Avalere Health, a private research firm, has release figures that indicate that the Medicare plans that cater to about 70% of seniors will increase rates by an average of 10%. Seniors on Medicare are being urged to check their coverage and shop around for better plans to suit their needs. Complicating the issue are new […]
The whistle blower lawsuit against Pfizer and its subsidiary Wyeth has now become a federal matter. The Department of Justice is continuing an ongoing crackdown on drug fraud by joining the case that alleges that Wyeth inappropriately marketed their drug Rapamune which, at the time, was only approved to prevent rejection for kidney transplant patients. […]
A recent study released in the Canadian Medical Association Journal indicates a link between flu vaccinations and a reduced risk of heart attack. The researchers examined medical records of first time heart attack patients as well as a control group of patients with no heart attack history. After accounting for a wide range of additional […]
Since its release, the Plan B emergency contraception pill has created controversy among pharmacists. For some pharmacists, religious beliefs about this form of contraception conflict with the requirements that they make the pill available to anyone with a prescription. In 2007, the Washington State Pharmacy Board issued a ruling that required all pharmacies to dispense […]
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has a new idea for lowering prescription medication costs for the state’s residents. Schweitzer has a plan to create a Medicaid program for all the state’s residents that will give them access to the discounts that the state is given from the drug companies. He will be asking the federal government […]
An FDA advisory committee recently suggested that the labeling for the diabetes drug Avandia be changed to reflect concern about the increased risk of heart disease associated with the medication. A recently released study compares the increased risk of heart disease for patients using Avandia and Actos, another diabetes medication. The results indicated that the […]
The Senate has unanimously passed S. 3397, the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act, to allow patients to return unused medications safely and legally. Prior to the bill, medications that qualified as controlled substances could only be returned to authorized DEA agents. Under the new legislation, non-DEA authorized personnel as well as long term care […]
A recent study suggests a significant link between heavy acetaminophen use in adolescents and an increased risk of asthma and eczema. The study questioned 13 and 14 year olds as to their use of acetaminophen and the occurrence of asthma and eczema symptoms. The responses were classified into categories of no use, moderate use (at […]
