Posts by psm2016
An Unexpected Fake in Los Angeles
Botox treatment is one of the fastest-growing cosmetic procedures on the market today. With the promise to eliminate wrinkles and fine lines, more and more baby boomers are turning to this product to fight the signs of aging. However, in addition to battling wrinkles, the makers of Botox now find themselves fighting the illicit business of counterfeit drugs.
[...]Panjabi SS, Panjabi RS, Shepherd MD*, Lawson KA, Johnsrud M, Barner J. Extended-release, once-daily morphine (Avinza) for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain: effect on pain, depressive symptoms, and cognition. Pain Medicine. 2008 Aug; 9(8):985-93.
Abstract. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an extended-release, once-daily morphine sulfate formulation on depressive symptoms and neurocognition in patients with chronic nonmalignant pain.
DESIGN: Prospective, open-label, one-group trial with a pretest-posttest design.
SETTING: Outpatient pain management clinic.
PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: Chronic nonmalignant pain patients inadequately controlled with short-acting opioid analgesics and eligible for treatment with once-daily morphine sulfate were initiated on a dose at or near the morphine-equivalent dose of the short-acting regimen.
OUTCOMES: The following assessments were made at baseline and 4 weeks after initiating intervention: pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, pain suffering, pain behaviors, Beck Depression Inventory, and cognitive function.
RESULTS: Eighty-four patients provided usable data. Pain intensity, unpleasantness, and suffering scores were significantly reduced at follow-up (P = 0.001). The mean Beck Depression Inventory scores were significantly lower at follow-up (P = 0.001). Significant improvements were seen in scores at follow-up on the three validated neurocognitive tests: the digit span test, the digit symbol substitution test, and the paced auditory serial addition test (P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Achieving adequate pain control with once-daily morphine was associated with a reduction in pain and improvements in depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning in the short term.
[...]NAFDAC destroys N250m fake goods in Gombe
NATIONAL Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is set to destroy N250 million worth of unwholesome products in Gombe this week, Mr. Abdulsalam Ozigis, its co-ordinator in the state, said Monday in Gombe. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the items were seized across the six states of the North-East…
[...]Fake pharmacies swallow bitter pill
Two hundred private pharmacies selling expired and banned drugs were nabbed by the special unit of the National Drug Control Authority during a single day countrywide raid. These pharmacies had sold drugs without prescriptions and they did not have qualified and trained pharmacists, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources said. Nadira Gunatilleke29 July 2008 Read the…
[...]JFDA warns of potentially deadly sexual peformance enhancers
AMMAN – The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) issued a warning on Monday concerning the use of illegal sexual performance enhancers, cautioning that the drugs may contain toxic materials that could lead to death. The JFDA urged citizens to only obtain enhancers prescribed by physicians. "In principle, sexual enhancers should only be sold by…
[...]Paraguay is Feeding Brazil with Cheap Counterfeit Drugs, Says Brazilian Anti-Counterfeit Body
An increasing number of Brazilians are acquiring medicines in neighbouring Paraguay where drugs are cheaper, reports newspaperGazeta do Povo. In 2007, the phenomenon led to a 68.9% year-on-year increase in drug seizures at the Brazilian-Paraguayan border. The seizures were estimated to be worth 298.6 Brazilian real ($189US.8 million). The most common drugs seized are erectile…
[...]Raid on Counterfeit Drugs
The proliferation of counterfeit drugs on the global market and easy availability via online pharmacies is an increasing problem. The makers of counterfeit drugs have enjoyed and profited from loopholes in a system designed to deliver healthy medicines to those in need. The rising cost of prescription medications and the ubiquitous presence of online and…
[...]Counterfeit antibiotic drugs worth Rs 20L seized
The proliferation of counterfeit drugs on the global market and easy availability via online pharmacies is an increasing problem. The makers of counterfeit drugs have enjoyed and profited from loopholes in a system designed to deliver healthy medicines to those in need. The rising cost of prescription medications and the ubiquitous presence of online and…
[...]DCGI plans survey to detect counterfeit drugs
NEW DELHI: The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is planning a survey to detect the quantum of spurious and substandard drugs being sold to unsuspecting customers. The regulator, mandated to look after safety, efficacy of drugs and give marketing approval, plans to cover 61 popular brands of medicines used in nine therapeutic categories including…
[...]Prescription Drugs Found Online, Abused by Teens
A Columbia University study has shown that prescription drugs can be easily bought on the Internet, while another study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America indicates that many teens are abusing them. Columbia University's five-year study, which has been documented annually in a report called "You've Got Drugs! Prescription Drug Pushers on the Internet,"…
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