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Pepin's
Pharmaceutical Prattle for 12-28-2009Quote of the day:
The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease. Voltaire (1694 - 1778)
Good Morning!
Year’s End
As 2009 winds down do you find anything left undone? 2010 is actually the last year of the first decade of the second millennium so you still have a shot at achieving those long term goals. (Doesn’t make common sense but that is the way “they” count the years.) Here are a few highlights from the past 9 years and sample answers to the weekly “How are you? ” question.
2001: The 9/11 attack. “Superfantastic!”
2002: PHARMATOPIA published in JMCP. “Better than yesterday… not as good as tomorrow!”
2003: “Canadian” drug “reimportation” in full swing. “I’m still kicking and I’d be kicking higher if it wasn’t for this bone in my leg”
2004: Universal Health coverage news starts the year 2004! (Yeah… it has been that long since the Senate last tried it) "If I was any better I couldn't stand it…."
2005: Medicare Part D planning for 2006 start. ElectRx started. "Doin'!" A very busy person who was focused on results at the time.
2006: Medicare Part D Doughnut Hole pains. The beginning of the end of “Free-bees” to doctors. "Gargantu-a-tabulous"
2007: Indian generics gaining real traction. "Livin' the dream"
2008: FDA makes anticonvulsant/depression link. Election fever swept the nation. (Promises, promises, promises…). “Happy as a clam"
2009: ‘Bama care dominates the healthcare news. “Ultra bodacious!”
Here’s wishing you the best in 2010!
Steve
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ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "I'm so good that it should be illegal."
pps. Please note that some of the links may not be up for very long and that
you should capture or print anything that you may wish to keep.
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1) The last 10% takes 90% of the effort
Sure the US Senate passed ‘Bamacare but the devil will be in the details of the conference committee… and whether the revised legislation can garner enough votes in BOTH houses. Tune in again in 2010.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN246224420091224
2) Government gaff: Generics gag
Generic drug manufacturers here and abroad do not like the Senate version of “Bamacare. (less money for them).
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BN3A020091224
3) Save the fish!
‘Bama looking at regs to limit pharmaceuticals in water supply.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091222/ap_on_he_me/us_pharmawater_drinking
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4) Will a Flintstone keep allergies at bay?
Swedish study shows that a multivitamin a day might reduce the risk of food allergies and asthma in kids who started before age 4. (may have no effect in those who start after age 8 years).
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/12/25/eline/links/20091225elin003.html
5) Just another statin or a cash Kowa?
Lilly on promotional deal with a Japanese firm to promote yet another statin but one that may not interact with as many other drugs as the present bunch.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2315314720091223?type=marketsNews
6) Another home remedy for life?
It appears that prescription drugs prescribed for a number of other people contributed to yet another Hollywood death. The “legend” on prescriptions drugs is there for a reason. “Caution: Federal Law Prohibits dispensing without a prescription."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581022,00.html
7) Lithium better for mania.
There may be renewed interest in the Pepin Method for Lithium Loading and calculation of initial daily doses (my work from the early 80’s) after this study shows better results from lithium than carbamazepine.
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=634351
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11590973
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/406913_1
Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week.
Steve
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Copyright 1998-2009 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved