DRUG TEST PROBLEMS

The World is Flat & Toxic Fda Drugs Will Bring Us Good Health – They All Say It’s True/must Be

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:43:15 +0000

What If Everyone Thought The World Was Flat,…& They Laughed At Your “Christopher Columbus” Idea,…

What If Nearly Every Illness of Humanity was self-inflicted & there was scientific evidence verifying that you won’t fall off the Earth if you travel toward the horizon?

As a child, when I got sick, my parents would take me to the doctor. That made sense then and it still does (at least in part) today. Because the U.S. is ranked #1 by the World Health Organization in trauma care. If I have a traumatic injury, like from my totalled (not my fault automobile accident, I want quality help to sew me up! But in chronic illnesses,…heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders such as lupus, fibromyalgia, plus another 85 now on the books (only 4 autoimmune conditions in the medical books just 40 years ago), the U.S. is ranked 37th in the World because of how poorly we are “handling” these illnesses.

You know why,…because the world is flat,… We have a belief system regarding our health that is not serving us, because it’s not based on accurate assumptions. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the thinking seems to be,… I go to the doctor when I get sick. Just as I was taught as a child. So we get older and we lack energy and we worry about illness affecting our quality of life as it does for so many, and we do what we learned as kids…we go to the doc — and the super wealthy pharmaceutical giants rejoice that we still think we’ll fall off if we travel to the edge.

The human body wasn’t designed to consume toxic drugs. It was designed for sound nutrition. All FDA approved drugs must pass an L/D 50% test. That stands for lethal dose, 50% of the rats must die. By definition, all drugs have a degree of toxicity,..enough to kill living organisms/rats. That explains all the fine print (potential side affects) when you get your drugs — they just aren’t SURE how that degree of toxicity may affect your unique body chemistry.

But the million dollar drug ads. continue & the majority of folks continue to “enjoy” the promise of a quick fix — sadly and with great price, ignorant that the chemistry of 90% of all drugs (by AMA certified continuing ed. admission) do not support human health or address the root cause, but simply suppress the symptom (which keeps the world seeming flat & “all is well”). Truth is: According to JAMA, Vol. #279, Properly Prescribed Drugs are the #4 killer in America, over 106,000 adults and children deaths each year.

If you wish to search the term: glycomics — you will see that the world is indeed round. That there are sound, scientific options that new technology has created that support human health as it was designed to be supported. Just one last question. Does the sun revolve around us?

Conducting a Home Drug Test

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:00:53 +0000

Many people are concerned about drug use today. There are different reasons for this concern. Some people work for companies that conduct random drug and alcohol tests for safety reasons according to company policy. Parents may be concerned about the influence of drugs and alcohol on their children. Family members might need to monitor a loved one to help them maintain a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.

A home drug test is a safe and reassuring method to accomplish any of these goals. It should be noted that while a number of drugs can be detected by these tests, there is only one way to insure results that will satisfy the requirements that most employers have in their company policies. A CLIA certified laboratory has the equipment that can conduct these types of tests under the strict guidelines mandated by law.

However, if a person is interested in testing themselves or a loved one as a preliminary check before a random drug test or as a way to monitor someone’s activities, then a home drug test will be of great value. Although the results will not necessarily pass the stringent standards set by law, they will indicate the presence of a variety of substances that may be of concern.

The methods of testing at home that are considered to provide instant results are the saliva test and the urinalysis tests. These two tests provide results within a few minutes and can be conducted in the privacy of the home. The hair follicle test, which is the most extensive in its procedure, requires a sample to be sent to a CLIA certified laboratory.

The home drug test using saliva as the test specimen, simply requires a saliva sample to be placed on a collection spoon that will indicate the level of drugs present in the body. This method will produce results in five minutes and will indicate the presence of four different drugs used in the past 24 hours.

The urine home drug test comes in two types of kits. One kit provides a sample collection container and a separate test cassette which is placed directly into a cup containing the urine. The other type of urine test provides a self-contained cup that integrates the test into it – No dipping, no mess. This type also has a temperature sensor that indicates whether or not the sample is actually at body temperature.

The urinalysis kits also produce results within five minutes, and both can test for the presence of up to ten different drugs that have been used in the last 72 to 84 hours. Both the saliva home drug test and the urinalysis tests are non-intrusive.

The hair follicle test, because of the extensive testing done, requires a sample to be sent to a laboratory. This home drug test will indicate the presence of many different drugs and can detect their use going back to three months in the past. The results can only be accessed by the person sending in the sample, so it is a safe and secure method of testing.

Testing for Drugs in the Work Place is Worldwide, not Just in U.s

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:41:51 +0000

The United States prides itself on cleanliness, structure and law abiding practices, not to mention striving to win the “war on drugs.” America isn’t alone however. More and more countries are cracking down on deadbeats and screening their employees, students and suspects for drug and alcohol abuse.

Besides Canada and the United Kingdom, drug testing employees is becoming more common in several countries around the world, like China, Mexico, Spain, Italy and more. Pre-screening high school children and drug testing for evidence in court cases are among the other reasons drug and alcohol testing is becoming more commonplace around the world. Screening athletes in pro-sports teams and of course the Olympic Games may have been the catalyst to educate the world that illegal drugs are widespread in so many industries. Countries wanting to seriously engage with global markets are doing everything it takes to meet the high demands of qualified companies, which means a clean bill of health.

Competition for jobs, team placement and honest evidence in court cases are also common factors the whole world wants. When it comes to accurate testing, it seems there are only a few drug and alcohol detection drug service testing devices that make the grade. One of them is hair alcohol testing. Hair testing is probably the most accurate drug and alcohol test that tests abuse over an extended period of time.

What Hair Testing is and How it Works

As hair grows it absorbs everything we put into our bodies that is fed from the bloodstream. What we absorb is stored as chemical markers that are locked in the hair and show a history like rings on a tree, showing the history of time. These markers, including fatty acid ethyl esters, FAEE’s only occur when ethanol alcohol is consumed. The more alcohol an individual consumes, the greater the concentration of these markers in the hair. A test called EtG testing is a sensitive test used specifically for testing for alcohol. EtG, ethyl glucuronide, a direct metabolite of ethanol which is only detected if alcohol is consumed.

Why Urine Alcohol Testing Doesn’t Stand Up to Hair Alcohol Testing

The EtG testing works great for urinalysis, but only for a short amount of time. For a urine alcohol test, EtG remains present in urine well after the disappearance of ethanol itself, up to five days- but because of evaporation and the body’s own flushing system, only with hair drug and alcohol testing will EtG show up for several months after a person consumed alcohol last. The reason is because metabolites remain indefinitely in the hair shaft and cannot be removed through any chemical treatment, cleanse or manipulation.

More and more employers and government agencies are turning to hair alcohol testing for accurate, professional and tactful testing over urine alcohol testing. Even though hair testing may cost slightly more than urinalysis, agencies world wide are saving money by testing once and testing accurately. Today the off chance that an employee’s urinalysis was accurate or inaccurate is not a risk many employers are willing to take.

Having the piece of mind knowing the history of abuse of one’s employee is a common language of relief we can all understand.

Should Politicians Have Hair Alcohol Testing?

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:20:49 +0000

Today, people entering positions of leadership are often asked to go through not only drug testing, but alcohol testing, too. Some people argue that since alcohol is a legal substance for adults, testing for its usage is an inappropriate measure of governing or leadership ability. Others say that politicians with a history of alcohol abuse should go through alcohol testing to prove their sobriety to the public they are serving.

The issue of alcohol detection drug service testing, and which circumstances it is useful for, is a topic catalyzed by the increasing accuracy of testing technology. What used to be the normal routine was urinalysis alcohol testing. But, with urinalysis, results were not consistently accurate, and only revealed about a week’s worth of history. Now, with the new, sophisticated technology of hair alcohol testing, one can see a person’s history of alcohol use, for up to 12 months.

What makes hair alcohol testing so sharply accurate? Ethyl glucoronide, known as EtG, is a metabolite the body creates when alcohol enters the bloodstream. EtG is the identifiable marker in today’s alcohol hair testing. Courts in the USA and the UK are already using etg alcohol testing in cases, especially as related to drunk driving and custody issues. Businesses too are picking up on the convenient and telling tool of this testing, and of course, people entering the realm of political leadership are prime targets for testing.

The goal of testing is to discover alcohol abuse, or absence of abuse. One strand of hair reveals the past twelve months of alcohol use, to a surprisingly minute degree. Our hair shows patterns of alcohol consumption, from light to heavy, including periods of abstinence. This testing helps differentiate social drinkers from heavy drinkers.

Is it an invasion of privacy to submit an alcohol test before entering public office? These days, the media grabs up any private information they can find about a politician, sometimes to the disfavor of the politician. Governor Spitzer knows all too well that what is done behind closed doors may be discovered and exposed to all the world.

Some people argue that alcohol testing should not be required of those entering public office, because of its private nature, and the fact that alcohol is not illegal. They say that politicians have lost too much of their privacy already, and alcohol testing is going too far. Why expose something that is perfectly legal and within their rights as adults?

Others say that politicians should be prepared to reveal their entire private life to the media, because that’s what they invisibly sign up for when they go into a public position. They point to alcohol testing as proof that the politician does not have a pattern of heavy drinking, which could indicate alcoholism. A hair alcohol test, they argue, can positively prove that a political candidate has a history of moderate or no alcohol consumption. For politicians who have openly admitted a history of alcohol abuse, hair alcohol testing may be an effective way of proving if the abuse is a current or recent problem.

Some politicians actually use hair alcohol testing to prove without a doubt that they do not have an alcohol problem. Other politicians consent to hair alcohol testing, when required, but fear that their drinking habits, even if they are moderate, will be criticized. Either way you look at it, hair alcohol testing is a reliable way of learning someone’s pattern with alcohol.

Treatment for UTI – 6 Different Conditions to Consider in the Treatment for Urinary Tract Infection

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:13:12 +0000

Urinary tract infection is an infection of the urethra or the urinary tract that connects the bladder to the opening of the genitals. About ninety percent of the bacteria that causes this infection is known as Escherichia coli, or also known as E coli.

There are several ways why this particular bacteria which originates from the body’s own intestinal system, transfers from the colon or anus to the urethral opening located in the person’s genitals. The treatment for UTI will require a careful analysis of the patient’s urine sample as well as an evaluation of the patient’s personal and medical history.

The latter is important, since some bacteria may be derived from other diseases the patient may be suffering from or other health disorders that both the doctor and patient is not aware of.

Basically, treatment for UTI makes use of antibacterial drugs, hence, it is important that the doctor is provided with a basis, in order to make sure that his prescription will make use of the most effective antibacterial drug.

Examples of these antibacterial medications have the following generic names:

• trimethoprim

• trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

• amoxicillin

• nitrofurantoin

• ampicillin

• quinolones

These drugs to be effective, must be taken in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations. Careful analysis of the patient’s UTI condition was made before these drugs were prescribed. Depending on the doctor’s evaluation, the patient may be required to take the medication for about a week or two.

This is to make sure that the drug will have a full treatment effect. After the course of the medication, the patient will be required to undergo another urinalysis. The results of the second urine testing will confirm whether the urinary tract is now free from bacterial infestations.

The manner of treatments for UTI may differ, based on the following distinguishable conditions:

1. The underlying cause for the UTI stems from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). Group treatment is required and for a longer term.

2. The UTI is recurrent, usually 3 or 4 times in a year for some women. Treatments may include doses to be taken after every sexual intercourse which may last for 6 months or longer. The doctor will recommend the use of a “dipstick” as immediate test for the urine, to determine the presence of bacteria. This is useful for women who have frequent UTI recurrences.

3. The affected female is pregnant, hence the doctor has to be doubly careful in his assessment of the proper medication. Antibiotics or antibacterial are known to be unsafe for the baby, while leaving the UTI untreated may result to premature delivery or rise in blood pressure. In some cases, the pregnant woman’s condition will be referred to a doctor who is experienced in handling high risk pregnancies.

4. The patient is suffering from another health disorder that may be causing a blockage in his urethra or impairing his immune system. The latter, will result in the inability of the body to naturally combat the bacterial attacks.

5. The patient is a male suffering from enlarged prostates, which makes it difficult for antibiotics to penetrate the infected areas that is causing the UTI.

6. Patients who are using catheters, in which case the doctor has to identify the microorganism, in order to determine the type of antibacterial medication that can eradicate the strain.

Researchers have gathered from their studies that children and women who have frequently recurring urinary tract infections have protein deficiencies. In addition, they are found to have low levels of antibodies, hence their weak immune systems make them more susceptible to UTI.

Henceforth, doctors will often include certain recommendations for diet supplementation as well as drinking sufficient amounts of water. In all cases of treatment for UTIs, part of the recommendations will also touch on the matter of personal hygiene and the practice of safe sex.

“me-too” Drugs: Good or Bad?

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:25:21 +0000

Introduction

A drug that is structurally very similar to already known drugs, with only minor differences. The term “me-too” carries a negative connotation. However, me-too products may create competition and drive prices down1.

The majority of the new products the industry puts out, are “me-too” drugs, which are almost identical to current treatments but “no better than drugs already on the market to treat the same condition.” Around 75 percent of new drugs approved by the FDA are me-too drugs. They can be less effective than current drugs, but as long as they’re more effective than a placebo, they can get the regulatory green light2.

This isn’t surprising at all, as someone who works in the field, but these so-called “me-too” drugs, which are reportedly better than their forebears, is driving costs. A “me-too” drug is a drug that has its origins in another drug. Probably the most famous example of this is Prilosec (“The Purple Pill”) and Nexium (“Today’s Purple Pill”). Prilosec’s active ingredient is omeprazole. Nexium’s active ingredient is called esomeprazole. The difference is that Nexium is the left-handed version of omeprazole. In chemistry, S stands for sinister, which means the molecular conformation has a left-handed orientation. (D would be right handed.) So this S-omeprazole is one half of the mixture that comprises its predecessor. By specifically picking only the S conformation, the drug is made more potent. This sounds great, but its efficacy is only marginally better than Prilosec-, which has a generic version, and costs about a third less than Nexium. Some other “me-too” drugs are: Claritin (loratidine) and Clarinex (desloratidine), Celexa (citalopram) and Lexapro (escitalopram)3.

What are “Me-Too” drugs?

Ever since the advent of modern chemotherapy, when drugs were discovered and developed through the process of screening thousands of molecules for a variety of disease conditions, using animal models, there has been a growing criticism that too many molecules were developed with similar chemical structure and the same pharmacological profile, with very little to distinguish them from each other in terms of their therapeutic utility. In other words, once the first breakthrough discovery is made of a new pharmacological activity for a new molecule, subsequent years saw the emergence of a host of new molecules or “me-too” drugs from the same chemical class and possessing the same pharmacological profile.

Such follow-up drugs have been termed molecular modifications, molecular roulettes or copycats, the development of which are alleged to be motivated by purely commercial considerations. They are also deemed to involve lower levels of innovation, compared to the original molecule. It is important to analyze in a historical perspective the end results of such efforts in different therapeutic areas of developing new molecular entities, as later generation products, after an initial breakthrough discovery has been made and the technical, medical and commercial merits of developing such drugs.

Development of “Me-Too” drugs

The success rate in the discovery of new chemical entities with fundamentally new chemical and biological profiles of activity are very low. In fact, even chemical entities within the same structural class of an approved drug are becoming rare now, compared to the period of sixties to eighties. In 2001, $ 26 billion was spent on developing new drugs and the U.S. FDA approved only 9 new chemical entities. At the same time, two thirds of the drugs approved from 1989 to 2000 were modified versions of existing drugs or even identical to those, in newer forms and formulations4.

Of the 1,035 drugs approved by FDA during 1989 to 2000, only 361 or 35% contained new active ingredients. Of these, only fewer than half were granted priority review status by the FDA. One impression is that these drugs are slightly altered versions of existing drugs, with little to offer in terms of better activity or tolerance, let alone new pharmacological profiles. The implication is that such drugs are developed, as patents on top-selling original drugs run out and not many truly new medicines are discovered. The indication that many of these drugs do not offer any major advantages over existing drugs is given by FDA’s unwillingness to grant priority review for most of them.

On the other hand, conventionally, the Regulatory Agencies, including the FDA, are not obliged to consider better efficacy over existing drugs as a criterion for approval; rather, they require only the establishment of efficacy and safety of the new drug over a placebo.

How good are they?

Notwithstanding such perceptions, historically, many “me-too” drugs have proved to be considerably better than their original counterparts. Examples are a series of generations of beta-blockers, which came up after the original drug Propanalol was discovered by ICI, with most of them having merits in terms of better efficacy, cardio-selectivity and safety. Ranitidine, the first follow-up drug after the introduction of the first H-2 receptor antagonist, Cimetidine, was followed by Famotidine and in each case these “me-too” drugs had notable merits over the original drug.

Apart from the major breakthrough in the development of orally active beta lactam antibiotics of the Penicillin and Cephalosporin class, within the same oral derivatives, there have been considerable improvements brought about by change in the side chains incorporated by condensation of specific agents with 6-APA, 7-ADCA and 7-ACA. A whole new range of broad-spectrum antibiotics of these structural classes could thus be developed. In each of the major classes of antibiotics, classified according to the mechanisms of their action, namely inhibition of cell wall synthesis (Beta Lactams, Vancomycin), inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis (Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Streptomycin), inhibitors of DNA or RNA replication (Quinolones, Rifamycins), inhibition of Folate Coenzyme biosynthesis (Sulfa drugs, Trimethoprim), there have been several “me-too” drugs marketed.

An important recent example to show that ‘me-too” drugs need to be developed is the case of the oral hypoglycemic drug Troglitazone, approved as an anti-diabetic drug in 1997. The drug was withdrawn from the market following reports of unacceptable hepato-toxicity. The follow-up “me-too” drugs, Rosiglitazone and Pioglitazone are much less toxic and are today widely used. If these drugs were not developed, the withdrawal of Troglitazone would have left a major therapeutic gap in anti-diabetic therapy.

“Me-Too” drugs: Strategies for New Drug Research for Indian Companies

Breakthrough innovations in pharmaceutical industry, of new drugs, such as the first beta blocker, the first NSAID, the first of each class of Antibiotics, Calcium Channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, Sulfonyl Ureas, Biguanides, Insulin, Glitazones, Glinides, Tricyclic Anti Depressants,major and minor Traquillisers, Selective Serotonin Receptor inhibitors, H-1 and H-2 Receptor antagonists, Proton Pump inhibitors etc are relatively rare and even though a few of the original drugs under these classes are still very much in use, they have been superceded in most cases, by later generation products, many of them “me-too”. The newer drugs are discovered both through incremental innovations on the original drugs as well as through new research.

Generally the original discovery leads to feverish activity both within the innovator company as well as in Competitors’ laboratories, to develop better products in the same therapeutic category. The essential caveat for commercial success, however, is that the newly discovered molecules should meet the minimum standards of patentability. For example within three years of the discovery of the highly successful Sildinafil Citrate (Viagra), three more new versions for the same indications have been patented and developed5.

Me-too drugs also provide therapeutic advantage6. For the practicing physicians, there’s the benefit of established drug MoA with a “me-too” medication, coupled with clinical studies that – hopefully – show patient-centered benefits such as better adverse events profiles, less frequent dosing, less bothersome potential for drug/drug interactions, and so forth. A “me-too” drug is a helluva lot easier to incorporate in practice than a totally novel medication7.

“Me-Too” drugs: The hidden dynamics

The most common criticism of drug development centers on the so-called “me-too” drugs that employ the same biological mechanism as pioneer brands. This involves a lot more than such high-profile targets as the anti-ulcer drug Nexium. We should be thinking about antidepressants, cholesterol-reducing drugs, diabetes treatments, anti-psychotics, and other therapeutic categories that have seen both blockbuster sales and rapid innovation. There is quite a bit of evidence that follow-on drugs do a lot of patients a lot of good. The newer statins, for example, often out-perform the older ones in clinical trials where the endpoints are the number of heart attacks and deaths prevented.

Me-too drugs are also a powerful tool for cutting health care costs. We should be glad that our research industry does not target only brand new biological mechanisms. That would be a very expensive business model indeed. Fortunately, the industry also works on marginal improvements, exploiting opportunities to make drug therapy better and sometimes opening the door to really radical improvements that happen to lie more or less next-door, scientifically speaking. In the meantime, we get price competition as a by-product. Me-too’s almost always undercut the prices of the pioneer drugs.

Another part of the me-too story gets almost completely ignored even though it is extraordinary important. For me-too manufacturers, advancing the science is a way to gain a competitive advantage. The classic example is the statin class of cholesterol drugs. Research on one of the follow-on drugs (Pravachol) demonstrated for the first time that using a statin to reduce cholesterol would actually prevent deaths from heart attacks, something that had previously been assumed without proof. Additional trials for several statins, including Lipitor, the formidable challenger to Zocor and Pravachol, have demonstrated that serum cholesterol is far more important than almost anyone thought (for preventing strokes, for example).

There are lots of other stories about the benefits of new research from me-too drugs, but they are part of a larger story: new uses for old drugs. The data showing a slowdown in new drug approvals exclude essential information: discoveries of new uses for old drugs. This kind of discovery has become so common that it amounts to a “new-use” revolution. One of the scientific ironies of the new era of pharmaceutical research is that as drugs become more tightly targeted on biological mechanisms, their uses actually become more diverse. This is because the body typically uses specific mechanisms over and over again, sometimes in what appear to be completely unrelated ways.

Consider the SSRI antidepressants. A recent Science article on the diverse and unexpected applications of drugs that fiddle with serotonin reuptake which is what the SSRIs do concluded that the very term “antidepressant” is misleading because there is no scientific reason to think of this drug as being just for depression. Fighting depression just happened to be the first really useful condition that was explored for this very interesting class of drugs.

Another example is the Cox-2 inhibitors like Celebrex (and Vioxx, which is important in this story and may return to the market partly for this reason). These were invented to relieve arthritis pain. But the Cox-2 enzyme turns out to be important for lots of things including cancer and Alzheimer’s. Clinical trials to exploit these leads have been underway for years. Celebrex has already been approved for reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, and Vioxx has also achieved promising results. Of course, the big news recently has been that these drugs may cause heart attacks. But even here, me-too economics is of surpassing importance. The traditional NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Alleve and Advil may have the same heart attack risks. The potential risk has been there for decades, but only the new drugs-the Cox-2s-have been put through large-scale long-term clinical trials because those are the only ones still under patent. This is an example of how me-too drug development adds importantly to the research base. Thanks to the me-too’s, we are learning about NSAIDs, heart attacks, cancer and probably much more.

Also dominated by new uses are the new-targeted cancer drugs, which attack such specific biological mechanisms that they avoid killing every fast-growing cell in sight (as traditional chemotherapy tends to do).

The implications are clear. The annual count of new drug approvals will only show a tick when a new cancer drug or a new statin gets its very first approval. But a new use for an old drug can be as valuable as an entirely new drug, or even more valuable when you consider that we know more about the safety profile of old drugs and one drug will sometimes do the work of two (preventing both heart attacks and strokes, for example)8.

Me-too products can sometimes have important advantages on tolerability or dosing. It could help create more competition and lower the price. If you have five me-toos, possibly the sixth is something that is a little better. That is for the plans to decide on behalf of their patients. And even if it has the same mechanism of action, more competition could help drive down the price of the entire class. That’s an important influence, with potentially an improvement in health from greater access.

How bad are they?

Even though the major problem of antibiotic therapy, namely drug resistance cannot be addressed by the development of “me-too” drugs, due to the propensity of the same class to develop cross resistance; in most cases, the new semi-synthetic derivatives had distinct advantages over the earlier ones. Thus, for example, the first generation Cephalosporins are useful for gram-positive infections, while the second-generation drugs cover a broader spectrum including gram-negative organisms. The third generation drugs provide resistance against the beta lactamase enzyme, as well as acting against some of the most intractable infections, such as those caused by Pseudomonas and Klebsiella strains.

Even while the pharmaceutical industry turns out families of me-too drugs for relatively mild conditions in affluent people, it pays almost no attention to serious diseases, such as malaria, affecting impoverished people. It also gives short shrift to less profitable drugs, so there now are shortages of some vaccines and life-saving drugs9.

The big problem with me-too drugs is that they are chemically very similar to other drugs already available, yet they are marketed as if they were important new breakthroughs, with very high prices. Many new, expensive me-too drugs are not necessarily better than older and less expensive drugs. Most of the time they are compared with placebos and not older drug comparisons.

“Me-too” drugs are responsible for 80% of increased spending in recent years, and on average they are four times more expensive than the comparable, older alternatives10. By Patented Medicines Pricing Review Board’s (PMPRB) definitions, at the time of their introduction “me-too” drugs were judged to provide moderate, little or no improvement – in terms of effectiveness and safety – compared to older alternatives. However, on average, “me-too” drugs cost about 2.5 times as much per prescription as comparable older drugs. The question is whether the perceived or real differences justify the increased costs. New drugs do have a role in some situations and for some patients. However, it makes sense to use the older equally effective drugs whenever possible11.

Changing FDA rules to discourage me-too drug approvals would make R&D far more expensive, would discourage competition and therefore raise healthcare costs, and would forestall the wave of new research that has revolutionized our scientific understanding of the therapeutic categories where competition has been most intense.

Conclusion

New drugs are not required to improve on old ones, and there’s usually no way to know whether they do. Although the FDA must test drugs before they are marketed, they don’t need to be compared with similar drugs already on the market. The FDA only requires they be reasonably safe and better than nothing-a low standard indeed. This loophole in FDA regulations opens the door for an unlimited number of me-too drugs, which are easier to develop than innovative drugs.

Given everything, it should come as no surprise that these more expensive “me-too” drugs cost the medical industry money. The prevalence of the me-too’s really says an awful lot about the lack of innovation within the pharmaceutical industry. If you look at the new drugs marketed over the last six years, 78 percent weren’t even new chemical compounds. They were just new combinations or different formulations of old drugs. And 68 percent were classified by the F.D.A. as unlikely to be improvements over drugs already on pharmacy shelves.

At the same time, there are shortages of some important drugs that the pharmaceutical companies aren’t much interested in making because they are not as profitable as the me-too’s. But the companies don’t have to turn out needed drugs, if they are not lucrative. And they don’t.

References

1. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=33748

2. http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2004/09/09_401.html

3. http://polyscience.org/2005/09/me-too-drugs

4. http://www.shvoong.com/books/465475-me-too-drugs

5. http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?SecArch=&articleid=14604&sectionid=46

6. http://direct.bl.uk/bld/PlaceOrder.do?UIN=162532605&ETOC=RN&from=searchengine

7. http://www.archivum.info/sci.med/2005-09/msg00257.html

8. http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.27443/pub_detail.asp

9. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2007/05/17/in-praise-of-me-too-drugs

10. http://www.chepa.org/KnowledgeExchange/LabelleLectureship/tabid/84/Default.aspx

11. http://www.ti.ubc.ca/pages/letter59.html

Random Drug Testing May Become a High School Reality

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:56:06 +0000

More and more high schools are looking at ways they can limit underage alcohol and drug consumption. They have looked to alcohol high school testing and urine alcohol testing to help. However, some schools are now looking to random drug testing while students are participating in sports and other activities. Many administrators are specifically targeting students in sports and are abiding by a two strikes and you are out policy.

In 1995 the Supreme Court made random drug testing on student athletes legal. In 2002 they expanded that rule to include competitive extracurricular activities. Schools can make this testing mandatory and not allow students to participate unless they agree to the random drug testing. Schools want students to understand that there are big consequences to drug use. They feel that this is one way they could impress upon students the serious nature of using drugs.

Every time a student joins a team, they would be added to a random drug pool. Each month a group of students would be chosen for random testing. And, if the results came back negative, then consequences would be handed out as appropriate and depending on if it was the first or second offense.

Along with providing school authorities the ability to find those students who are breaking the rules, it may also give students a way out when dealing with peer pressure. If random drug testing becomes a normal practice in schools, students may find peer pressure or drug use at all to become less commonplace in high schools. While it may be a dream, perhaps with random drug testing, we will find that drug use in high schools is eliminated altogether due to the fact that students will hopefully want to participate in activities more than they want to break the rules.

While there may be no easy answer to the problem of teen drug abuse and alcohol misuse, we need to start somewhere. Random drug testing may be the first step to helping students come clean. By putting measures like this into place, schools can not only weed out those students that are using, but allow other students to resist peer pressure they may be facing. We all want our students to excel academically and in extracurricular activities. By putting programs into place we can begin to protect our students.

We may find this same mentality working in the workplace as well. Many types of programs already authorize random drug testing and it has been a success. In fact, many jobs even require drug screen testing when you first start a new job. This is becoming more and more commonplace in today’s world. Employers want people that they can count on and trust. Drugs impair people’s abilities and put the people around them at risk as well. By first creating these programs in our schools and then allowing them to carryover to our workplaces as well, we will be creating a drug free mentality and buffer. It will not only allow some people a way out, it will also set a standard in both our schools and at our workplaces.

The Reality of the Date Rape Drug

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:57:36 +0000

April is Sexual Assault Month

Each month more than ten women of all ages and backgrounds contact our Adoption Center with the same experience – they have been victims of a date rape drug, and are now pregnant, with most women not knowing who got them pregnant. Just after Spring break, is a time when we see a peak in pregnancy? For many of these women a date rape drug was involved.

The U.S. Census suggests that there may be 32,101 annual rape-related pregnancies among American women, over the age of 18. The adult pregnancy rate associated with rape is estimated to be 4.7%.

Several college aged women have reported waking up in frat houses or apartments with no clothing on. They find themselves in strange surroundings with unknown people and having been sexually assaulted while under the influence of a date rape drug. Just recently, our 18 year old daughter shared her plans to celebrate her graduation with some girl friends in Cancun. I was concerned with their safety, but still wanting them to enjoy themselves so I was prompted to ask her – do you and your friends know what rape drugs are and how they are used? Surprising she had heard very little on the topic. Most of the women who call us don’t know either and wish someone had shared the following information.

Rohypnol is becoming the drug of choice for would-be rapists. Most all predators target unsuspecting victims by slipping these illicit drugs into their beverages at parties, bars, nightclubs and dances. Rape drugs have the power to make one drink feel like six or more.

Laura a sophomore from Florida was one such victim. Laura who attended a private party, off campus, recalled that while she was dancing, she left her beer at a table, when she returned the perpetrator had already laced her drink. She only had one drink and started feeling kind of sick, then her memory got foggy, she started feeling drowsy, dizzy, and confused about where she was. “My roommate was going to come with me to the party, but at the last minute she made other plans. I decided to go alone, which was my first mistake.” Laura has no memory of what happened for the next 8 hours.

Laura woke up in the back room at the club; with bruises on her thighs, half naked and suspected that someone may have had sex with her. Laura couldn’t remember who the person was or any other details. She was hung over for days afterward. Laura blocked the whole incident from her mind and allowed a numbness to take over her feelings. Her grades fell and she found her mind wandering in class. This is common for women that have been raped and can be used as a defense mechanism. Being overwhelmed with feelings or losing control are common reactions to what has happened to them. Other women may become anxious or depressed.

In Laura’s case, she discovered six weeks later she was pregnant. She dropped out of college to have the baby. Laura chose to have him adopted, by a childless couple, through our adoption center. “It was the only way I could make something good come out of something so bad. I needed to do something positive and it wasn’t the child’s fault.”

Laura recalls when she first found out she was pregnant, how angry and scared she was, “I wouldn’t have sex with a guy I didn’t know. I have always been so careful of what I do and who I date. I was just so mad at myself for not being more careful. I didn’t know if I had contracted a disease or HIV, it was very scary and embarrassing”

Toni, a freshman in college in San Diego was a victim of the date rape drug. During spring break, she was assaulted at a party by a friend she met in a class. Toni had known him for almost a year. She kept saying “I considered him one of my best friends. He acted like he would protect me. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it actually happened to me, even now. My body has been violated, my trust in him, as a friend, has been shaken and I feel betrayed… I keep saying to myself, I know him, and he’s not a terrible person – so it must have been something I said to him or did that got me into this mess.” I don’t remember and I keep trying to remember what I did, or said – what happened that night- my own judgment has been stunned! I just couldn’t go through with an abortion, after what happened, as hard as the pregnancy was for me, I have always believed there are no mistakes and this baby didn’t cause this. Why should this child be the one that suffers? It took some time, but I chose a family that I knew would love this baby. When I started college I would have never dreamt something like this would happened to me! “I have never regretted giving birth and giving her life.” I still have trouble trusting people, but am working on it.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice ‘Date Rape’ is one of the fastest growing drug-facilitated, sexual assault crimes in America today. Two thirds of GHB is ingested by people aged 18-25 years old. Ecstasy abuse has increased 500 percent over a five-year period.

Studies confirm that acquaintance rape occurs more commonly among college students, predominantly first year students, than among any other age group. A recent large study, found one in four college women reported being the victim of rape or attempted rape and 84% of their assailants were boyfriends or acquaintances. Most rape victims remember nothing of the incident, except the feeling of being violated. The same study found that one in four college men disclosed to having used sexual aggression with women, and one in twelve to committing sexual assault of some kind. These men will slip the drug into a woman’s drink without their knowledge, most often in combination with beer, and wait for the drug to incapacitate the woman before sexual assaulting her. The assailants would go to parties to look for easy targets and opportunities. They would than wait until the victim is too out of it to say ‘no’ and then will have sex with them.

Many men do it just to take advantage of women sexually. The drug is often added to punch or other open container drinks at fraternity parties, college functions and social gatherings. The drugs are then slipped into the females drink in hopes of lowering their inhibitions and facilitating in a potential sexual conquest for the assailant. High risk situations are clubs, parties, bars, and raves. Women contacting us are of all backgrounds and ages. Many are still in some shock over being pregnant and are not sure of the race of the man than raped them. Many of these girls have little to share about the ‘father’ of their child.

The date rape drugs are often referred to as the ‘alphabet drugs’ called ‘E’ or Ecstasy; ‘G’ which can be either GHB or GBL; and ‘K’ or ‘Special K’ which is Ketamine. For a while Rohypnol or ‘Roofies’ was one of the most popular date rape drugs, but it has been replaced by GHB as the date rape drug of choice. The most popular date-rape drugs are (GHB) gamma hydroxybutyrate and ketamine. The ‘date rape’ drug or ‘sexual assault’ drug is the street name for Rohypnol, because it has been associated with date rape. GHB is produced in clear liquid, white powder, tablet, and capsule forms. It is also been known commonly as: Rophies, Roofies, Roachies, Forget Pill, R2, roofenol, Roche, circles, La rocha, Rope, Trip-and-Fall, Liquid X, Liquid E, G-Juice, Rib, Mexican Valium, Roach-2, Roopies, and Ropies, Mind-Erasers, Liquid Ecstasy, Somatomax, Scoop, or Grievous Bodily Harm. Ketamine; also known as K, Special K or Vitamin K, commonly comes in a liquid form, but is also found in powder or pill forms.

Rohypnol is not legal in the US, nor is it manufactured or sold legally in the United States. It is used as a short-term treatment for insomnia in other countries. It is produced and sold legally by prescription in Europe and Latin America, then smuggled into the United States by mail or travelers. The drug is often distributed on the street in its original ‘bubble packaging’ which creates a false appearance of legitimacy and makes it appear to be harmless and legal. Rohypnol tablets are white, scored on one side, with the word “ROCHE” and an encircled one or two indicating the dosage on the other side. Rohypnol is a low-cost drug, often less than $5.00 per tablet. They are sold in sealed bubble pack of one or two mg per dose.

Rohypnol can be addictive and cause physical dependence. It has physiological effects similar to Valium, but is nearly ten times more potent. Withdrawal symptoms include headache, muscle pain, confusion, hallucinations and convulsions. Some women have had seizures occur up to a week after cessation of use. Rohypnol can often be dissolved in a beverage, and is easily undetectable. Ecstasy Also known as MDMA is known on the street as Adam, XTC, E, M, Bean, and Roll. Ecstasy comes in a tablet that is often branded; a few samples are shown below:

In combination with alcohol, it can induce a blackout with memory loss and a decrease in resistance. Women, as young as 13, throughout the country have reported being raped after being involuntarily sedated with Rohypnol. Roughly ten minutes after having the drug in their system, women report feeling dizzy and disoriented, at the same time feeling too hot or too cold or both, some become nauseated. Sedation starts approximately 25-30 minutes and crest within two hours. The effects can continue for up to eight hours. The drug has no taste or odor. Victims don’t have any memory of what happened while under the drug’s influence. Most of the woman can appear extremely intoxicated, with slurred speech or experience difficulty speaking. Some may experience gastrointestinal disturbances and urinary retention, poor coordination, swaying, blood-shot eyes, decreased blood pressure, and then may pass out….but without the odor of alcohol.

Vicky was 19 when she came up pregnant – she had no physical signals of rape, she woke up in her own bed and therefore had no reason to be concerned. She assumed she had too much to drink, although she doesn’t remember the previous night’s events. Vicky thought a friend must have helped get her safely home. She was shocked to discover 2 months later that she was pregnant. “I hadn’t had sex for over a year. I bought three pregnancy tests before going to a clinic for a blood test.” She chose to keep and raise her child with the help of her family. In her own words “having the baby brought peace and healing to my life.”

Alcohol and Rohypnol combination is intensified and very hazardous together. If a woman is drinking alcohol when the drug is slipped into her drink, the combination can impair her memory and judgment greatly. Woman who become intoxicated on a combination of alcohol and Rohypnol often experience ‘blackouts’ lasting eight to twenty-four hours following ingestion – which can make her unable to resist a sexual attack. If combined with other drugs the results may lead to respiratory depression, aspiration, coma and even death. Possession of Rohypnol is punishable for up to three years in prison and a fine. Distribution and administration of this rape drug without the person’s knowledge is punishable by twenty years in prison and a fine.

By taking the preventive measures to protect yourself and your friends; you can avoid becoming a potential victim. Print this article out and give it to friends you now … it may save a life!

Besides the worries of unprotected sex, sexually transmitted diseases are a high risk – your best defense against rapists and date rape drugs is awareness.

Here are a few helpful tips for staying aware, alert and safe:

• Be careful about accepting drinks from anyone you don’t know or have known long enough to trust. The best choice is not to let anyone fix you a drink. Always mix the drink yourself and carry your own drink.

• Don’t share or exchange drinks with anyone.

• If you are accepting a drink, make sure it’s from an unopened container and that you open it yourself.

• Do not drink from open containers at parties and accept drinks only from bartenders or servers, watch them open the can or pour- don’t be distracted by conversation.

• If dancing, don’t leave your drink unattended. If you realize your drink has been left unattended, toss it out.

• Consider buying a specially designed drug testing coaster- see below to test your drink for the drug. They are low-cost and a smart choice.

• Remember any kind of beverage can be drugged- there is no taste or smell.

• If possible bring your own drinks to parties. Don’t drink from a container that is being passed around

• If your drink tastes or looks differently than it should or tastes funny or salty, foamy, cloudy, or if it has residue in it throw it away!

• Don’t go to parties alone; travel in a group of people and stick together at a party. Look out not only for yourself, but keep an eye on your female friends.

• A really good idea is to not let your friends get too drunk or wasted. If they do party intensely, take them home, staying with them to make sure they are all right before leaving.

• Don’t let your friend disappear and don’t let them wander off with a member of the opposite sex, stay by their side. Don’t leave with someone you do not know well or have just met.

• Don’t put your drink down and leave it unattended, even to go to the restroom. Monitor your drink constantly.

• Refuse to drink from a punchbowl; this is a place where anything can be dropped in.

• Stay sober. Don’t use drugs or alcohol; you need to have a clear head at all times.

• Assign a designated sober person when going out.

• Notify other female friends you know about the effects of this dangerous drug.

• Be observant to the behaviors and actions of your friends, trust your instincts.

• Listen for the street names of the drugs mentioned above.

• Keep a cell phone with you and charged up in the event you have a problem and need help.

Remember You Did Not Deserve What Happened To You and the Assault Was Not Your Fault!

If you think that you have been a victim, notify the authorities immediately if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can file a police report. Get immediate medical attention. Call 911 or go to an emergency room. Request that a urine sample be taken to screen for the presence of date rape drugs. Preserve as much physical evidence as possible. Don’t urinate, shower, bathe, douche, or throw away the clothing you were wearing during the assault. If possible, save any other materials that might provide evidence, such as the glass or can that held your drink. Call a crisis rape center for information and support. All women are potential victims of sexual assault: regardless of there age, race, sexual preference, occupation or education. A woman can be assaulted by a stranger, by a friend, by an acquaintance, co-worker or relative.

Q. How will I feel after an assault?

There is no ‘correct’ way to feel after an assault. Be aware that different people need to heal in their own ways. Some women may need to talk about the assault a number of times to heal. Some need to work through their difficult experience – sometimes by reliving the violation. Seeking a Professional Counselor educated with date rape can make a big difference in recovery.

Some women find their faith in God may be strained, but find strength in keeping their faith and attending church or synagogue helpful. Other women find the answer by being involved in activities to help forget, then when they are better able to handle the facts and face them head on they can find peace to work through the pain.

Finding a qualified rape counselor or participating in a closed group counseling with other women, who understand what you are going through can be healing in itself. Many women who have been victims of the date rape drug have some or all of the following reactions:

• Anger and frustration

• Disbelief and Denial

• Guilt/ Self Blame

• Helplessness/ Confused

• Avoidance of Friends

• Feeling Paranoid

• Difficulty in Concentrating

• Change in Sleep Patterns

• Sexual Disinterest Or Change in Sexual Behavior

• Can’t Stop Crying Or Can’t Cry

• Inability To Cope With Ordinary Situations

• Problems With Trust

• Depression

• Frenzied – involved in work

• Low Self-Esteem

• Reoccurring Nightmares

• Changed Alcohol Or Drug use

• Wanting To Forget, Escape OR never get out Of Bed

• Eating Everything Or Nothing At All As you work through the healing process, keep these suggestions in mind:

• It is not your fault – you are not responsible for the unwanted sex.

• You are not the guilty party.

• Some people may try to make you feel responsible for what happened because of their own feelings of vulnerability or guilt.

• That you may have been intoxicated does not give anyone the right to assault you – nothing gives anyone that right.

• Acquaintance rape happens because the rapist fails to respect the victim’s individual will, not because of irresistible arousal.

• A rapist acts without regard for the victim, so saying no or even physically resisting cannot always be enough to prevent the assault.

How to Help a Friend Who Has Been Assaulted….

• Let her make decisions. Offer to make phone calls for information, but don’t take over for her. She has just had control taken away and needs to regain it.

• Don’t touch her without first asking permission. Say, for example, “Would you like a hug?” or “Would you like to hold my hand?” A caring touch can help the victim but unwanted touching can be very uncomfortable or even threatening.

• Don’t blame her. Questions like “Why did you go home with him?” What were you thinking of? These questions will only reinforce her sense of guilt or shame.

• Let her know she is safe, and that you won’t violate her trust.

• Try to deal with your own reactions to the circumstances later. You may feel angry, helpless, confused, or violated yourself. Keep in mind that your friend probably feels all that and more, so seeing your reactions may not help her. Try to focus on her feelings. Later, when her immediate necessities are taken care, is the best time for you to take care of yourself and seek out a counselor. A sexual assault can be distressing for friends, and family members, as well.

After a friend was attacked by a man who may have spiked her drink, Francisco Guerra developed a cardboard drink coaster that can identify two of the most popular date-rape drugs: gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and ketamine. Just place a drop of liquid on the coaster, and rub it in with your finger. If the spot turns blue, toss that cocktail. Fifteen million of these coasters have already been distributed; look for them at 7-Elevens

http://www.drinksafetech.com/ about 40¢ a coaster

For more helpful Resources:

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Phone: (888) NIH-NIDA

http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDAHome1.html

Rape recovery site

http://www.come.to/raperecovery

American Council for Drug Education

Phone: (800) 488-3784

http://www.acde.org

Hope for Healing

http://www.hopeforhealing.org/

Support for people conceived through rape and incest.

http://www.stigmatized.org

American Society of Addiction Medicine

Phone: (301) 656-3920

http://www.asam.org

Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse

Phone: (401) 444-1817

http://www.amersa.org/

State Directory for Offices of Victim Services

US Department of Justice

For assistance in accessing local Victim Services: includes a clickable US State Map

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/help/state.htm

Diabetes Q&A

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:46:49 +0000

A strength examine in the order of urine?

i had to give a urine sample to the lab , my urine be very clear it looked like watered down white grape juice, is that a correct sign , that my kidneys are working well, i am diabetic so i was just curious – Glad you’re…

A type 1 diabetic is at risk for hypo or hyperglycemia during exercise?

And why? Pathophysiology please. – hyperglycemia occur due to release of stress hormones like glucagon.adrenaline.cortisone which motivation gluconeogensis or increase of glucose in blood by its liberation from liver to blood . – People get hypos when they exercise because they are burning extra carbs that would…

A1c is 7.2 is it devout or bleak?

Diabetic perosn and HbA1c is 7.2. my fasting blood sugar is 133 and after 1.5 hour after food is 270. Please suggest me good diet. – It’s not bad, it just needs to come down a moment or two bit more to be in a desirable range. <7.0 for sure,...

A1C number? Whats the scale? Highest and lowest?

My mom is a diabetic and doesn’t take care of herself. She felt sick and delicate and shakey so we checked it and it was 396. Now she’s taking better care of herself and she went to the doctor. Her A1C number is 11.5 is pretty high. I enjoy heard of…

A1C Reli On theory test..correspondence contained by…are they accurate…?

took one in Nov 08 was 5.3 another mail in A1C test it come back today 6.2 I believe when doing the test I couldnt get adjectives the blood out I had to squeeze and smear it on the paper where it go…I just cant believe it would be this…

A1c results confusing?

i took a blood test on friday my urine test showed no sugar in urine. and my a1c come back at 5.1 is that good or bad. dr wont be spinal column for another week. do i have diabetes or am i fine i think normal is 4-6 %. am i majority. – I keep a blog…

A1c testing for diabetes?

does the a1c indicate if u have diabetes or not.my fasting in the morning is between 95-105. my a1c be 5.1. never been diagonosed with diabetes. does this sound approaching i have it.my dr.test me on my blood work and urnairy test.they adjectives cam back great. my a1c said i was 5.1 and 100 average is…

AbeLincolnParty, are you the authority on Metformin

I would like to get more information on why you think that this medication is a indeterminate on weight control. Maybe your opposing view would improve me as to why more doctors do not use dimensional thinking when managing medications. It appears that the lack of dimensional medicine is for conservative promoters of…

About 1/2 hour after drinking sugar, i become so tired that i cant function, could this be diabetes?

Every morning at about 9:30am at work I really crave something sweet and usually have a cookie or two…and about 1/2 hour next i get so tired that i cannot keep my eyes open or function. I’m concerned that it could be diabetes.

About diabetes mellitus?

i have a question about diabetes mellitus. when u own diabetes mellitus, do u you get hard time of breathing? plz help me here oh and also can u update me what kind of effects will apear? – no, diabetes does not hold respiratory symptoms. if you have trouble breathing you need to see a doctor!…

About diabetes.. Please Help.?

I came to know that I am diabetes type 1. Doctors advised me to be in diet control and physical exercise. And I am cured immediately. My sugar levels are normal. My question is can I live long? Can I give somebody a lift a sugar products lightly? Can I become a father? Will it affect my…

About diabetic formication and total reversibility (cure)?

Please can anyone sincerely tell me how long ‘formication’ symptoms (from diabetes) can occur after the onset of this disease as economically as if it is possible to be totally cured of diabetes? ks. – Till date there is no confirmed cure for diabetes, but many alternative medication practitioners claim that there is…

About Glucose 3 hour conducting tests?

Does anyone happen to know why it matters if it’s a 1 hour, 2 hour, or 3 hour test? nt for my 3 hour test but the lab just did a 2 hour test ( drew blood 4 times). well i passed that one. only one come back high. Well the Doctor wanted me to…

About hypoclycemia diet for child?

8 year old child with hypoglycemia.male. What would be angelic snacks for this little guy? – Low glycemic index snacks would be best, which basically means avoid processed foods and pre-packaged snacks. Do include fresh whole foods, including those beside complex carbohydrates, and/or high fiber. ples of low glycemic index foods include…

About PKU and the deffrent level?

What is variant PKU, to classic PKU – There are actually three different forms of PKU: classical PKU, atypical PKU, and hyperphenylalaninemia (hyperphe) which is the same as adaptation PKU. sical PKU is the most severe form of PKU. Typically those who have classical PKU can tolerate much less phenylalanine (the amino acid found…

About traditional tablets surrounded by diabetes? its ineffectiveness within dignified risk diabetes?

can you tell me something about the ineffectiveness of traditional medicine within high-risk diabetics? please indicate your sources. – depends on your definition of “traditional medicine” – The ADA is the current authority on treating diabetes. They are still living within the last century in their attitudes on…

About vigour, can anyone report to me whats regular for sugar count, if one have +1, found surrounded by the urinalysis which me?

means, sugar count is high, what does it mean/ please help now.. thank yu very much in advance to those who wil answer. – Normal sugar count is 80-120. If it is high than that see a…

Acceptable Hb a1c for type 2 diabetic…?

I am 42 and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 4 years ago. I read everything I could just about the disease…seems as though I got lazy and stout! argh! Anyhow, I had been on insulin for the past 2 years and finally fixed to make a change a the…

Acceptable to check for ketones surrounded by a diabetic taking sulfa drugs?

said patient is needle dependent diabetic bmi over 30r – Ketones are substances produced when fat cell break down in the blood. A serum ketone test is a measurement of how various ketones are in the blood. ref=”http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003585.htm” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketone#Bioc… – Yes, why wouldn’t it…

Accidentally give myself an insulin shot?

Drink a soft drink, non diet, or some orange liquid. I doubt you got anything out of the needle, because you pumped it all into the dog, right? – Mabye have some coke and relax for a while im sure nearby wasant enough to cause any harm bcause you pumped most of the insulin into…

According to the guidelines of NPAGFA, what is the difference between maintain current vigour level and im?

According to the guidelines of NPAGFA, what is the difference between maintaining current health levels and on the increase your fitness – This forum is for question about diabetes. -

Accucheck for hypoglycemia?

If you have hypogylcemia, is an accucheck machine nessecary? – Unless your insurance company will pay for the test strips a glucometer will be really expensive. The testing strips run about $1 each. – If you are diabetic you should enjoy a meter to check your blood sugars frequently. If you are just hypoglycemic for everyone I…

Accu-chek aviva experiment strips?

for testing blood glucose levels. where can i buy them (in the UK and NOT online) within packs of more than 10? i’m going through 9 a day at the moment, and it’s so damn expensive! – Don’t stop testing if 9 times a afternoon is necessary for you. act Accu-Chek to have them shipped to…

Accu-trim have to renovation it’s moniker and is no longer marketable within UK according to decree!?

According to an article I read, this miracle weightloss method mailed flyer is no longer allowed in the UK. Check it out on the web. What loosers! They’ll bring up to date you anything to get your money, so get out and walk,…

Actisys IR Wireless Data Transfer piece come beside my Animas 2020 insuling pump and i don’t know how to work it?

I’ve installed the cd but i don’t get what to do from there… – Call Animas tech support, they can help you near this. If they can’t get it working for you they can send you a newer…

Actos Vs Amaryl I NEED HELP!?

is there a diffrence between Actos and Amaryl? Are they the same drug? Do they have equal outcome? – Amaryl stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin. Actos is to lower insulin resistance. Both may cause heart problems. But acto is the real killer drug.Fracture Risk Doubles within Diabetes Patients Taking…

Advance Intuition glucometer.lost the directions and forgot how to code and examination it!?

I used it two years ago and have to use it again (gestational diabetes) and I still have all of the equipment, but no instructions. I own been getting off readings and only just replaced the batteries. I seem to recall something roughly the R check…

Advantages and disadvantages of creatinine clearance trial vs plasma creatinine?

http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full… http://www.vetstreamfelis.com/ACI/Februa… -

Advantages of modern drug contained by diabetes?

1. explain why it is efficient and easy to bring anywhere than herbs? (modern mdecine for example are insulin injections, or supplements or tablets) hy is it that it is more effectual in just small dosages compared to herbs? benevolently expalin – Herbs will do absolutely nothing for you if you need…

Advice considered necessary on best course to sweeten for pre-diabetes guy?

Tried stevia – hate the taste d Xylitol, making 1 litre of icecream with 3/4 cup of it. Two scoop of it and flatulence the rest of the day. Should I give up on it? Agave nectar doesn’t seems as dutiful as the above two but seems promising. …

More Diabetes questions please visit : DiseasesFAQ.com

Fda Approving Drugs

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:42:29 +0000

The approval procedure of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its regulated products is different from its own products. The obligatory FDA laws and the virtual dangers that these products can cause to ultimate consumers call for these discrepancies. FDA aims to provide safe and effective products to end users.

From product evaluation to label inspection, FDA tests every aspect of drugs and foods to ensure that they are safe and effective to people to consume.

When a person decides to have any drug or food, it is highly recommended to buy only FDA approving drugs or foods, since with these they can assure that the illusory ingredients labeled on the product cover do not deceives them. In fact, the FDA approval process ensures that its tested products are of high quality ingredients be it cosmetics, food items or drugs.

Thus, FDA plays a vital role in drug development. FDA had even devised certain rules and regulations for the drug development industry to produce only those products or drugs that will benefit the consumers. At present, there is not even a single drug approved by FDA, which people may refer as ineffective and unsafe, since it emphasizes more on safe drug development process and consumer health rather than profit making.

FDA Approved Drug Delivery System:

Transdermal drug delivery is one of the approved drug delivery systems of FDA. It is a non-invasive drug, which is injected from the exterior of the skin to the circulatory system. Originally, it was a skin patch approved in the year 1979 for treating motion sickness. FDA has approved transdermal drug delivery system only, because of its many significant benefits over traditional drug deliver methods such as:

Convenience of controlling addiction over drugs which may otherwise need frequent dosing

Enhanced bioavailability

More consistent plasma levels

No side-effects because of consistent plasma levels

Convenience of stopping the drug treatment by taking out the patch from the skin

Enhanced patient comfort, as it is painless, simple and non-invasive

Longer period of activeness leading to a reduction in the dosing frequency