Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 06-14-2004

Quote of the day:   How could you be a Great Man if history brought you no Great Events, or brought you to them at the wrong time, too young, too old? Lois McMaster Bujold, "Memory", 1996

Good morning !

The answer to the rhetorical question in the quote is "be a good father".  Father's Day will be next Sunday. Dad's come in many "flavors"…. Mr. Fix-it, outdoorsman (fishing, hunting, golf), indoorsman (books, art, hobby craft, and TV) to name a few. Some are gone through death, divorce or desertion. (OK, it did not work with their mother but that is no reason to desert the kids. Love 'em and set a good example.) What the good fathers all have in common is involvement with their children.  That involvement may only take the form of a good example. How does "Dad" act in public when it comes to women?… prurient glances and comments or respectful interaction.  Sons will learn "acceptable" behavior and how to relate to women. Does "dad" boast of beating the tax system or give examples through charitable works and donations. A father's influence on his daughters is just as real. How you treat your daughter will affect the way she relates to other men. Treat her with dignity and respect and she will accept nothing less.

One place that you can turn for tips and advice is www.dads.org …. it has a religious tone (fatherhood is a religious experience for me)  but could still provide some useful tips.

Gift for Dad? Any way that you can show your gratitude works…

            Father's day card… $3.75

            Tie…. $25

            Heartfelt "Thank you" from a loving child…. Priceless!

1) Not so fast pop!

Regular soft drinks containing sugar appear to affect women more than men…causing diabetes. It is safer to order a BIG MAGILLA BURGER AND FRIES and a "diet" than to add the sugar of a regular soda. You are probably "sweet enough" without the added sugar. (Hint: maybe the word SUPERSIZE should be taken out of our collective vocabulary).

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=534&ncid=534&e=5&u=/ap/20040608/ap_on_he_me/diabetes_soft_drinks

 2) A rose by any other name …might be cheaper….

Andrx has to pay Kos $6 million because Altocor sounded too much like Advicor, Good thing they found a new name, Altoprev, for the anticholesterol drug (until the makers of Prevacid sue).  I'm sorry…but I just don't see the "blatant similarity".

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040610/kos_andrx_1.html

 3) Canadians find explosion of GI bleeding detonated by COXII drugs.

While touted as safer than older NSAIDS it appears that indiscriminate use causes bleeding…just like the older NSAIDS. More ammunition for STEP THERAPIES….if you are going to bleed then it is better for everyone to bleed using a less expensive drug like ibuprofen.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040611/HGASTRIC11/TPHealth/

 4) Negative Drug Spend Trend?…. What a concept!….Why didn't I think of that?!

One PBM has a way to rein in double digit increases in drug spend. (Wouldn't you rather put the money into a 401K or new equipment or…..) Heavy emphasis on generic drugs and a tight formulary.

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=ESRX&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=579496

5) Amazing news that cheaper drugs actually still work!

Post anesthesia nausea and vomiting reduced when more inexpensive drugs were used. Valuable research indeed….now we have to see if it is adopted.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040609/ap_on_he_me/post_op_vomiting_2

 6) Food stamp benefit unaffected by Drug benefit.

There was talk of counting the $600 low income credit for drugs as income which would have pulled food stamps from some recipients. That's all cleared up now….

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-06-11-food-stamps_x.htm

 7) Water is not a drug…. but very important.

Kids playing sports in the heat of the Summer are in danger of dehydration. Study showed that most were dehydrated by the second day of sports camp. Water may not be enough. I saw another study that showed kids will drink more if they are offered SPORTS DRINKS (like Gatorade). Two words to remember…"clear" and "copious". Even you weekend warrior should drink enough to produce clear urine in volumes…. if not, you risk dehydration and heat exhaustion r heat stroke…very dangerous.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=5405833

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