Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 01-02-2006

Quote of the day:    "I feel so good; even I want to be me!"

                                        - Gregory Scott Reid

Good morning! 

A New Year Revolution

2006 has just begun. Instead of a new year resolution, I am staging a new year revolution. So far so good!  I came across a new book, "Eats, Shoots, & Leaves" by Lynne Truss. It is a funny book that may, once and for all, deliver me from bad punctuation. Filled with examples of grammatical faux paux in common use and advertisements it delivers memorable impact with humor (she spells it "humour" because she is British). Highly recommended even though I have only read the first few chapters,  (Please cut me some slack until I am through it!)

This is but one step on my quest to be a better "me" on 2006. Whatever you select to be your new year revolution, be sure that you take some action on it. Wanting to be thinner won't make it happen unless you eat less and exercise more (my son, the physicist, can help you out with the math if you need it). All of the good intentions in the world are for naught unless you DO something. Plan for setbacks, dust yourself off after a fall, and carry onward with a stiff upper lip.

 Wishing you a prosperous and happy new year.

Steve

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ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Redeemed!"  (my friend Vickie who keeps Christmas in her heart year 'round )

pps. (or if you are not doing well then it's "So far...so far!"

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1) Revlimid approved by FDA for 5q deletion MDS

This congener of THALIDOMIDE was approve on 12/27 for a subset of patients affected with myleodysplastic syndrome(MDS). Will be interesting to see how this pans out. (The "5q deletion" refers to a very specific chromosomal defect.)

http://www.pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleid=301993&categoryid=9&newsletter=1

2) Speak now or forever (until 2007) hold your peace

USP is seeking final comments on the Medicare Part-D model guidelines. Deadline extended until 1/6/06. (What makes them think that a few more days will help them get it right?)

http://www.usp.org/healthcareInfo/mmg/phase2/revisionPublicComments.html

3) Unconstitutional pricing

DC law pegging the price that can be charged for drugs to prices in foreign countries is unconstitutional. (It's about something called interstate commerce… and DC isn't even a state).

http://lists.essential.org/pipermail/ip-health/2005-December/008892.html

or http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/22/AR2005122202018.html

4) Two better than one?

Scientists in Holland have determined that the combination of a drug frequently used against cancer, methotrexate, and a tumor necrosis factor drug (Humira) have more effect on arthritis than either alone. We might want to listen to them…. remember the little boy and the dike?

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2005-12-30T184456Z_01_HAR067476_RTRUKOC_0_US-TWO-STUDY.xml&archived=False 

 5) Too late for New Year 2006…

FDA gives Vivatrol (naltrexone) an "approvable" letter for reduction of heavy drinking in alcoholics. The drug has been around for a while as a narcotic antagonist but finds new life. The drug would be given as an injection, once a month, to dull the urge for another drink should the alcoholic "fall off the water wagon". Maybe ready when the ball next drops.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/29/business/alkermes.php

6) Expiration dates on pharmaceuticals: Out with the old and in with the new.

One study by the US Army from 2002 showed that many drugs are still good 5 years after their stated expiration date. It is a good idea to throw away any drug not used by its expiration date even though it may still be close to its original potency. Treating a "recurrence" of a problem without seeing a physician may cause you harm if you misdiagnose yourself. You kidney or liver function may have changed requiring a different dosage of presenting a contraindication. Eye drops that have been opened are subject to contamination (bacteria, virus, mold) and should not be kept for over a month even if the date on the bottle say 2009. Other drugs, such as tetracycline, can become toxic if left to expire. Use the new year as a sign to dump the old drugs.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20051225/

7) CVS make me sick to my stomach

How unfortunate for the US Pharmacy chain that their initials match this disease acronym:

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome which is often associated with migraines. For all of the gory details you can click on the PDF option on the abstract page.

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/3/20/abstract

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