Drug Shortages: Despite Gains, Many Drugs are Still in Short Supply
A recent article from Bloomberg noted that “as shortages of sterile injectables persist, the makeup of that part of the industry is in flux.” To address the current marketplace struggles, Mylan has agreed to buy Agila Specialties, the injectables unit of Strides Arcolab, for $1.6 billion, and analysts think Claris Lifesciences could be next, saying “it is a matter of supply and demand.”
Claris has five (5) FDA-sanctioned manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad, and an analyst tells Bloomberg it might be worth about $500 million. Claris has “a ready-made facility,” Ranjit Kapadia, an analyst at Centr...
Source: Policy and Medicine - April 8, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs
Cosmetic Psychopharmacology?
We read everywhere that psychotropics are over-prescribed. The DSM
guidelines have pathologized normal reactions and DSM-V promises to make
this even more so. For example, over 11% of children are now diagnosed
with Attention Deficit Disorder. Our friend, Dr. Mojtabai, tells us
that many patients who are given antidepressants by primary care doctors
don't have a psychiatric diagnosis, our colleague, Dr. Frances (and
many others) doesn't want normal symptoms of grief to be diagnosed as
major depression after 2 weeks of symptoms, and our readers have written
in saying that there are effective ...
Source: Shrink Rap - April 5, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Dinah Source Type: blogs
Keeping the Pounds On: Causes of Unexplained Weight Loss
By Amy Campbell
Our society is obsessed with weight, if you haven't noticed. More than two thirds of US adults are overweight or obese, there are more diet books published than we can count, and, of course, we have the privilege of watching shows like The Biggest Loser to help keep us in line. And according to government statistics, more than 85% of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. So it stands to reason that much of the focus of managing Type 2 diabetes is based on reaching and staying at a healthy weight.
It's important to note that thin people can get diabetes too, and not just Type 1 diabetes. In a 2008 stud...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - February 25, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: Amy Campbell Source Type: blogs
The Last Patient of a Long Night Shift
By Birdstrike M.D.
My first night shift in a stretch of 7 was almost over. It was 6:15 a.m. and I had to keep moving otherwise the minute I would stop, my eyelids would drop like two ton shades and I’d fall asleep. That never makes for a good drive home after a night shift.
“Got time to see one more?” asked Jenny the nurse.
“Do I have choice? The door-to-doctor time storm-troopers would have it no other way,” I grunted back, eye lids drifting closed.
“Febrile seizure,” it said.
Good, this should be quick and easy, I think to myself. We’ll give some Tylenol, reassess in 30 minutes and this b...
Source: WhiteCoat's Call Room - February 17, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: Birdstrike Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Medications that Increase the Risks of Patient Falls
Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for adults 65 and older.
Alzheimer's Reading Room
“Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for adults 65 and older, and research suggests that those taking four or more medications are at an even greater risk than those who don’t – perhaps two to three times greater,” said Susan Blalock, Ph.D., an associate professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
In 2007, more than 21,700 Americans died as a result of falls and more than 7.9 million were injured by a fall including over 1.8 million older adults who had a fall-rela...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - February 14, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Drugs for Diabetes Pain
By David Spero
Pain researcher Rebecca Sudore, MD, says, "Adults living with Type 2 diabetes are suffering from incredibly high rates of pain, at levels similar to patients living with cancer." Sounds awful. But what can we do about it? Actually, quite a bit.
Let's look at medications first. Because chronic pain involves emotions, thoughts, stress, general health, and the entire body, there are at least six different categories of drugs that can help with pain. They include: narcotics, anxiolytics (“tranquilizers"), antidepressants, anti-inflammatories, medicines for seizures, and alternative treatments.
With all tho...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - February 6, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: David Spero Source Type: blogs
The Antidepressant Era: the movie
No apologies here, this article (and videos) have been lifted straight from David Healy’s excellent website.
It’s important that as many people as possible have the chance to read the piece and take time to watch the film.
As far as the pharmaceutical industry is concerned, I can tell you from first hand experience that the industry still believes in its own hype… do more, feel better and live longer is Glaxo’s strapline and no one in that company thinks there’s even a hint of irony in that.
Now for Dr Healy’s piece:
The Antidepressant Era: the movie
The Antidepressant Era was written i...
Source: seroxat secrets... - February 3, 2013 Category: Mental Illness Authors: admin Tags: Drug Marketing Glaxo Uncategorized Big Pharma GlaxoSmithKline Source Type: blogs
Q/A – Am I in depression denial? Read explanation?
You guys might also have this question so I’m posting it here with a good answer too. It comes from ‘Audie89′ who asks:
I’m 22 years old, and until I was 18…my social skills were painfully awkward. Finally, however, I came out of my shell. I got into the nightclub/rave scene and began working as a promoter for the biggest nightclub in the US while attending a university. I had tons of friends, I dated some gorgeous girls, and I loved going out and having a good time. Life was good. After 1 1/2 years, however, I started getting into prescription painkillers (namely oxycodone). I was in wa...
Source: Addiction Recovery Blog - January 10, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Addiction Recovery Author Tags: Opiate Treatment Source Type: blogs
Real Teens Ask: Is Propofol a Drug?
Since the death of Michael Jackson in 2009, “propofol” has been mentioned often in the news. The substance was found to be the cause of his death and was the center of the highly publicized trial of his doctor.
So, it’s no surprise there is a lot of curiosity about propofol. NIDA received questions about it during last year’s Drug Facts Chat Day.
During Chat Day, Cam from California asked about the basics—
Is propofol a drug?
Yes. Propofol is a common type of anesthetic—a drug that doctors use to “put people to sleep” for surgery. It is given to patients through an “intravenous drip,” (called an “IV...
Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - January 26, 2012 Category: Addiction Authors: Sara Bellum Source Type: blogs
Word of the Day: Depressants
What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “depressants?” Maybe “depressed” or “sad?” But the drugs called depressants aren’t called that because they’re depressing in the emotional sense.
Depressants slow down (or “depress”) the normal activity that goes on in the brain. Alcohol is a depressant.
Doctors often prescribe central nervous system (CNS) depressants to patients who are anxious or can’t sleep. When used as directed, CNS depressants are safe and helpful for people who need them.
Types of CNS Depressants
CNS depressants can be divided into three main groups:
Barbiturates, wh...
Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - February 1, 2011 Category: Addiction Authors: Sara Bellum Source Type: blogs
Eminem and Elton John
Musician Elton John recently said he’s been helping rapper pal Eminem work through his problems with substance abuse.
Eminem (aka Slim Shady and, before that, Marshall Mathers from Detroit, MI), was in treatment for substance abuse in 2005. Since then, he has abused prescription drugs like Vicodin, Ambien, and Valium. Some bad things happened after 2005, and maybe that led him to start abusing drugs again. In December 2007, he was devastated when his marriage ended and his closest friend and fellow rapper DeShaun “Proof” Holton died. Eminem was even hospitalized for overdosing on methadone. Then in early 2008, he...
Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - February 19, 2010 Category: Addiction Authors: Sara Bellum Source Type: blogs
