Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 10-06-2003
	Quote of the day: "Looking foolish does the spirit good. The need not to look foolish is one of youth's many burdens; as we get older we are exempted from more and more." John Updike

Good morning! Looking foolish…..only if you take a chance. What makes one look foolish? Having things turn out differently than expected. An investor who takes a chance and finds the investment worthless is said to look foolish. The daredevil who misses clearing the 43rd truck by only inches may look foolish (if he lives to tell about it). A shy young man who asks the prettiest girl in class for a date to be rejected in front of the entire senior class…. foolish? Now take those same three examples and project success on each: a fortune, a new world record, or a pleasant evening out on the town. Now they don't seem so foolish. Now imagine those same three people deciding NOT to take a chance: no investment, no stunt, and no attempt to court. Who seems more foolish…those that took a chance (win or loose) or the people who never took a chance? Whatever you do today…take at least one little chance…. you may not be successful but you may be better off for the attempt to break out of your comfortable routine.

By the way…. this is the last week to take the … PPP Survey. Help improve the PPP. Let us know your likes and dislikes. Here I took the chance that someone would give me negative feedback. I hope to learn from the positive as well as the negative. I'll post the results in a few weeks for those interested.

1) Blue Man Crew may wish to change color!

A common dye used in pharmaceuticals may cause hypotension, metabolic acidosis and death. Before you run screaming for the medicine cabinet you should consider that the amount of dye in any capsules will not likely lead to these dire consequences. It is a matter of "dosage". The difference between the amount in a capsule or tablet and the amount used in these tube feeding is like the difference between using blue eye shadow and full body paint.…Click here for full text of story. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2003/safety03.htm#FDCblue

2) Common drug may make ear aches last longer.
	It appears that the fluid does not drain from behind the ear drum as fast when the kiddies take antihistamines (prescription or OTC). I thought I'd pass this on in case you have young children or grand children because they all seem to have ear trouble at one time or another. …Click here for full text of story http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031001/hl_nm/colds_infections_dc_1

3) Not in time for California recall elections….BRAIN DAMAGE DRUG to get quick review..

Dexanabinol has been "fast tracked" by the FDA (which means that it will receive a rapid review once the initial studies are complete). In years past we would put patients with serious brain injury into a drug induced coma using barbiturates. While it has been awhile since I practiced in Neurology, this sounds like a similar approach. …Click here for full text of story. http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030930/1227001078_1.html

4) …and the FDA also looking into DIRECT TO CONSUMER ADS.

A review of the meeting is quite revealing of the "stakeholders" in this issue. Can you guess where the Magazine printers and other advertising people came down on the issue? Expecting them to want to reduce the ads would be right up there with them running public dervice announcements attempting to reduce political advertising… (just my opinion…I could be wrong!) …Click here for full text of story. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/29/business/media/29adco.html?8seia

5) Crestor on its way to replacing Lipitor…
	Some stats after a month on the market indicate high acceptance. Expect some shake ups in the whole "statin" market place. …Click here for full text of story. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/fool/20031002/bs_fool_fool/1065121680

6)… but not EVERYBODY is excited about Crestor. Wellpoint will not pay for it.
	After the BAYCOL fiasco a little over a year ago the FDA was VERY careful when it cam to approving CRESTOR (delaying it about 1 year so more studies could be done). I do not see "another Baycol" here. If a doctor only wants a small change in cholesterol levels the first place to start is generic lovastatin. Wellpoint may find that Crestor is more cost effective than the current darling….Lipitor… for patients requiring major pharmacologic help. (In addition to diet and exercise….AS IF THOSE TWO is going to happen…)
7) Tea for Two…and Tea for me (but watch out for the crumpets!)
	Maybe an alternative to "statins" for the few people in the world who only need a small adjustment in their cholesterol values. (Maybe skipping the Mega-bagel that goes better with coffee than tea was the key). …Click here for full text of story. http://biz.yahoo.com/rm/030930/health_tea_1.html

Have a GREAT week...and try some TEA for a change....you won't look THAT foolish! Steve

Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice a supervision of you 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 1998-2003 PHARMWORKS,LLC all rights reserved.