Make the Diagnosis: Dizziness Dilemma
(MedPage Today) -- Case Findings: The patient is a 42-year-old African American man who presents with a complaint of dizziness lightheadedness which occurred when he was standing up to go to the rest room 3 days ago. He denies any previous syncopal episodes. He has medically managed hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiomyopathy with last ejection fraction of 35% with defibrillator placement 4 months previous. His ICD did not fire during the episode. His last cardiac catheterization prior to ICD implantation revealed normal coronaries. Patient has been compliant with metoprolol 25 mg twice daily, lisinopril 10 mg daily...
Source: MedPage Today Endocrinology - April 26, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Source Type: news
Your New Toolkit for Patient-Centric Change
Repeating the same action and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. That is the simple rationale for why we need new design tactics to deliver on the promise of patient centricity; reaching for the same tired approaches won’t deliver different outcomes. While it can be hard to find inspiration, we hope to tackle that with the eyeforpharma Philadelphia awards. In addition to simply recognizing good work, we want to encourage the spread of good ideas that could benefit us all. Check out these three strategies deployed by the ‘Most Valuable Patient Initiative or Service’ finalists.
Work within the e...
Source: EyeForPharma - April 15, 2016 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Thomas Disley Source Type: news
New drug 'effective' for those with intolerable statin side effects
Conclusion
The main results of this study relate to the lipid-lowering effects of two alternative non-statin medications. However, it highlights the muscle-related adverse effects that can occur with statins.
The study is carefully designed and has many strengths, including:
a washout period between drugs to remove any residual effects
double-blind design throughout so people didn't know what they were taking
sufficient duration for each phase of the study (10 and 24 weeks) to allow effects to develop
a good sample size – the researchers calculated beforehand how many people would need to be recruite...
Source: NHS News Feed - April 4, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Medication Older people Source Type: news
Statin intolerance is real, researchers find. Another (more costly) drug may get around the problem.
Statins like Lipitor and its generics have revolutionized cardiovascular care for nearly two decades as an effective, inexpensive way to reduce LDL cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol in the bloodstream. Not everyone can take them, though; a significant number of people complain of muscle pain, weakness and cramping so severe that they discontinue the therapy […] (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Source: Washington Post: To Your Health - April 3, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Lenny Bernstein Tags: prescription drugs health newsletter Source Type: news
Some People Really Can't Take Statins For High Cholesterol, Scientists Prove
You can't write a story about the lifesaving benefits of the cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins without getting comments like this one, from reader Bill Hayman, on my story yesterday:
I cannot take Crestor or Zetia or any form of statin drug! I can barely walk with any statin drug. My legs become painful and so weak, they feel like rubber. Several years ago, I used Lipitor and had four pancreatic attacks until I stopped the Lipitor.
Or this, from reader James Leedy:
People should be warned of side effects. Doctors should listen to patients . I have taken statins for several years. I had extreme muscle pains all t...
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - April 3, 2016 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Matthew Herper Source Type: news
Statin intolerance objectively identified in patients
(Cleveland Clinic) In the first major trial of its kind, Cleveland Clinic researchers used a blinded rechallenge with atorvastatin or placebo to objectively confirm the presence of muscle-related symptoms in patients with a history of intolerance to multiple statins and found that evolocumab (a PCSK9 inhibitor) was a more effective option to lower cholesterol than ezetimibe in these patients. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 3, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Drug company victim of pre-April Fool's Day hoax
One of the country's largest pharmaceutical companies was the victim of a hoax in the form of a phony press release.
Pfizer Inc., the maker of drug products including Lipitor and Viagra, said a false press release related to drug pricing and linking to a fake Web site was anonymously issued Thursday.
The fake release "announced" Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) would "cease routine price increases" and cut some drug prices to improve access. The fake Web site is no longer operational.
The New York City-based… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - April 1, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: John George Source Type: news
Drug company victim of pre-April Fool's Day hoax
One of the country's largest pharmaceutical companies, which has ties to the Philadelphia region, was the victim of a hoax in the form of a phony press release.
Pfizer Inc., the maker of drug products including Lipitor and Viagra, said a false press release related to drug pricing and linking to a fake Web site was anonymously issued Thursday.
The fake release "announced" Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) would "cease routine price increases" and cut some drug prices to improve access. The fake Web site is no… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines - April 1, 2016 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: John George Source Type: news
atorvastatin, Lipitor
Title: atorvastatin, LipitorCategory: MedicationsCreated: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/30/2016 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Cholesterol General)
Source: MedicineNet Cholesterol General - March 30, 2016 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Atorvastatin: A Drusen Disintegrator?Atorvastatin: A Drusen Disintegrator?
Can treatment with a high-dose statin for age-related macular degeneration resolve drusen and improve visual acuity? Medscape Optometry (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - February 26, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Viewpoint Source Type: news
Studying for USMLE Step 2? Master this most missed question
Studying for the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 2 may seem daunting, but not to fear. Starting this month, we’re giving you an exclusive scoop on the most missed USMLE Step 2 test prep questions and expert strategies to help you beat them. Check out this month’s most challenging question, and view an expert video explanation of the answer from Kaplan Medical.
Welcome to the first Step 2 post in AMA Wire’s® series, “Tutor talk: Tips from Kaplan Medical on the most missed USMLE test prep questions from Kaplan’s Qbank.” Each month, we’re revealing the top questions students miss...
Source: AMA Wire - February 24, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Amy Farouk Source Type: news
Could statins treat common cause of vision loss?
ConclusionThe difference between the dramatic improvement seen in the case study of the 63-year-old man and the comparatively modest, or lack of, effect seen in the 23 taking part in the trial shows the limitations of studying small numbers of people, and the current uncertainly about the effects of this treatment. There is large variability in small groups, which doesn't tell us whether the treatment will help most people. The way to solve this is to study lots more people. This helps to smooth out the natural variability in people's responses to the same treatment and can highlight groups more or less likely to benefit. ...
Source: NHS News Feed - February 5, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Older people Medication Source Type: news
STATINS found to clear away deposits that cause blindness in the elderly
High-dose treatment with the statin Lipitor cleared away fatty deposits behind the retina, leading to visual improvement in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), say Harvard researchers. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - February 5, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
The Jekyll and Hyde of Statins
By Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog, Medical Discovery News Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins are the most prescribed drug ever. About 30 percent of Americans are currently taking statins such as Crestor, Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor. Overall, statins can be good thing, but as with all drugs, there are some negative effects. Statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting a protein called HMG-CoA reductase. Since high cholesterol levels are linked to heart disease, statins can reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Recent reports from the American Heart Ass...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - February 3, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Identifying Acute STEMI in the Presence of Paced Rhythm
EMS responds to a local coffee shop for a 77-year-old male who has reportedly fainted. While en route the call is upgraded to an unconscious patient and an engine company is dispatched for backup.
On arrival the patient is conscious but lethargic. He appears acutely ill. The skin is pale and diaphoretic. His past medical history includes hypertension, dyslipidemia, myocardial infarction, a coronary artery bypass graft and heart failure. His current medications are aspirin, metoprolol, atorvastatin, lisinopril and furosemide.
Upon further questioning he admits to chest discomfort. His OPQRST assessment is as follows:
≫ On...
Source: JEMS Patient Care - January 18, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tom Bouthillet, NREMT-P Tags: Case of the Month Special Topics Cardiac & Resuscitation Patient Care Source Type: news
