ppp 06-09-08

Quote of the day: It is not advisable, James, to venture unsolicited opinions.

You should spare yourself the embarrassing discovery of

their exact value to your listener.

Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982), Atlas Shrugged, 1957

I was too busy this weekend with the Baptism of my grandson to prepare an obnoxious, opinionated piece of drivel this week. I’ll give you this week off. I have attached links to the 7 most interesting pieces I stumbled across this week for your amusement, entertainment and edification. Enjoy.

ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "It's Tuesday and I'm still here... OK I guess... I survived Monday!"

Before you get too excited…. Survival went from 6 months in non-vaccine patients to 16 months. Patients received drugs/chemotherapy and or radiation and/or surgery to boot. Ten months is significant from a humanistic standpoint: surviving an extra 10 months might mean attending a daughter’s wedding, seeing a grandchild, wrapping up loose ends, etc.

When doing anticonvulsant research for the FDA right out of my PharmD training I had several patients who were suicide risks due to prior attempts. The FDA is now in the process of evaluating 11 anticonvulsants for suicide risk. While this could end up resulting in a “class effect” warning, the mechanisms and effects of this class are very broad. Manufacturers of those drugs which have low rates of suicide are not going to let this go without a fight. It may be more of a disease attribute than a treatment side effect (just another thought).

CDC estimates that the average commuter taking public transportation due to an influenza pandemic (read “bird flu”) would need about 1000 face masks to avoid becoming contaminated. Costs are estimated at $70 per family. A small price to pay for a loved ones life but a huge total dollar outlay for the country. Government has stockpiled enough antiviral drugs to treat only about 25% of the population.

Naltrexone decreased the urge to gamble in chronic, compulsive gamblers. Study was performed in Minnesota. I expect the Minnesota Lottery Commission to sue for a ban on the drug.

When housekeeping/nursing wipes down the room of a patient who has MRSA the disinfectant wipes themselves may cause thorough room contamination if used improperly. Appears that the wipes should only be used in a small area and a fresh wipe used in the next area and so on. Original studies were done in Welsh hospitals but there is no reason to believe that the same thing isn’t happening here too. Sounds like a place to enhance staff education to me.

Lumigan is used in eye drop form to treat glaucoma. It has been noted that these glaucoma patients started growing thicker eyelashes. An enterprising scientist has applied for its use as a mascara. When I was an intern at the Minneapolis VA, patients given minoxidil intravenously for hypertension started growing hair all over their bodies. One doctor noticed and patented the use now known as Rogaine. It pays to pay attention.

Mercury in the mother’s amalgam dental fillings found to cause damage to the nervous system of unborn children.

Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2009 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved.

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