FDA Assigns Levemir More Reassuring Pregnancy Risk Category
April 27, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Levemir (RxHQ.com)
Levemir Pregnancy Category Upgraded to B Women with Diabetes by FDA
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reclassified Levemir (insulin) injection to pregnancy category B on March 29, 2012, giving its nod that the product may be used by women who are pregnant without fetal injury risk. Prior to this reclassification, Levemir was classified by the FDA as category C.
Pregnancy categories of a pharmaceutical medication is an assessment of the fetal injury risk when used by a mother during pregnancy as directed. The FDA defines pharmaceutical pregnancy categories B and C as follows:
Category C: “Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.”
Category B: “Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.”
In arriving at the FDA classification, Novo Nordisk, the drug’s manufacturer, sponsored a randomized study of 310 pregnant women who had type 1 diabetes. Study results found no unusual safety red flags in either the offspring or mothers.
In a press release, Novo Nordisk, reported that insulin detemir is the first and solo basal insulin analogue to have an FDA category B classification.
Levimir’s prescribing information label includes a note of caution indicating that “it is not known if Levemir passes into breast milk” and “it is not known if Levemir would harm your unborn baby.”
FlexPen®: An alternative to vial and syringe (RxHQ.com)
Pharmacy Headquarters Blog (PharmacyHeadquarters.com) Editorial Staff Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
Men and Hair Loss: What are Your Options?
April 25, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Men and Hair Loss: What are Your Options? (RxHQ.com)
Common male pattern baldness (MPB), technically known as androgenetic alopecia, is the cause of over 95% of hair loss in men, according to the American Hair Loss Association. If these statistics aren’t enough to paint a not-so-rosy future for men’s hair, here’s another one. Two-thirds of United States men will encounter a certain extent of appreciable hair loss by the time they reach thirty-five years of age.
Whether founded or not, many men who are inflicted with male pattern baldness are immensely unhappy with this situation, and highly interested in doing something to change it.
Fortunately, thanks to tremendous advancement in the medicinal treatment of men’s hair loss, hair loss is more treatable than ever, including both surgical and non-surgical options.
Surgical hair restoration – For the right candidate, surgical hair restoration can significantly restore the look of hair. In hair restoration surgery, a hair transplant is conducted by harvesting DHT resistant hair located at the back of your scalp. That hair is then transplanted into the balding areas. However, not everyone is an ideal candidate for the surgery.
Non-surgical hair loss treatment – Currently, there are two Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved products (finasteride and minoxidil) to treat men’s hair loss that has been clinically proven in varying degrees.
- Propecia, Proscar (Finasteride) – Propecia and Proscar are the brand names for the generic drug called finasteride. Finasteride was originally created to treat an enlarged prostate gland. The FDA approved finasteride (1 mg dose) for the treatment of male pattern baldness in December 1997. Fomasteride works by targeting the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT, or a more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone. DHT is responsible for shrinking the hair follicle, which leads to baldness over time.
When a 1mg dose of Propecia is taken daily, it can effectively reduce the scalp’s DHT levels by as much as 60 percent. After taking the recommended dosage of the drug, 86 percent of men in a clinical trial had a proven stoppage in the progression of their hair loss. Further, 65 percent of the clinical trial participants saw a significant hair growth increase. For this reason, the American Hair Loss Association advises finasteride as a first defense in treating male pattern baldness.
- Rogaine (Minoxidil) – Rogaine is a brand name for the generic drug Minoxidil; and minoxidal was the first FDA-approved medication for the treatment of male pattern baldness. While minoxidil was originally used to treat high blood pressure, researchers found a interesting side of the drug: hair growth. While minoxidil has been clinical proven to slow hair loss progression and regrow some hair — and is an effective treatment for some users, its positive results are often temporary and not seen by everyone. For this reason, the American Hair Loss Association recommends this drug for those who may have not responded positively to finasteride.
- Hair replacement – For those who do not wish to have surgery, non-surgical hair replacement can be a wonderful choice to regain the appearance of a full head of hair. While there are some remarkably natural looking hair replacement pieces available today, cautioned should be exercised in purchasing one from a reputable buyer. Hair replacement options include toupees, hairpieces, strand-by-strand insertion systems, hair weaves, and custom hair systems.
Whether you choose surgical hair restoration or a non-surgical treatment, such as a prescription medication for hair loss, diligently research your effective options and be informed before making any decision.
Pharmacy Headquarters Blog (PharmacyHeadquarters.com) Editorial Staff Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
April 24, 2012 § Leave a Comment
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
It’s springtime and you know what that means – spring cleaning — including your medicine cabinet! The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is asking each and every one of us to clean out our medicine cabinets — and dispose of expired, unused, or unwanted prescription medications.
To this end, the DEA has announced that this Saturday, April 28, 2012 to be National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
One of the main reasons for the program is to give people another way to prevent pill abuse and theft, and to minimize unused drugs inadvertently ending up in the water supply.
The 2012 National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is the 4th time for conducting the event. All three prior events were highly successful, with the public safely disposing of nearly 500 tons of medications.
To find a collection site in your area, head over to the DEA’s website and enter your zip code.
Pharmacy Headquarters Blog (PharmacyHeadquarters.com) Editorial Staff Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
7 Ways to Prevent Constipation
April 23, 2012 § Leave a Comment
7 Ways to Stay Regular (Without Eating Prunes)
Constipation is a subject matter not many like to talk about. But if you are plagued by it, you know that it can be frustrating — and sometimes painful.
What’s considered “being regular” varies widely from person to person. However, in general, if you are passing less than three stools per week, and your stools are dry and hard, then you’re probably constipated. Fortunately, simple lifestyle changes can do the trick. But if not, over-the-counter laxatives and prescription medications can come to the rescue.
1) Eat a diet high in fiber. Having a diet that includes daily intake of at least 20 to 35 grams of fiber can help to keep your stool bulky and soft. Make a conscious effort to include fruits, whole-grains, vegetables, and beans in your daily diet. It’s a good idea to increase your fiber intake slowly over a number of days in order to minimize uncomfortable gas and bloating.
2) Limit low-fiber foods. Limit your consumption of foods that can bind you, like cheese. Generally speaking, foods that are high in sugar and fat, tend to be low in fiber, and can aggravate a constipation condition. Other examples besides cheese include ice cream, processed foods, and whole milk.
3) Drink enough fluid. While the exact amount of fluid you need to drink to avoid being constipated varies depending on age, activity level, health and other conditions, a rough guideline is one and a half to two quarts of water. Although some people swear by a morning cup of coffee, liquids containing caffeine — which dehydrate you — can actually worsen constipation symptoms.
4) Exercise regularly. In order to stimulate intestinal function, participate in regular physical exercise, such as walking, swimming, or biking as often as possible. Many experts recommend getting in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly.
5) Add a fiber supplement. Over-the-counter fiber supplements can help keep you regular and keep your stools soft. When adding fiber supplements to your diet, it’s important to drink plenty of water every day.
6) Drink warm liquid in the morning. For many people, hot beverages, including decaffeinated tea and coffee, stimulate the bowels.
7) Heed the call of nature. When you have the urge to have a bowel movement, don’t ignore it. If you delay, water is absorbed from the stool, making it less soft and more difficult to pass.
Other Things That You Can Do for Constipation
Stool softeners and laxatives – Occasional use of stool softeners or laxatives may be needed for relief when diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes aren’t effective. However, habitual use of such agents can cause your colon to become dependent on them, and thereby requiring increasing dosages for the same relief. Don’t use laxatives for longer than two weeks without calling your physician.
Prescription medications - When lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications don’t improve your constipation symptoms, your physician may recommend prescription medications. These include chloride channel activators and 5-HT-4 agonists.
Medical procedures – In certain cases, your doctor may help break up an impacted stool through an in-office manual procedure. If your constipation is chronic and severe, a surgical procedure may be advised.
Pharmacy Headquarters Blog (PharmacyHeadquarters.com) Editorial Staff Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
Demystifying Frequent Urination
April 18, 2012 § Leave a Comment
All About Frequent Urination
Demystifying Frequent Urination
Frequent urination, referred to as polyuria in the medical community, is the urge or feeling that you need to urinate more often than usual. While frequent urination may simply be the result of drinking too many fluids — particularly caffeine and alcohol — it can also be a symptom of another underlying medical condition.
Many people think urinating frequently is something they just have to live, think it is too minor to speak with a doctor about, or are scared that it may be an indication of something serious. But in many cases, when sufferers seek help and treatment, they find that the cause isn’t harmful or serious, and are able to return to normalcy in urinary habits.
Symptoms of Frequent Urination
Frequent urination refers to a compelling, sudden, and often overwhelming urge to urinate, along with bladder discomfort. Urinating frequently at night is called “nocturia”, which is common in both men and women. Frequent urination is different than urinary incontinence as there is loss of voluntary control of the function of the bladder with urinary incontinence.
When speaking with your physician about your urinary frequency symptoms, it is important to be a specific as you can. Your doctor will be assessing your urinary symptoms to try to distinguish between a number of possibilities such as: daytime frequent urination, nighttime frequent urination, urinary incontinence, intermittent stream, terminal dribble, or urgency with a burning sensation.
Causes of Frequent Urination
Because urination is an intricate process involving various muscles and complex network of nerves located throughout the spine, brain, and bladder, it’s no wonder that frequent urination may be a symptom of a number of medical conditions, whether physical or psychological. The most important thing to keep in mind is that frequent urination that is persistent and unexplained could potentially be a symptom of something serious.
The most common causes of frequent urination are pregnancy, diabetes, and prostate problems. Certain medications, such as diuretics can also cause frequent elimination of urine.
However, other causes of frequent urination include anxiety, stroke, kidney infection, pelvic tumor or mass, overactive or dysfunctional bladder, cancer of the bladder, urinary incontinence, pelvic radiation, diverticulitis, bladder stones, abnormal opening in the urinary tract, inflammation of the bladder wall, and drinking too much fluid (alcohol and caffeine)
Diagnosis Frequent Urination
Because the causes of frequent urination can be physical, neurological, or psychological, your physician will need to perform a thorough analysis, which may include:
- Symptom and medical history questioning – This includes questions concerning your current medications, fluid intake amount and kind, pattern of urination.
- Urine analysis – This test will determine the presence of any abnormal compounds.
- Image tests – Imaging tests may be used to determine if there are any structural abnormalities or masses present.
- Neurological tests - These tests can determine if a nerve disorder is involved.
- Urodynamic tests - Urodynamic tests can examine how well the urethra, sphincter and bladder are storing and releasing your body’s urine.
Treating Frequent Urination
Treatment of frequent urination depends upon the cause. For instance, if the cause is a kidney infection, then treatment calls for a course of prescription antibiotics, and quite possibly a pain killing medication as well. If the cause is diabetes, then the treatment will be comprised of keeping your blood sugar under control potentially with prescription medications, exercise, and dietary changes.
Other urination frequency treatments include Kegal exercises, bladder training, biofeedback, and adjusting fluid intake.
The good news is that with proper medical diagnosis and treatment from your physician, frequent urination doesn’t have to negatively impact your quality of life.
Pharmacy Headquarters Blog (PharmacyHeadquarters.com) Editorial Staff Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
Allergy Sufferers Get an Early Start on Torture
April 17, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Allergy Sufferers Get an Early Start on Torture
Allergy Sufferers Get an Early Start on Torture
While the mild winter and onslaught of unseasonable early warm weather had many Americans singing praises, for others it meant an early start to their misery. For the 25 to 40 percent of people who suffer from hay fever, the unsuspecting welcomed sooner than expected arrival of balmy weather meant an unwelcome early start to allergy season.
This year’s paltry winter precipitation coupled with the fourth warmest winter on average gave way to the perfect storm for premature allergy misery. Pollen counts are already in the moderate to high range in some parts of the country. Trees have started broadcasting their pollen sooner this year — typically tree pollen doesn’t kick in until temperatures rise above 60 degrees. Conditions normally seen in May are being seen two to four weeks ahead of schedule.
The premature allergy season is also causing a rush in doctor’s offices as patients seek relief from their sneezing, sniffling, stuffed sinuses, and itchy eyes or to keep their prescription allergy medications renewed.
Causes of Seasonal Allergies
Every spring, summer, and fall, tiny grains, called pollen, are released from grasses, weeds, and trees. This pollen hitches a ride on air currents in order to make its way to its target. While the ultimate goal of pollen is to fertilize plants, some of this pollen ends up entering human noses, eyes, and throats, which triggers a seasonal pollen allergy, called allergic rhinitis.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the showy plants with beautiful flowers that cause most of the pollen allergy. Instead, it’s the plain-looking weed, grasses, and trees that most commonly cause allergic reactions. Although there are others, common trees that produce pollen are Pine, Oak, Elm, Ash, Hickory, and Elm. And Kentucky Bluegrass, Bermuda Grass, Timothy Grass, and Johnson Grass are among the common grasses that cause many of us to sneeze up a storm. Of course, ragweed is particularly problematic as a single ragweed plant can produce a million granules of pollen every day!
What You Can Do
Fortunately, there are several home remedies you can take to reduce your allergy suffering:
1) Avoid morning walks, runs, and errands as pollen settles on the dew that forms overnight.
2) Take a shower after being outdoors. Wash your hair before bed since pollen clings to hair easily.
3) Use a nasal irrigator. Some studies suggest and experts believe a neti pot can be effective to reduce nasal allergy symptoms.
4) Keep windows closed. Run an air filter or air condition too.
5) Try over-the-counter antihistamines. These are available in pills, nasal sprays, liquids or eye drops.
If home remedies don’t reduce your discomfort and your allergy symptoms are impacting your everyday activities, it may be time to see a doctor. You may require prescription allergy medications or allergy shots to control severe allergy symptoms.
Pharmacy Headquarters Blog (PharmacyHeadquarters.com) Editorial Staff Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
