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Tag: prescriptions

  • Bipolar Symptoms May Soon Be Treated With New Drugs

    According to Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million adults in America. While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, new research may provide new drug therapies that could lessen the severity of bipolar symptoms.

    Per Mayo Clinic’s definition of bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive disorder), the disorder is “associated with mood swings that range from the lows of depression to the highs of mania.” While bipolar disorder onset usually occurs when someone is in their mid 20s, it can also occur in children and older adults.

    Some celebrities that have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Demi Lovato, Kurt Cobain, and Britney Spears.

    Bipolar symptoms are typically treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy. There is no cure for bipolar disorder, unfortunately, but Northwestern Medicine scientists have recently made a discovery using super-resolution imaging on the brain that could lead to more effective treatment options in the future.

    “We knew that ankyrin-G played an important role in bipolar disease, but we didn’t know how,” said Northwestern Medicine scientist Peter Penzes. “Through this imaging method we found the gene formed in nanodomain structures in the synapses, and we determined that these structures control or regulate the behavior of synapses.”

    So what does this mean for treating bipolar symptoms in the future?

    “There is important information about genes and diseases that can only been seen at this level of resolution,” Penzes said. “We provide a neurobiological explanation of the function of the leading risk gene, and this might provide insight into the abnormalities in bipolar disorder.” Put simply, with this new insight on brain functioning, improved treatment options are a real possibility.

    Do you suspect that you or someone you know may have bipolar disorder? Mayo Clinic says that bipolar symptoms can include the following:

    Manic Phase:

    Euphoria
    Inflated self-esteem
    Poor judgment
    Rapid speech
    Racing thoughts
    Aggressive behavior
    Agitation or irritation
    Increased physical activity
    Risky behavior
    Spending sprees or unwise financial choices
    Decreased need for sleep
    Careless or dangerous use of drugs or alcohol
    Frequent absences from work or school

    Depressive Phase:

    Sadness
    Hopelessness
    Suicidal thoughts or behavior
    Anxiety
    Guilt
    Sleep problems
    Low appetite or increased appetite
    Fatigue
    Loss of interest in activities once considered enjoyable
    Problems concentrating
    Irritability

  • Hepatitis C Pill FDA Approved: Will They Lower The $100,000 Price Tag?

    Hepatitis C drug Harvoni (which combines Solvadi with ledipasvir) was approved on Friday by the FDA.

    The prescription drug promises to cure Hepatitis C sufferers in as few as eight weeks.

    While the drug is meant to be an easy cure, it will likely remain out of the price range of most of the 3.2 million Americans who suffer from the disease.

    Insurance companies are already balking at the notion of having to cover the $94,000 treatment, which may force patients to try and pay out-of-pocket for the drug.

    Gilead Sciences Inc, stands by the high cost of this unique prescription option.

    “Older therapies were not sufficiently effective or tolerable to continue to be used as the standard of care,” said Gregg Alton, the executive vice-president for the California-based company.

    Said Alton, “We will continue to work with payers to help them understand the scientific and medical evidence.”

    He seems to have missed that it’s not the science people are struggling with—It’s the price tag.

    If every person suffering from Hepatitis C took the medicine as priced by Gildead, it would reportedly equal or exceed the price of ALL other drug medications in the United States!

    “We believe that the price being demanded is still inappropriately high for a product targeting such a large group of patients,” said Express Scripts Holding Co. spokesman David Whitrap.

    “New innovations do not always require inappropriate, premium pricing.”

    Is Harvoni’s “wonder drug” overpriced to an exploitative degree?

    A report by Bloomberg on the drug pointed out that many of the people who suffer from Hepatitis C in America come from low income backgrounds.

    The only hope for Hepatitis C patients is that cheaper alternatives are soon made available or the US government does something to regulate pricing.

    Otherwise, the “wonder drug” meant to cure this devastating disease will likely be out of reach for the majority of the people who actually need it.

  • Patient Requests Do Influence Doctors’ Prescriptions, Shows Study

    Nearly every commercial break on TV now includes drug ads that list dozens of possible side effects and outcomes. No matter how different these lists may be, though, every ad includes the phrase “ask your doctor.” Now new research is showing that asking doctors about certain medications really can influence their prescription.

    A new study published in the journal Medical Care has found that this type of direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing of brand-name drugs actually does significantly influence a doctor’s decision to prescribe those medications. The study results throw fuel into the debate over such marketing, raising questions about medical ethics and patient safety.

    “A patient request for a specific medication dramatically increases the rate at which physician s prescribe that medication,” wrote the study’s authors. “These results highlight potential negative impacts of DTC advertising and other forms of activation in medication requests.”

    The study used videos of actors who described specific painful medical conditions. Some requested oxycodone, some Celebrex, and others simply wanted “just something to make it better.” These videos were randomly shown to nearly 200 primary care physicians, who then gave their diagnosis for a patient.

    Around 50% of the patients who requested Celebrex were prescribed the drug, opposed to only around 25% of those who requested nothing specific. Those who requested oxycodone received the strong narcotic at around a 20% rate while those with no brand request received oxycodone only 1% of the time.

    “Supporters defend [DTC advertising] as a way to empower consumers, while opponents argue that commercially motivated messages leads to inappropriate patient requests for medication,” said Dr G. Caleb Alexander, deputy editor of Medical Care. “In order to resolve this debate, more research is needed to determine the effects of DTC advertising on patient and physician behavior, especially how it affects prescribing decisions and health outcomes.”

  • Allergy Relief For A Serene Spring

    Achoo!

    Yes indeed. As my tranquil cup of morning coffee on the balcony was suddenly supplemented by a soundtrack-chorus of sneezing from neighbors above and below, I realized it: allergy season’s upon us. No big deal, though, right? Just Google the bottled solution and grab it from CVS before work (or later at lunch, if you’re late for everything like I am).

    The problem is, a Google search yields a few temporary solutions (like four-way spray or allergy shots), but the side effects are so bad, they don’t solve the cause of the problem. Before you know it you’re recovering from new issues the “remedy” has caused, which has stopped working anyway by mid spring. Why?

    Over-the-counter-tolerance

    “Frequently, the side effects of allergy medications can be equally debilitating, and can cause drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, tinnitus, and other unpleasant side effects,” says Dr. Hyun K. Lee of California. He adds, “When taken over time, these medications lose their effectiveness, and will need to be replaced with stronger dosages, or alternative drugs. But, all allergy medications will only treat allergy symptoms, not their underlying cause.”

    Ah, that explains it! So, then what can I do?

    Diet vs. dust?

    Toronto based naturopathic doctor Jennifer Baer offers some dietary suggestions like: cutting down on mucous forming foods like dairy, animal fat, sugar and bananas.

    Really? I mean, I can cut some of that stuff, but… bananas? How about that suggestion is what’s bananas. Also, if there’s no creamer in my coffee, we’re going to have a problem, Houston. Can I get a witness?

    Alright, alright. I’m sure Dr. Baer is lovely and great at her job, but – until I’m willing to eliminate my dietary addictions – is there anything better I can add in that’s healthy? Apparently, yes! Vitamin C-rich foods are helpful. Among recommended noms you might want to toss into your shopping cart are: Broccoli, kale, citrus fruits, collard greens, onions and garlic, and parsley – as some symptom sufferers have realized relief from consuming them.

    David Rosenstreich, M.D., director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Montefiore Medical Center, tells Newswise that allergy medications can be helpful if taken early enough, but that “if you start after the symptoms are in full swing, it’s much harder to stop the allergic reaction than to prevent it from the beginning,” adding that, “As long as you take the proper precautions, you should be able to enjoy the outdoors and make the most of the warm weather.”

    Pharmacy

    Okay. Let’s say things get really bad and I have to hit the allergy aisle. What can I take without falling asleep at the wheel? The ‘second generation’ antihistamines, are said to provide non-drowsy, 24-hour allergy relief and are available over the counter – like Alavert and Claritin. Wait – what do they mean “second generation”? What’s “first generation”? First gen is that sedating stuff that’ll make you sleep through the alarm clock tomorrow. Thus, if you feel the need to reach for Actified or Benadryl, they may be better taken at an early bedtime.

    And for that stuffy nose that makes you talk like Fran Drescher (no offense, Fran)? Some decongestants will aid in immediate relief (for three days or less). If used for longer, the nose starts to swell up.

    Natural Remedies

    If all that over-the-counter stuff makes you feel anxious, though, some other suggested remedies to assuage symptoms include: neti pots (to clear nasal passage), hot shower (open the nasal passages and clean the skin), washing your pet (because he may have dander on him), dehumidifiers (to rid mold), spicy foods (also help clear nasal passages), and probiotics (prevent allergies by boosting immune system).

    Also, you can try cutting down on allergies from the inside out via prevention: dusting, vacuuming, closing the window when pollen is abundant, and reducing mold via leak-checks (the dehumidifier should help with that too). Okay, now that I can do. I’m bad about cleaning, but I totally can if it means I can keep consuming hazelnut creamer in the morning.

    As with all things you read, take this advice with a grain of salt, keep researching, and get the guidance of a doctor – especially if symptoms persist. See what works best for you so that when you breathe in the warm air this spring, you’ll feel dandy instead of dander.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons