Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 07-14-03 AND 07-21-03
	Quote of the day: Age to me means nothing. I can't get old; I'm working. I was old when I was twenty-one and out of work. As long as you're working, you stay young. When I'm in front of an audience, all that love and vitality sweeps over me and I forget my age. George Burns

Good morning! I am not exactly going to act my age. I am off on vacation with a group of Boy Scouts to hike the mountains of New Mexico for 2 weeks. We will hike between 6,500 feet and 12, 100 feet in Philmont Scout Ranch's more than 200 square mile border. We have all been training for high altitude by conditioning hikes every weekend and added exercise during the week. My 15 year old son will be on the trip with me. Looking forward to some more bonding time. We drive for 400miles and catch a train in Iowa for the remained of the trip. I'll be taking pictures and will likely post a few on the site. No phone, e-mail, beepers, cell phones, radio, TV, newspapers, or internet to keep me connected to the World at large. We are preparing for over 100 degree weather and snow… likely in the same 24 hours. We carry everything for the 80 miles we will cover. I will have to leave you to fend for yourself during my absence. My buddy Corey Nahman can keep you informed about pharmaceuticals in my absence but you will have to remember to check his site daily. …Click here for your daily news from Corey Nahman. You will get a lot of information but not quite as much attitude as you are used to here. Until 7/28…. happy trails!

1) Canada courting DTC….must have been a particularly hard Winter.
	You'd think that they see what has happen here in the States. While Pharma touts the increased patient knowledge of patients about diseases… employers see the effect it has had on drug spend. Don't do it Dudley Doright! …Click here for full text of story. http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=arOlpg3g1Jm8&refer=canada#

2) Red Clover…red clover..send Judy right over!
	Judge Judy would not likely approve of promotion of Red Clover for menopausal symptoms based on this evidence! …Click here for full text of story. http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/07/08/clover.hotflashes.ap/index.html

3) Warning Will Rogers…Warning… Warning….Glucose approaching.

New devices talk to each other to give diabetic better control of their blood sugar. The Glucose meter communicates with the insulin pump and makes a suggestion for the user to accept of modify (based upon anticipated food intake or activity). In the past the diabetic had to make an educated guess…now some of that will be easier. …Click here for full text of story. http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030707/1706001110_2.html

4) …so your machines may be telling you more than your doctor!
	Physicians are telling the whole story to patients which may be good (keeping questionable surgeries or drugs to themselves) or bad (keeping the visit short to increase "productivity). Take a look and you decide! …Click here for full text of story. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030708/ap_on_he_me/silent_doctors_3

5) West Nile case is first of the year.
	You know I'd have to have a mosquito story in here before I left). This is the first case of the year…. and you know that there will be more. He caught it while fishing. Fishing isn't a matter of life and death…it is much more important! Don't forget the DEET… mine is packed. …Click here for full text of story. http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/07/07/sprj.wnv.first.case.ap/index.html

6) Crestor is riding the wave.. but not ashore yet!.

Crestor comes out of committee with a recommendation for a sizable dose. This is the anti-cholesterol drug that we have been waiting for all year. All accounts show it to be more potent than Lipitor. The pricing will likely determine if it knocks Lipitor out of first place. I'll ;et you know when the drug receives ACTUAL FDA approval. (My bet is not before August 22nd. …Click here for full text of story. http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.asp?Feed=RTR&Date=20030709&ID=2693666&Symbol=US:AZN

7) Recall of Nortrel 7/7/7-28 day oral contraceptive.
	Patients reported that the colored pills were in the wrong order…hope that they are Pink for Girls and Blue for Boys! Find the lot numbers and 800 number in the story for more info. …Click here for full text of story. http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.asp?Feed=RTR&Date=20030709&ID=2694018&Symbol=US:BRL

Have a GREAT 2 weeks! (I will!) 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.