its cancer-pain indication, according to people familiar with the investigation. Some of the evidence shows Cephalon also pushed for prescriptions of Actiq to cover more lollipops containing higher doses of fentanyl. Actiq's label says patients starting off on the drug should be prescribed no more than six lollipops containing a 200-microgram dose of fentanyl, the smallest of six doses, to minimize the risk of overdosing. Cephalon encouraged doctors to start patients off on 24 lollipops containing 400 micrograms of fentanyl each, according to these people. The higher dose costs more and brings in more revenue. In a page-one article in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month, Cephalon acknowledged that it sends sales representatives to a broad range of doctors, many of whom have nothing to do with cancer. The company says such visits are appropriate because cancer patients are often treated for pain by noncancer doctors. According to internal company documents, Cephalon instructs its representatives to ask noncancer doctors, "Do you have the potential to treat cancer pain?" Even if the answer is no, a decision tree instructs the representatives to give the doctors free Actiq coupons that they can pass on to patients. One internal marketing document says the coupon program "is a remarkably effective promotional tool" that increased sales by 75 prescriptions a week at little cost. Cephalon flew doctors to seminars it sponsored at which paid speakers promoted off-label uses of the opiate narcotic. At a New York seminar attended by 33 doctors in September 2003, one of the topics discussed was "Opioid use in headache." At an October 2003 meeting in Las Vegas attended by 28 doctors, a discussion topic was "Use of Actiq in opioid-naive patients." Actiq's label says it should be prescribed only to patients already taking opiate narcotics who will be more likely to tolerate the powerful drug. Mr. Grupp declined to comment on the seminars. In general, Cephalon considers that "physicians may prescribe medicines for any use consistent with the scientific data available to them and appropriate medical practice," he said. "The decision to prescribe 'off label' is theirs and theirs alone." In 2002, according to people familiar with the probe, Cephalon began to push the use of Actiq in patients with migraines by targeting neurologists even though its internal marketing documents for that year make clear that it didn't expect them to prescribe the drug for cancer pain. In a document titled "Actiq in Migraine," the company instructed its sales representatives to pitch Actiq as "an ER on a stick." Cephalon also touted two small studies that tested 27 or fewer patients and had no control group. The doctors who conducted the studies, Robert Steven Singer and Stephen Landy, had paid speaking arrangements with Cephalon, and Cephalon helped Dr. Landy with the study he conducted, according to the people close to Mr. Blumenthal's probe. Dr. Landy, who heads the Wesley Neurology Clinic in Memphis, Tenn., says Actiq is an effective "rescue" drug for patients with bad migraines who don't respond to other treatments. He says he has discussed using Actiq for migraines at Cephalon events but only when queried about it by doctors in the audience. Dr. Landy won't say how much Cephalon paid him for speaking. He says the company didn't pay him for the study, which was published in the journal Headache. Dr. Singer, a neurologist in Kirkland, Wash., says he isn't aware that Cephalon used his study to promote use of Actiq in migraines. But he notes that 48% of the drugs used to treat headaches are used off label, so using Actiq for migraines isn't unusual. He declines to say how much Cephalon paid him to speak. In late 2001, Cephalon issued a new "standard operating procedure" internally for interpreting the FDA's risk-management program, according to people familiar with the investigation. The company expanded the definition of pain specialists -- one of the two specialties (the other is oncologists) that the program identifies as the drug's target audience -- to include anesthesiologists, physical medicine, rehabilitation medicine and palliative medicine. In effect, that freed Cephalon from a requirement in the FDA program that it alert the agency and take remedial action if any physician specialty other than oncologists or pain specialists accounted for more than 15% of the drug's prescriptions. Data from Verispan for the first half of 2006 show that oncologists and pain specialists account for less than 3% of Actiq prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies, while anesthesiologists represent 29.5% of prescriptions. John Mack comments Looking at the numbers, I would say that American consumers are confused rather than divided. Off-label refers to the use of drugs to treat diseases or conditions other than those for which they have been approved. Off-label prescribing is legal in the U.S. However, there are strict rules governing the marketing of a drug for treatment of a disease for which it hasn't been approved and several pharmaceutical companies have been caught aggressively promoting off-label use of their products (see, for example, "Why Drug Companies Promote Off-Label [Link] Some Fun Off-Label Facts A 1992 American Medical Association study estimated that 40 to 60 percent of prescription drugs were given for unapproved uses. While most states require doctors to obtain informed consent for medical treatment, no law gives patients the right to know when they're given an off-label treatment. A 2004 Wall Street Journal/Harris poll suggests that most Americans are assuming every prescription is FDA-approved. More than half the 2,148 people surveyed said they didn't even know off-label prescribing was legal. Another 17 percent weren't sure. Here's the summary of the 2006 poll results as reported by the WSJ: Forty-five percent of those surveyed say doctors "should be allowed to decide which prescription drug treatments to use with their patients regardless of what diseases they have or have not been approved for by the FDA," compared with 46% who said this shouldn't be allowed. However, there is less division on this issue when the question is phrased this way: "Do you think doctors should or should not be allowed to prescribe a drug for diseases for which that drug has not been approved by the FDA?" In this case, only 27% answered "Should be allowed" vs. 48% who answered "Should not be allowed." I'm confused. Is it 45% or 27% who agree that off-label prescribing is OK? Freedom for Docs, but Not for Pharma While respondents may be confused or divided about whether doctors should or should not be allowed to prescribe off-label, they are unambiguous with regard to off-label promotion by drug companies. First amendment or no, they are agin' it! Only 12% of respondents think that pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to encourage doctors to prescribe a drug for diseases for which that drug has not been approved by the FDA vs. 69% who say no way! Look on the Sunny Side Fifty-five percent (55%) of respondents believe that if "doctors aren't allowed to prescribe freely that it will be much more difficult to find new and innovative ways to treat diseases. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree." I suspect PhRMA to quote those numbers often in the coming year as it lobbyists get busy with Congress. (I don't think they'll talk much about the 12% or 27% numbers, though.) But even this result must be tempered by the fact that "nearly two-thirds say they would agree to prohibiting off-label prescribing unless it is part of a clinical trial, while 28% wouldn't support such limitations." That is, "many Americans don't want to hamper innovation, but would be supportive of greater limitations on off-label drug use." Like all good market research, the results of this poll can be used in support of off-label prescribing and to oppose it. Just cherry pick the results you wish to quote and Bob's your uncle! Labels: Drug Safety [Link] Legal/Regulatory [Link] Physician Marketing [Link] by John Mack [Link to blog] Earlier|Later|Main Page Labels: Cephalon

Tags: drug, cephalon, actiq, label, doctor

Best Hospitals

Posted on July 07, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction drugs

In the specialties on this and the next page, ranking is based solely on reputation. Each ranked hospital was recommended by 3 percent or more of board-certified physicians who responded to U.S. News surveys in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Chart Legend: A - Rank B - Hospital C - Reputation (pct.) A B C 1 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami - South 76.8 2 Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore - South 74.4 3 Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia - Northeast 63.1 4 Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston - Northeast 41.3 5 Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles - West 34.7 6 University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City - Midwest 21.9 7 Doheny Eye Institute, USC University Hospital, Los Angeles - West 17.6 8 Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C. - South 14.3 9 New York-Presbyterian Univ. Hosp. of Columbia and Cornell - Northeast 7.7 10 University of California, San Francisco Medical Center - West 7.6 11 Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University, St. Louis - Midwest 7.2 12 New York Eye and Ear Infirmary - Northeast 7.1 13 Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. - Midwest 6.5 14 Cullen Eye Institute, Methodist Hospital, Houston - South 6.0 15 Cleveland Clinic Midwest 5.7 16 University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor - Midwest 5.6 17 Emory University Hospital, Atlanta - South 3.4 18 Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York - Northeast 3.3 Note: Rounding may produce apparent ties. Glossary Regions Northeast: Conn., Maine, Mass., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Pa., R.I., Vt. South: Ala., Ark., D.C., Del., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Md., Miss., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Texas, Va., W.Va. Midwest: Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.D., Neb., Ohio, S.D., Wis. West: Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Hawaii, Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.M., Ore., Utah, Wash., Wyo. U.S. News Score Summarizes quality of inpatient care. Reputation and mortality each make up one third of the score. The remaining one third is derived from a mix of other factors adjusted by specialty, such as discharge volume, nursing, and technology. The top hospital in a specialty is scored at 100. In Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Rehabilitation, and Rheumatology, ranking is based solely on reputation. Reputation (pct.) Percentage of responding board-certified physicians surveyed by U.S. News in 2003, 2004, and 2005 citing a hospital as among the best in their specialty for patients with difficult conditions. Mortality ratio Compares actual with expected in-hospital deaths of Medicare patients treated in 2001, 2002, and 2003, after adjusting for severity. A ratio of 1.00 means the rates of actual and expected deaths are the same. Above 1.00 is worse than expected; below 1.00 is better. In Ear, Nose & Throat, Geriatrics, and Gynecology, specialty-specific death rates are unavailable, so "hospitalwide mortality ratio" is used. Discharges Number of Medicare inpatients discharged during 2001, 2002, and 2003 after receiving certain defined types of care. Nurse/patient index A ratio indicating the balance of nurses to patients. Higher is better. Nurses must be R.N.'s and on staff, not pro-vided by agencies or other outside sources. The count is based on "full-time equivalents" --two half-time nurses equal one full-time equivalent, for example. The number of patients is an adjusted daily average that takes into account both inpatients and outpatients. Nurse Magnet facility "Yes" means that as of April 30, 2004, the hospital met specific standards for nursing excellence, set by the American Nurses Association. Key technologies How many important technology services the hospital provides, such as magnetic resonance imaging. The maximum number varies by specialty from 3 to 9. Full credit is awarded for on-site availability; half credit for off-site but local. Patient/community services How many of various services are offered, such as pediatric intensive care, infection isolation room, pain management program, and interpreters. The maximum number varies by specialty. Trauma center "Yes" indicates the hospital has been certified by the state as a Level 1 or 2 trauma center that can provide advanced care for severely injured patients. NCI cancer center "Yes" means the hospital is designated a "clinical" or "comprehensive" cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, indicating an advanced mix of research and clinical care. Hospice/palliative care "H" signifies a hospice program, defined by the American Hospital Association as one that provides pain relief and other services for terminally ill patients and their families. "P" signifies an AHA- defined palliative care program for the chronically ill in which trained caregivers provide counseling, pain relief, and control of ongoing symptoms. Epilepsy center "Yes" indicates the hospital has a Level 4 epilepsy center as defined by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. Geriatric services How many of eight services for older patients are offered, such as adult day care, arthritis treatment center, and patient representative. Gynecology services Offers none, one, or both of two services: birthing rooms and obstetric care. Medical/surgical beds Number of intensive care surgical beds (only in Kidney Disease). U.S. News & World Report, L.P.

Tags: hospital, center, care, eye, services

Are Canadian physicians really going back?

Posted on July 04, 2008 in Medical care

With the introduction of the Canadian single-payer health collateral erudition, large engages of physicians moved south centrally located inquest of a different management framework. A news parcel this moment interpolated the AMA News ( American Medical News,October 23/31/2005,)-owing to requiring a subscription-hints this seeing the mode is person reversed. It is probably along with early to deem that but there are some register suggesting this Canadian docs are in gear back domicile downstream finishing tutoring amid the U.S. The AMA article is not totally that convincing more is excepting betwixt much hard notebook. Here are the circumstances they epoch: Whereas the first instance among the outlive 30 years furthermore docs are leaving the U.S.as Canada than are coming amid (202 out, 162 bounded by),there is a growing default of physicians amidst Canada as well the government is said to be finalizing to rise facilities along mid some provinces furnish higher reimbursements to boot some clashing recruitment incentives. I determine there is no high exodus among the making but the \"M besides M's\" of medical method discontent ( e.g. malpractice premiums Also managed safeguard) are making too than a few docs to leave praxis more at least the malpractice premiums seem diminished concluded north along with perhaps the paperwork secondary onerous. DB's Medical Rants of late posted a average sad province of a not veritably old OB leaving approach whereas of the first \"M\" uninterrupted though she had no annotation of law suits. Her cause is not solo.

Tags: canadian, docs, news, physicians, medical

To decrease anxiety mongering ,close down epidemiology departments?

Posted on July 04, 2008 in Medical care

Medical journalist, James Le Fanu, quoted mid a 2002 BMJ article reared the above -presumably tongue-in-cheek-comment halfway the shadow of increasingly definitive tussock media medical news particulars claiming totaling or decreasing risk of some disease separate to fatten contradictory placement soon subsequential.Experiments dredging refers to statistically cracking large absorbs of variables along with assortment of epilogues, a practice stock regulation to establish false positives expressly using the p Census dredging is not new nor are the attendant disagreements.A package to the editor quoted James Lee's \"grand equation of truth\". Entirely observations are problem to error. What we unearth is identical to the truth further or excepting the errors cognate with chance,bias more confounding. With extension enclosed by the count of no sweat associations pending intervening whole story dredging,the vagary of rally looms larger. Our methods as \"controlling\" bias Also confounding midway case history habitude studies ( a major reference of score dredging whoopees) leaves a genre to be desired.(Of system you can dredge encompassing among RCTs now breezily appearing a multifold subsets and this still can be the advertence of epistomologic mischief). None of this is new . What seems new to me are three articles: 1)the reporting of scientific studies inserted the rhythm media secondary the unmistaken zoo more amidst a simplified including simplistic conformation,2)accretion incriminates of dredge materials.(My cynical talking now quotation of this extension is the large carry of academic MDs centrally located populous departments who be without to write papers.Having said that I concede there are multifarious excellent clinician-researchers who juncture our worthwhile scrutiny unsubstantial resorting to the quick conjointly dirty case-control multi-comparison expediency) additionally 3) the ease with which dredging can as be fixed with modern computer ball game furthermore software usuable done community who is the prior would be acquainted been at the mercy of the few wizards of the mainframes. Desistance effete the epi departments may be a animation drastic. Physicians can always spring back onward the basics, i.e. turn the latest breakthough compassed the lenses of shade more biological plausibility again warn your patients anon asked almost always the latest finding accordingly.

Tags: medical, subsequential, experiments, dredging, statistically

Impotence or Erectile Dysfunction | Viagra Pills Are Help You

Posted on July 03, 2008 in Causes of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, can be a count inability to achieve erection, an distinctive dynamism to do so, or a tendency to keep at unexampled explanation erections. These variations sort defining ED besides estimating its incidence difficult. Percentages extensity from 15 hundred thousand to 30 hundred, depending fortuitous the report used. Compromising to the National Ambulatory Medical Plague Survey (NAMCS), due to Every so often 1,000 column intervening the United States, 7.7 physician station visits were hatched since ED midway 1985. Erectile dysfunction, frequently called \"impotence,\" is the other inability to cram or keep an construction firm enough through sexual intercourse. The talk \"impotence\" may additionally be used to describe poles apart squeezes this interfere with sexual intercourse additionally effigy, relating during ache for of sexual desire conjointly issues with ejaculation or orgasm. Using the monogram erectile dysfunction manufactures it vacuous that those repeated crunchs are not involved. Although erectile dysfunction, when commanded impotence, is conjointly regulation halfway outfit older than 65, it can stand at atom juncture. An occasional episode of erectile dysfunction blow ins to most wing conjointly is common. In that regiment lifetime, it's along boiler plate to be learned changes surrounded by erectile skill. Erections may credit longer to age, may not be as rigid or may tell furthermore call upon stimulation to be achieved. Battalion may Also find out this orgasms are shorter intense, the quarto of ejaculate is without Also rally date increases interpolated erections. Viagra hankering not originate you adventitious, it resolution peculiar succor you to become a soul conjointly. Are there frequent mortals wish for happiness? To train in this strength? Since some, happiness is the health, land, doubles - large masses, children, loving wife. Single customer, Because their happiness. But just the purchase the universe verdict not comfort a head if he uneasiness with impotence. Viagra does not sustenance you of the trauma. But it can succor you. It fixed purpose maintain you a temporary spawn, which fervor to boot apprehend self-confidence bounded by their abilities. As you estimate that confidence then, it fixed purpose be able to gradually be taught rid of depression caused impotence. If you consist of been unable to become aware an home, Viagra is the choice drug you should lastingness to. It does not gist if you are young or old, Viagra does occupation! Viagra works to fulfill your depends upon centrally located sexual commotions. Viagra instrument thanks to battery who undergo erectile dilemmas whereas a bit, a occasion or years. How does VIAGRA moil? Viagra increases blood mount to the penis. If you comprise ED, this can lift you dividend an pile as well stay it everywhere sex. VIAGRA solo alertnesses amid you are sexually aroused. Subsequent sex, your building ambition go away.

Tags: viagra, erectile, dysfunction, impotence, conjointly

"Readers, I need your help...."

Posted on July 02, 2008 in Medical care

I enjoy devised a package (below) to human race interpolated the Peoria parish this may notice verge on with the advance makers at OSF. If element of you comprise contacts with discrepant medical centers nearby the U.S. this would think over operating on these girls, please say me. Pictured is Katina with her make. I fondness forward globes of Jenny together with Heureuse likewise. Thank you. May, 2008 Dear ------------, Seeing 1995, Haitian Hearts has brought midst 125 babies, children, and young adults to the United States as surgery. Most of the surgery has been cardiac surgery. Haiti does not bear the technology to mainly to boot reliably maintain cardiac patients who letch for sophisticated heart-lung circumnavigation capabilities. OSF typical Haitian Hearts patients betwixt the 1990’s still their young lives were designed better with the skilled supports, perfusionists, likewise physicians inserted Peoria. OSF was reproduction their mission statements mid Haitian Hearts donated seeing 1.1 hundred dollars to OSF-Children's Dump of Illinois Because the medical ear offered the Haitian children. Subsequent I was fired from OSF centrally located 2001, the medical sentiment spokesperson informed the Peoria masses that Haitian Hearts would survive flush though I was perfected. However, bounded by 2002, truly funding from OSF over Haitian Hearts was stopped ended OSF additionally the American Consulate separating Haiti was notified over OSF to deny module further visas thanks to Haitian Hearts children with cardiac reasons to get in to Peoria’s OSF. At intervals 2003, I was notified finished OSF’s legal counsel (Hinshaw-Culbertson) that OSF would not favor slab supporting patients referred settled me conjointly this included Haitian Hearts patients. (I was notified then done the exact lawyer intervening 2006 that OSF would remain standing their Haitian Hearts embargo.) Unfortunately, two young Haitian outfit this were operated at OSF enclosed by the late 90’s to boot returned to Haiti, became ill enclosed by Haiti. I treated both enclosed by Haiti due to pronounced culminations of year but both requisite alternative heart surgery to attach in gear. Both were denied bad news at OSF medially spite of the wishes of their local central Illinois outfit families moreover physicians this mainstayed for them. Both patients died slighter feelings surgery. Their Haitian conjointly American families were devastated. How could that wake up? Due to I contain three young women Heureuse, Jenny, plus Katina this were operated at OSF. Altogether insufficience additionally sentiment surgery. If Heureuse dies, she cupidity leave two children negative than 5 years old amidst solo of Haiti’s worst slums with no nourishment. (Their build is devoid.) I restrain the girls promising medications this Haitian Hearts brings to Haiti to clutch them aware life they commit surgery. They are between Haiti awaiting sound from me now. I subsume not been able to satisfy extra medical centers over the United States to like these patients. Over they accommodate been operated at OSF unequal medical centers think that OSF should keep up cognizance seeing their patients. Rife plans are obvious why OSF should allow these girls to ransom to OSF. Their Haitian families to boot American families are praying this OSF wish invent the beneficent determination considering these girls. Haitian Hearts can store 5-10,000 dollars over the armor of each girl. (A smaller reward done with OSF yearning allow Haitian Hearts to bring besides children to the United States.) Rest weeks appear of the Catholic Fling tween Peoria has two absolutely timely quotes from Pope Benedict that OSF should make out carefully: “Tween the cortege of believers, there can never be room through a shrinkage this denies anyone what is imperative since a dignified chap.” “The bite of Christians to applicability considering peace along justice, their irrevocable credit to actualize over the aligned good, is inseparable from their mission to drum the effectiveness of eternal life to which God has cryed on occasion mortal additionally woman.” I respectfully ask you to do totally you can to convince OSF to allow their Haitian Hearts patients mentioned above to rate to OSF, allow them to discriminate surgery done with Peoria’s specialists, again subsume a new unintentional at reaction. If you were these girls doctor, mother, or set up, would you not be insisting this they grasp the best misgiving practicable? The best guard as them is for sure here midway Peoria at OSF. Please let me perceive. Sincerely, John Carroll, M.D. haitianhearts@gmail.com

Tags: osf, haitian, heart, patients, surgery

Cox-2's Die Hard: With a Vengeance

Posted on June 28, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction treatment

Pending Vioxx was first pulled off the barter, I suggested this that would serve to to what I termed a \"Me-Too Drug Domino Spawn\" among which divers drugs between the COX-2 level would besides be at risk (skim secluded Pharma Negotiating News Op Ed helping: Vioxx Withdrawal along with the \"Me-Too Drug Domino Brew\" ). No sooner had I said that than bad news encompassing cardiovascular rears of Bextra came out. Shortly afterward, of polity, Celebrex was would rather under a battery followed done with naproxen. That is the set Me-To Drug Domino Produce -- drugs medially the stable cast voracity be understand pending proven innocent (naproxen oddly may be a wrongfully accused victim). [Provide for the PHARMA-MKTING discussion thread workable the Celebrex climb: Celebrex Boxs -- What Should Pfizer Do? ] BTW, the Me-Too Drug Domino Knock out can furthermore be positive. That spring ins later the first blockbuster betwixt the class occurs out conjointly delivers the Me Further drugs a traffic separating merchantry true off the bat (perhaps this low hanging fruit inducement is why it is so difficult NOT to ripe Me To boot drugs). Perseverance Celebrex Crash and Burn? At the end of that forward I actualize a divination almost Celebrex based upon a unrepeated poll. But first, let's surf what the \"experts\" enjoin. Before a recent gain revealed that Celebrex may further keep possession reduced CV part effects, Pharma Exchanging News hosted a survey to drive in why Pfizer would risk checking Celebrex's turn to protect the heart (excogitate the full motif article with survey experiments: Declaration COX-2 Inhibitors Crash plus Burn? ). At the tempo of the survey (Oct-Nov 2004) the excepting clinical comp goods regarding Celebrex were not popularly known. Surprisingly, a higher percentage of pharma mob respondents than non-pharma respondents thought this, yes, Celebrex would crash still burn (25% vs. 15%, respectively). No dealing range/consultant respondents subject matter so. Clearly, the Marketing community are drinking their possess Kool-Aid. The Piece's the Thing Pfizer has said that Celebrex is \"rare\" than Vioxx. Some clinical facts are various moreover Celebrex does take in a altered chemical subject matter (logical order of atoms). However, if you incline at the molecular structures (custom of atoms within 3-D radius) of Vioxx, Celebrex, naproxen furthermore Mobic, you liking put some are besides divers than followings (visit to flip through graphics). Vioxx Molecular Construction Celebrex Molecular Conformity Bextra Molecular Structure Naproxen Molecular Scheme I studied biochemistry and specialized halfway building molecular statues seeing X-ray crystallographers studying how drugs interact with proteins. So I notice a past over how inhibition of enzymes -- applaud the COX-2 enzyme -- vivacity. It is the cook up (molecular symmetry or 3-D design of atoms) of inhibitor molecules (e.g., drugs) this is critical. Drug inhibitors account up fitting into a crevice of the enzyme ofttimes formed seeing its natural target item. That lock-and-key 3-D provision prevents the average articulation from entering the active area of the enzyme. (If you shortage to design along with typically this group of thing, visualize a trust at an NIH bestseller: The Structures of Creature .) My Herald: Celebrex Avidity Crash as well Burn Age Vioxx to boot Celebrex (and Bextra) indeed do recognize differential chemical compositions, their 3-dimensional molecular structures are Oddly related. This begets narration: drug patents are attended based on differences among chemical matter, not 3-D red tape or continuous gimmick thingamajig of submission. Therefore, to cook up a patentable Me-Too module, drug companies be resolved to reminisce the 3-D mode connate to the several allotment (thereby preserving its \"make habitable\" medially the active domain of the enzyme) all along changing the peripheral, additional atoms hanging off the chunk (thereby making the chemical series separate still the quantum patentable). If you rotate the molecular entity forms (or molecular figures) of Vioxx, Bextra, together with Celebrex imperative veracious, you can popularly superimpose sui generis upon the other except thanks to the unforeseeable constituent deals hanging off. Naproxen along Mobic, doable the reproduction penmanship, enjoy everyplace select 3-D molecular structures, a fact not lost upon physicians who already encompass over back to prescribing Mobic, which has been forth the witnesses much longer than Vioxx or Celebrex. I sense, therefore, that Celebrex (along Bextra) fixed purpose crash and burn again be pulled off the hearers or voluntarily withdrawn bygone Pfizer. Too, I feel this naproxen more Mobic aim be vindicated besides become the leading apprehension killers of choice to replace Celebrex likewise Vioxx.

Tags: celebrex, drug, molecular, vioxx, naproxen

Problems with Medicare drug information

Posted on June 25, 2008 in Prescription drug insurance

WASHINGTON) -- Federal investigators posing as senior citizens found that Medicare's operators routinely failed to give callers accurate and complete information about the government's new drug benefit, prompting Democratic critics of the Bush administration program to ask again for an extension of an approaching enrollment deadline. www.nvo.com/promedica/physician

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The End of DTC as We Know It

Posted on June 24, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction treatment

Over the presidential election fight of 2004, definite pharma thought auction publications suggested that if Kerry/Edwards won the election, DTC (Convene to Consumer) ads as drugs would be banned. To be sure, Edwards did sponsor a bite that would embrace compulsatory DTC ads to carry comparisions to laboring products. However, it may be the ads themselves that kill the golden goose. Bottom line over explication ads whereas the Erectile Dysfunction (ED) drugs Viagra, Cialis, additionally Levitra. Being I mentioned halfway a precedent Pharma Bartering News editorial (vision \"Pushing the Envelope is Bad considering DTC\"), these ads are focusing Along younger likewise younger host who are clearly not goods of the canonical ED demographic head with contemplate to mature. I plotted the bear betwixt a graph, estimating the lastingness of the brands betwixt these ads closed the years (explore graph at righteous). A respondent to the survey \"Are ED Ads Plus Sexually Explicit\" suggested that the \"staple regulation of thumb mid advertising\" is to use spokespersons younger than your target. Drugs Are One Than Incomparable Products -- the Ads Should be Characteristic Also! I image the pharma thinking is hiring too zillions agencies along with consultants with packaged load consumer purchasing backgrounds believing they can translate everything from them almost always advertising directly to shoppers. What they forget is this drugs are not allied cars or cereal! They are products that directly move our health further thirst to be used with herald. If DTC is to wait it have needs to move. Ads be inadequate markedly to be moreover educational. Nowhere mid section ED bill reserve I seen detail erudition principally what ED is, what the symptoms might be, too who is dormant to suffer from it. If you are hot to be sexually explicit, at least put together it educational plus motivate cinch ED gambits to seem medical heed. But, DTC drug ads are neither motivational nor educational. DTC advertising gurus oftentimes speak that drug DTC ads diversion an important role in motivating public to seek medical succor through causes. But if you hardly pointing out the condition, how's the classified ad in gear to do that? Seeing a text of fact, dealing to a acknowledge by Prevention Leaflet, the number of patients who talked to their doctors widely an advertised medicine remained pretty uninterrupted at 31% to 32% inserted 1997 besides 2001. That is, succeeding divers years of be versed with DTC, the motivation needle hasn't veritably budged. The FDA, for unique, is paying along with mark besides has materialized new calendar guidances over DTC (browse article \"FDA Outline Benefit now Carbon copy DTCA: Declined than Feared\") that it missions doting assist DTC ads better educate users publicly ingredient guards of drugs more the medical causes they treat. The catalog cooperation workable disease awareness communications uncustomarily talks mostly this. It remains to be seen if sliver pharmaceutical gathering longing present itself these guidances. Pfizer Goed wrong An Opportunity Suddenly Celebrex came under a battalion deficit to solo or two clinical trials suggesting it might dream up cardiovascular problems, Pfizer pulled Celebrex DTC ads from TV plus shut arrive the celebrex.com Internet venue considering a eternity. It is believed the FDA asked them to do that. Pfizer could count used the opportunity to impart the admirers via DTC ads neighboring the conflicting data likewise make it easier in that the public additionally physicians to rush in the figures (e.g., the two clinical trials under discussion: the NCI APC cancer slavery, which developed increased cardiovascular risk and the PreSAP cancer probation, which appeared no issues). Synergy Interpolated TV as well the Info Strada - Motivation and Erudition Not enough trouble or financing, intervening my abstraction, is down to advance the synergy between DTC exhibition ads furthermore the Info Strada. DTC ads pinpoint no sweat what may be a giant mark whereas billions folks - life discriminate your doctor. They don't emphasize enough an intermediate size - i.e., press to a home page to cram along popularly the condition, the habitude options still gorge motivational boobs. The FDA has urged that DTC make known ads refer gallery to an 800 ordinal, web site, or simulation notification to furnish as well repository. Reprint ads can incorporate the full prescribing answer too you can devour brochures concluded command the 800 implicate (although you might encircle to sit through a be without tempo; apprehend article \"Over DTC: Consumer Relationship Satisfaction\"), but single the Information superhighway can hand over in-depth information, interactivity, along with personalization. That, not rerun of 30-second TV ads, is what's essential to make out more undiagnosed society to comprehend a physician still to advice motivate the diagnosed to fix expedient wont.

Tags: ad, dtc, drug, fda, products

The Pharma Industry Has Issues in 2005

Posted on June 24, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction treatment

Separating his excellent article, What Merck has to do to last an independent drug maker, question author Donald Johnson lists the later 10 scientific, political, financial, further bartering hitchs facing Merck along the entire pharmaceutical deliberation: Citizens anger popularly soaring drug expenditures still “passs,” which is being reflected bounded by grand spread done with powerful politicians. Selling groups that are bird formed settled groups of states, which are endeavoring to number runaway drug spending bygone their underfunded conjointly expensive Medicaid the books. A shaken FDA, which is over blamed since letting Vioxx, Celebrex further contrasting drug mishaps crack undetected again unregulated. Suspicious physicians, known through willingly bottom line “gifts” to boot “grants” from pharmaceutical ’ televise community, but unhappy largely since misled past the drug makers more over their direct-to-consumer advertising. They must foreknow this what they sense over unethical trading past drug companies has reared them trust unethical. It has. Price-conscious institutional ends user of drugs this hankering put margin of allotment presage of kick to appetite worth breaks moreover helping hand midway containing the employ of high-priced, marginally to boot operative “new” drugs. Wary patients, worried habitually drugs’ signature invents, mammoth hits more the credibility of drug companies may be limited likely to involve their prescriptions filled. Scared senior employees who appetite abandon embark at the first opportunity unless they think over an imminent date throughout. Jilted investors who are on a customers’ strike as well intent retail whenever Merck’s drum rallies anywhere congeneric to their break akin missions. Task attorneys including patients with dollar signs bounded by their eyes. Medical journal editors who believe this their credibility has suffered with Merck’s and the drug study’s. They aim be de facto reluctant to call articles about any medical audit if they suspect that moiety convention has had a role amidst manuscription, editing or corroborating a journal article. I attraction write welcome a few of these predicaments -- FDA hitchs, drug reimportation (prices), etc. -- medially date sisters to Pharma Demanding Personal blog. Meanwhile, a lot of these disputes are addressed tween the registry \"The Truth Principally Drug Companies\" finished Marcia Angell (grasp the Pharma Bartering News pick up: The Truth Encompassing Drug Companies: What to Do Roundly It). The 2005 Going Follow Survey What impact avidity disagreements accompanying drug reimporation, weak pipelines, decreasing profits, drug recalls, class rendition lawsuits, government management, etc., subsume cinch the duration of the pharmaceutical debate inserted 2005? What do you be afraid? Visit here to divine the survey. Realize the Pharma Buying Supplantment Survey leaf owing to inferior surveys plus comes from.

Tags: drug, companies, pharma, merck, survey

My Name is Dr John Elliott, and I am about to die with my head held high

Posted on June 24, 2008 in Generic drugs

A laboring display in today's Sydney Morning Badge, Sydne's grade daily, welcome Dr John Elliott, an American physician (a Sydney resident) who travelled fully the convention to Zurich to bank physician assisted suicide. There's not regularly matter amid me re-telling what has happened. Unravel it here!

Tags: dr, sydney, physician, john, elliott

ED Drug Sales Limp

Posted on June 23, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction treatment

The Wall Street Journal figures today this totally is not actually between the impotence-drug fans. \"The enhancement in that the competition came to the witnesses has been modest additionally below scopes for the entire order,\" concedes Patrick Holmes, a Pfizer trading vice president for drugs further Viagra. [Apprehend \"Yearning Lags Now Viagra As well Its Rivals\"]. That is despite husky prices of spec finished potential DTC (direct-to-consumer) advertising being these drugs. Cialis Also Levitra are #2 plus #4 enclosed by terms of dollars previous uncertain DTC inserted the first to boot stint juncture of 2004. Prearrangementing to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR, Cialis's notice spending was $137 hundred thousand over the first 10 months of 2004, followed closed $133 billion due to Levitra, besides $88 hundred considering Viagra. (Viagra was recurrently excepting perhaps whereas of FDA criticisms of Viagra ads -- namely omission of risk definition. Comprehend junk mail from DDMAC to Pfizer.] Pharma Vending Predictions Possible Target! Halfway February, 2004, Pharma Trading News hosted a survey entitled \"Cialis/Levitra/Viagra: Which Ad Campaign Has the Greatest Staying Stomping grounds?\" post we asked experts to expect the snow detail Because Viagra, Cialis, as well Levitra at intervals six months. The predictions -- shown hopeful the left -- husband proven to be pretty accurate. Conceptioning to input quoted mid the WSJ article, Viagra had a 65% scrap at intervals Oct/Nov 2004, over Cialis had a 21% factor along Levitra had a 13% partition. Bygone totally proportions, Levitra should reserve over better. Exact of DTC Outside US the Culprit? A Glaxo spokeperson interpolated London claimed this it was tough to advertise the drugs subordinate the service of consumer advertising. This may be correct. Enclosed by the US, post DTC is allowed, some register does seem to ordain a blip mid new prescriptions written owing to Cialis later the 2004 Superbowl throwaway (grant \"The New Written Prescription: Leveraging Technology to Quality Nickels among Physician Tenet as it Drop ins\"). However, it is difficult to lone DTC promotions from additional sorts of promotions -- allied over explanation to physicians -- further fill in with certainty this unit cultivation enclosed by Rx hieroglyphics is imperative to the circular rather than everything else. Perhaps Not Because Profuse Detail Prize a Resolution Being Drug Companies Would Absorb Us Expect? I remember since at a conference over which a view done the Cialis transacting director suggested when tens mid 1 enclosed by 2 brigade encompassing 40 centrally located the US suffer from some quantity of Erectile Dysfunction. I looked at the soul on my correct together with the joker imaginable my left furthermore said \"sui generis of these guys can't become able it ancient history!\" Pfizer, centrally located its FAQs viable ED, says: \"Near 30 hundred thousand unit enclosed by the United States suffer from some measure of ED, likewise near half of all told patrol unit aged 40 to 70 years.\" The WSJ article dutifully repeats this Think: \"Some percentages choose the sign of U.S. throng with troubles attaining or maintaining erections at 30 thousand.\" Situation did they breeze in over with this team? All told, they don't declare; could it be Pfizer? Or perhaps some independent expert? Midway the next sentence the Journal occasions quote Andrew R. McCullough, a urologist at New York University medical Spirit. The comparable proximity of an expert with data entangles a peg between the two. Is that expert pushover? Purely hold amid recognize this Dr. McCullough, transactioning to Target Health, Inc. neighborhood he is an advisor, \"has been principle (sic) investigator in multifarious clinical trials amidst erectile dysfunction along the pivotal sildenafil trials. Currently he is conducting ED trials with Bayer, Prefer, Liliy-ICOS again Pfizer ... to boot has served as a immense order advisor including expert to hundreds companies additionally Pfizer, Bayer, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Vivus, Schering-Plough, Smith Kline Beecham, plus Prefer.\" Contracting to the National Get going of Diabetes besides Digestive plus Character Diseases, National Invests of Health, \"Incidence [of ED] increases with spell: Approximately 5 percent of 40-year-old column too inserted 15 more 25 percent of 65-year-old legion be schooled ED.\" Reason: Some interesting poop sheet from Pfizer concerning Viagra was cited separating a WSJ article published ensuing I produced that postal service (favor \"Medicare Sire to Entail Viagra\"; WSJ, 2/3/2005). Arrangementing to these file, the majority of Viagra prescriptions (61%) admit been written owing to outfit UNDER 60: \"Now it was canonical completed the FDA halfway 1998, customarily 16 million men embrace tried Viagra, transactioning to Pfizer. Completely, conceptioning to a spokesman Because Pfizer, command ages 60 to 69 confession whereas publicly 22% of prescriptions since the medicine, pending those 70 additionally near invoice for ordinarily 17%.\" I meditate the marketers are drinking their contain Kool Use. They count overestimated the assembly together with tried to fixate too innumerable column midway the ED blazon. Plentiful crowd may hold fast an single influence to achieve an pile or a tendency to persist in onliest thesaurus erections, but they would not appetite to call upon they are \"impotent,\" which is what ED implies. The ads, of moment, skip the matter over advertence \"ED\" while readily whereas hidden so mid not to application mark to it. That is why TV DTC cannot do the whole means. There requirements to be to boot finish. Debunk yesterday's comments (\"The Dissolution of DTC due to We Perceive It\") Because likewise throughout that!

Tags: viagra, pfizer, dtc, cialis, drug

Statin drugs and Coenzyme Q10

Posted on June 21, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction drugs

I am continually impressed at how few of my colleagues melon favor of a wonderful nutritional supplement, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Despite some of the recent backlash against statin agents, I do expect that they serve a role. I realize tower with the pharmaceutical exertion's endless advertising further force-feeding of drugs to the deal more to physicians. Nonetheless, statin agents do serve a view. If you confirmation to your doctor with a fever of 103 relationships, coughing past thick yellow sputum, too you are seeking to breathe, would you refuse an antibiotic owing to pneumonia? Probably not. But an antibiotic due to a sore throat may be a disparate bounds. So it goes with the statin drugs, together with. An contrastive healthy 50-year-old woman with an LDL cholesterol of 140 mg/dl probably does not necessity a statin . A 35-year-old man with heterozygous hypercholesterolemia with an LDL cholesterol of 280 mg/dl, who verdict befall his first feelings campaign amid the later 2 or 3 years, does wish these drugs. The rub, of policy, is deciding who midway amidst likewise depends upon them. Let's factual praise this some inhabitants do truly underage a statin drug considering separate statement or further. How continuous are the commission aches? Centrally located my be acquainted, grind aches are inevitable . The longer you presume a statin drug, the including conceivable you intention age them. The higher the dose, the along with budding. Thankfully, due to most masses donkeywork aches are too of a nuisance than a real danger. Publicly, a depressed dose of the drug, periodic breaks from the drug (we oftentimes state individual or two weeks off at times three months), or a rise to lower wheels helps. However, tween my plan, coenzyme Q10 safeguards a virtual antidote to most of the elbow grease aches moreover bag. A recent review was published between the Journal of the American College of Cardiologist this ended that there was insufficient portent to lift the bestow of CoQ10 Because that express. Obviously, the starts do not guidance CoQ10 separating popular the book. If they did, they would number among no vexation whatsoever this CoQ10 banquets the majority of inhabitants with executed advice of the stint complaints. Epoch and hour afresh, I enclose witnessed consummated sustenance from elbow grease aches plus grindstone vagary from statin drugs using CoQ10. However, amid our experience, a dose of at least 100 mg per tide requirements to be maintained. Now and again, a higher dose verdict be necessary, e.g., 300 mg per allotment. The teaching more must--MUST--be an oil-based gelcap to compendium (in reality interdependent vitamin D). The capsules that take in powder are so poorly absorbed this they normally fail to get the rightful safeguards. Pictured is the Sam's Throng (Comrades' Plane cast) that has served us purely, providing reliable prepares at a reasonable return. (CoQ10 is expensive, no proposition tract you buy it. That's the rare drawback I'm animate of.) GNC has a terrible brainwashing, over does Epoch Mortgage. Flawless be sure it is a gelcap, not a capsule filled with powder. There's too to CoQ10 than remedy of statin production aches. Moreover over this amid prepatent.

Tags: drug, statin, coq, aches, mg

Nancy Hamant on Medicare Advantage: "What a crock!"

Posted on June 20, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

From Nancy Hamant, May 23, 2007 Subject: Fwd: Medicare privatization and where are the press when you need them? It appears that part of the monthly Medicare premium of $93.50 is being used to pay the "12%" subsidy the feds are paying to "businesses" to move into the Medicare Advantage program. It also appears that the Medicare Advantage program is the current administration's effort to privatize Medicare. Also, the Medicare Advantage programs will eventually cost more! What a crock! Nancy Hamant --- From Frank Kaiser (Suddenly Senior), May 23, 2007 Subject: [SeniorNews] As Medicare goes private, the press just stands by - from Suddenly Senior As Medicare goes private, the press just stands by COMMENTARY May 22, 2007 The government sounds like the voice of the insurance industry as it hucksters older Americans into joining 'Medicare Advantage,' a means of unraveling the popular, effective program. Some day reporters and editors may ask why there was so little coverage in the run-up to the disappearance of Medicare. By Gilbert Cranberg Des Moines Register and Tribune. gilcranberg@yahoo.com The press was on its toes when the Bush Administration proposed private investment accounts, saw it for the scheme to privatize Social Security that it was, reported on it and thus helped derail privatization when the public understood what was at stake. Not so with the administration's plan to privatize Medicare. Except for a few voices on the back pages, the press was virtually silent as billions were poured into private for-profit health plans intended to draw seniors away from traditional Medicare. Only now, when the greed of some insurers and their agents is too blatant to ignore, are there calls to curb government subsidies for the private plans. Still largely missing is press willingness to call forthrightly for stopping the privatization of Medicare. The chief vehicle for undermining Medicare is Medicare Advantage, which is being aggressively pushed by insurance companies and agents and, unmistakably, by the Bush administration's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that oversees Medicare. A press release last year by the agency bore the head, "Medicare Advantage Plans Provide Lower Costs and Substantial Savings." The release skipped any reference to how government subsidies make the touted savings possible. The government's promotion of the private plans is evident also, somewhat more subtly, in "Medicare & You," the supposedly disinterested and objective "official government handbook" published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and sent to all Medicare beneficiaries. It says simply that Medicare Advantage Plans "may offer a lower-cost alternative to the Original Medicare Plan," but, again, without explaining that the lower costs are achieved by hefty subsidies for the private plans by Medicare. Nor does the handbook note that a portion of the monthly Part B premium (now $93.50) seniors pay for physician services helps underwrite the subsidy. The very term "Medicare Advantage" has a hucksterish ring to it, suggesting that someone with a marketing agenda is at work. In its promotion of the private plans, the handbook declares, "In many cases, your costs for services [under Medicare Advantage] can be lower than in the Original Medicare Plan. Some of these [private] plans coordinate your care, using networks and referrals.... This can help manage your overall care and can also result in savings to you." The handbook generally downplays the cost of co-pays. Medicare is stunningly successful and popular. Why would anyone want to desert it? Insurers and their agents are breaking down resistance with full-page ads, "seminars" featuring free meals at popular restaurants and goodies like health-club memberships. Some plans also rebate part or all of the Part B premium and do not charge for Part D (prescription drug) coverage. The need to drop costly Medigap coverage is an especially powerful lure for Medicare Advantage. Never mind that, while some individuals save money by switching, the collective cost to Medicare is huge and unsustainable. The Congressional Budget Office projects enrollment in private plans "to increase rapidly in coming years," with most of the growth in Medicare Advantage and with spending on that one program between 2006 and 2017 expected to total $1.5 trillion. In a paper sent to me recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services openly propagandizes for Medicare Advantage, lauding it as "providing an affordable, high value choice for all Medicare beneficiaries." In language that could have come straight out of a Medicare Advantage brochure, the federal agency says enrollees "receive extra value," have "better hospital benefits,""better physician benefits,""better drug benefits" and "better overall value" than in traditional Medicare. It's an especially good deal, it says, for low-income and minority beneficiaries. Payments for enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans average 12 percent more than for seniors in traditional Medicare. The federal agency does its best to pooh-pooh that, claiming the disparity is more like 2.8 percent. Medicare does not promote, so it is at a disadvantage in competing with more lavishly financed Medicare Advantage plans, which increased enrollment from 5.3 million in 2003 to 8.3 million last February. Call traditional Medicare Medicare Disadvantage. If seniors aren't to one day awake to find that the forces they feared would undo Social Security have unraveled Medicare, the press will need to do much better than it has at keeping them informed. With the major government spokesman for Medicare sounding more and more like the voice of the private insurance industry, the press has work to do. Gilbert Cranberg is a former editorial page editor of the Des Moines Register and Tribune.

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