PHARMWORKS

Quote of the day:

Do not think of knocking out another person's brains because he differs in opinion from you.

It would be as rational to knock yourself on the head because you differ from yourself ten years ago.

Horace Mann (1796 - 1859)

I would be knocking my own brains out right now without following Horace's advice. Last week I said I'd drive my Eagle Vision for a while longer and this week I have a new car in the driveway! Delayed gratification, it seems, has its limits. It is black and drives to the tune "Dust in the wind".

My opinions on politics, and just about everything else have changed since early college days. I trace the first turn to bringing home that first "real" paycheck… less all of the previously unsuspected taxes. I'm sure that you have all had a change of opinion over the years as your "enlightened self-interest" has become more enlightened.

How about those gas prices? Few people want to pay a proposed increase in prices at the pump. Few people want to sit in "rush" hour traffic either. Right now the credit card companies are making more on a gallon of gas than the state! Would $2 per 20 gallons make THAT big a difference in the household budget? A dime a gallon increase in the gas tax would pay for the decaying bridges and roads and would make a big difference in the daily commute.

ps If anyone needs a used "arrest-me-red" car with a great aftermarket stereo, Infinity speakers, sunroof and built-in car seat just give me a call.

pss. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Ridding fine!".(me)

pps. Occasionally, some of the links require FREE registration.... I'm sure you can handle THAT slight inconvenience.

Ramelteon is the generic name for Rozerem, a new sleeping pill …..(yawn)… just announced as FDA approved. 2005 was to be the "year of the sleeper" and is holding on course. I have begun saying my Rosary at night and ended up falling into REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. You don't think THAT is how they came up with the name do you? The website is slow… probably because of all of the color pictures or animations…not because of a hangover (I'm sure).

2) Mark McClellan, Medicare Maestro, Moves Minneapolis, Minnesota Multitude (maybe)

Dr.Mark touts the benefits of signing up for the Medicare Part D benefits to seniors at a town hall meeting in Minneapolis. Forty percent of senior still feel that they do not have enough information. Just wait until October 15th when the airwave and print media will be FULL of marketing materials.

College tuition goes up about 10% per year and gas is higher still but AWP prices rose by 6.6% last year. AARP grouses about the cost of drugs… again… instead for pushing members to sign up for the Medicare Part D plan. (It wouldn't be because they run their own prescription drug card program would it?)

Homeopathy not better than placebo. "Real" medicines were not 100% effective but showed benefits. Physicians can honestly say that homeopathy is a waste of money…. money that would be best spent (by some) on the new Medicare Part D insurance.

Federal legislation to force pharmacist to dispense Plan B proposed. The good congressman is confusing the prescription, which is a license that allows the recipient to legally obtain a "legend" drug, with a warrant, which must be satisfied. The bigger agenda is to force these drugs into over-the-counter status. Expect this one to gain some legs (even if is not right!)

I'm not so sure that I would carry either if I owned a pharmacy, let alone dispense them. Both are under the jurisdiction of the FDA but not actively regulated… FDA to rule soon. Could require FDA approval.

Robert Moog, created the electronic music synthesizer that became the mainstay of experimental composers and rock musicians. Do you think there will be organ music at the funeral?

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 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 1998-2005 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved.

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