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LABAs should never be used alone!
January 2, 2009
FDA: Risks of new asthma drugs vary | www.google.com
The Smart study has done the LABAs in. At no time was a LABA suggested to be used alone except in this study. The participants were all comers from all MDs able to write an rx. There was no proper patient selection and no proper follow up for the majority of the patients. Many likely used this drug as a rescue medication and got into trouble. There are numerous studies showing that the combination of a LABA and a steriod is safe and more effective than raising the steriod dose in those thaat require more than an inhaled steriod by the guidelines.
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January 2, 2009
Lipitor may indeed be better than Simvasatain, but an observational study will NOT prove this.
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January 2, 2009
Generic Heart Drugs as Good as Brand-Name Counterparts | www.washingtonpost.com
Please see my comments on the ALLHAT Hypertension study. Newer is not better. The biggest difference from my standpoint is formulation to keep the patent runing. In hard economic times we really need to consider this for the patient and NOT BIG pharma.
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New is Better--that is what Pharma tells us.
January 2, 2009
The Minimal Impact of a Big Hypertension Study | www.nytimes.com
Unfortunately there are no reasonable studies comparing older drugs with GOOD efficacy that are now generic with newer agents. ALLHAT was perhaps the last. Also with many patients requiring more than a single agent, it is hard to use the results of that study to make clinical decisions.
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January 2, 2009
Inhaled steroids may not help COPD sufferers | www.fiercepharma.com
If you look at the underlying pathophysiology it makes perfect sense. Asthma is mostly an eosinoplphillic based disease, where steriod use will decrease their number. COPD is for the most part a neutrophillic process where steriods should have a moinor role.
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Throwing out the baby with the bathwater
December 11, 2008
FDA: Long-Acting Asthma Drugs Increase Asthma Risks | online.wsj.com
According to quidelines at a certain point if severe enough one needs to use either a combo product or higher doses of inhaled steriods. If the LABAs become contraindicated for any population what will be available for the more severe asthmatic? Do we go back to oral steriods as being the drug of choice? Will the populace and MCOs-PBMs be willing to pay for xolair with its potential problems? We need to understand the studies that have raised the question of safety and look at the other studies that show NO problem when combined with an ICS.
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October 6, 2008
'Superbugs' That Strike the Sickest Patients | online.wsj.com
With new Medicare payment guidelines for what will be paid- these infections will clearly need addressing. A nosocomial infection can lenghten the hospital stay. If Medicare doesn't pay for this, many institutions be be hard pressed to stay solvent.
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Need to use these meds correctly
October 6, 2008
Anemia Drugs Linked to Stroke Study Deaths: FDA | health.usnews.com
This is just another issue with these drugs. They need to be used appropriately in all patients that may be candidates for their use.
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October 6, 2008
Drug maker plans to disclose payments to doctors | news.yahoo.com
How many physicians will allow themseves to be a "hired gun" for the right price? It is very disturbing to the general public and erodes their confidence in the profession in general. This needs to stop or be made public!
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Disturbing but not so surpiring
October 6, 2008
Many Trial Reports on FDA-Approved Drugs Go Unpublished | www.washingtonpost.com
We see many drugs with issues that come to light only in post-marketing studies and reports. Big Pharma is in it for the profit- undfortinately only positive studies will allow this.
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September 22, 2008
FDA Alert: Hemorrhagic or Necrotizing Pancreatitis in Patients Taking Byetta | www.fda.gov
Patients will be reluctant to take and physicians are much less likely to use till this issue is clarified.
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What do you expect in hard economic times?
July 18, 2008
Patients Curb Prescription Spending | online.wsj.com
With the economy in recession, whether we are willing to say it or not; with increased cost of food, gas, etc.; what do you expect. Patients are askiing and getting generics. This is on top of most PBM and managed care companies whose P4P includes generic use and stress this to the patient.
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July 18, 2008
Drugs to Build Bones May Weaken Them | www.nytimes.com
This report suggest that there is a point in therapy where we start seiing negative effects from the use of bisphosphanates. There needs to be guidelines on length of therapy. Too long may lead to adverse effects.
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Desperate times- desperate measures
July 11, 2008
8-Year-Olds on Statins? A New Plan Quickly Bites Back | www.nytimes.com
This recommedation is just a reflection of how out of hand the crisis of obesity and metabolic syndrome/diabetes is in our youth. We all need to wake up and do something.
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July 3, 2008
One drug, many uses. Good idea? | www.indystar.com
When drug studies are done some unexpected findings emerge. If these results can show promise and expand drug use they should be persued as the cost will likely be less than developing a whole new drug.
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July 3, 2008
Drug Makers Say FDA Safety Focus Is Slowing New-Medicine Pipeline | online.wsj.com
It is likely that with all the bad press the FDA will require many more safety studies prior to allowing a drug on the market. Many nmay not make it because it will be too prohibitive to do. There is NO magic safe pill however.
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Good move but at what expense?
June 30, 2008
FDA Panel To Weigh Heart Trials For Diabetes Meds | www.pharmalot.com
It will be almost impossible to get any drugs thru the process of approval as the cost to do these studies will be prohibitive.
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June 30, 2008
Doctors Say Medication Is Overused in Dementia | www.nytimes.com
Unfortunately many drugs used in the elderly with dementia lead to more side effects than anything helpful.
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June 30, 2008
Obesity costs employers $45 bil a year | www.nytimes.com
We complain too much about what obesity causes, but do not, as a society, address its causes. How many have stock in fast food companies? Why is fast food the only thing so many people feed their kids and themselves? Why are these the chep alternatives. In the long run they will cost us so much more!
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June 11, 2008
After One Year, Type 2 Diabetes Patients Taking Exenatide Once Weekly Sustained Improvements in Glycemic Control and Weight; DURATION-1 Presented at ADA 2008 | newsroom.lilly.com
The therapy of type 2 DM is burdened by the fact that many meds lose efficacy after time and insulin is required. These results suggest that Exenitide may indeed not lose efficacy .
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