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Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 08-18-2008
Quote of the day:
What
you risk reveals what you value.
Good morning ! State Fair Time The Minnesota State Fair kicks off this Thursday. Twelve days of food, fun, and festivities. The food includes just about everything deep-fried, on-a-stick, or both. Fun can be fast and furious (midway rides) or slower like booth browsing. Music plays a big part in the festivities at band shells to the Grandstand shows (complete with fireworks). My youngest son did an internship with the State Fair Administration this summer. Between his other administrative duties he gained experience in risk management. His last 12 days of work will include follow-up on accident/injury reports. During the actual Fair (bee stings to broken bones and heat prostartion). Keep your hands and feet in the ride cars at all times, watch out for bees, and keep yourself hydrated. No one at the State Fair will pursue self inflicted injury such as high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease… you are your own there. ================================================== ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Fine and dandy, like cotton candy" (a State Fair administration staffer) ------------
1) Vee vill use der BIG needle! FDA warns that naltrexone (injected intramuscularly for alcohol dependence) can cause injection site reactions. The drug must be injected into muscle, not just fat, so the 1.5 inch needle supplied with the injection is to be used. http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/naltrexoneHCP.htm
2) High PCB= High A1c Increased diabetes risk linked to exposure to toxic polychlorinated biphenols. Study was done on Taiwanese people who were exposed to contaminated cooking oil in the ‘70s. http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/08/15/eline/links/20080815elin023.html
3) More leaky Fentanyl patches prompt recall. Watson issued the recall because patients of caregivers could be directly exposed to fentanyl gel. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Fentanyl
4) Part D premiums remain low The average monthly premium for Medicare part D coverage for 2009 will be $28, up $3 since 2008. Still well below initial projects of $44 per month. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601202&sid=a90NlGXfb.Ns&refer=healthcare
5) Cost effective if OTC Use of PPIs in patients taking daily aspirin was cost effective if the PPI was purchased OTC and started when patients were younger. This is all based upon a statistical model and a handful of assumptions. Wouldn’t bet the farm on this one. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68049.html
6) Take PPI and break a leg? Long term proton pump inhibitors linked to osteoporosis. Response is to either 1) forego the use of PPI or 2) add drugs against osteoporosis. Linking the last article to this one you can logically 1) take ASA to prevent cardiovascular events, 2) add a PPI to prevent the GI bleeding from the ASA, & 3) add another drug to prevent the PPI from weakening your bones. I suppose we will have to add another drug to prevent the side effects of those drugs… and maybe a memory drug so you won’t forget to take all of those pills. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081101627.html
7) Healthcare cost projected to rise 10% in ‘09 This is the smallest projected increase for quite some time (2002 projections were 16%). Employers costs are expected to rise between 9% and 12% (that is if they don’t use consultants to help them shop for the best deals.) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081100751.html
Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week. Steve
Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your 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 1998-2009 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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