Since it's still a drug and not an actual beauty product, you have to have some sort of medical condition to take it. That's why one of the first bits of fine print in the commercial says that the drug is only for people who suffer from "inadequate or not enough lashes, also known as hypotrichosis." Like Brooke, apparently.

"Ad for eyelash drug Latisse goes too far" [Consumer Reports Health Blog]

RELATED
"Yeah, Your Eyes Are Discolored And Red, But Your Lashes Look Great!"

<- Franken clip.

In the second clip, Sen. Whitehouse asks: "Did you actually read the bill that is the subject of today's hearing?"

Here she uses the big "UC" - that less strict bankruptcy laws have the "unintended consequence" of encouraging more people to seek bankruptcy. Her solution to so many medical bankruptcies is then to make it harder to seek bankruptcy, rather than addressing the underlying over-inflated costs that drive consumers into medical bankruptcy in the first place.

Pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly, Merck and Novartis number among The Hudson Institute's funders.

You can watch the entire session and read and search the transcript here on C-SPAN.

(Thanks to Dirk!)

Download this form.

The FDA strongly recommends that you ask your health care provider to fill it out because he or she can "provide clinical information based on your medical record that can help" the FDA evaluate your report. If you can't or don't want to give the form to your doctor, you can fill it out yourself.

Either fax the form to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-0178 or mail it back using the postage-paid addressed form.

Or

Call FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report by telephone

The FDA, via a program called MedWatch, also collects data on other drug problems. You should report these as well. Here is what MedWatch is concerned with:

1) Serious adverse event
* death
* life-threatening situation
* requires admission to hospital or longer-than-expected hospital stay
* permanent disability
* birth defect, miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth with serious disease
* requires medical care to prevent permanent damage

2. Product quality problem
* suspected counterfeit product
* potentially contaminated product indicated by suspicious odor or unusual color
* inaccurate or unreadable product labeling

3) Product use error
* mixing up products with similar drug names or packaging
* taking wrong dose of a drug because of confusing dosing instructions on label

4) Problem with different manufacturer of same medicine
* not getting same results from a generic drug as a brand name drug, or from another generic

Reporting by Consumers [FDA]
FDA 101: How to Use the Consumer Complaint System and MedWatch [FDA]

(Photo: Mike Burns)

The company is accused of aggressively marketing four drugs to doctors for "off-label" uses, or prescribing a medicine for a use for which it hasn't been explicitly tested and approved by the FDA. And by "aggressively marketing" we mean "taking doctors on vacations and feeding lavish meals while handing over huge metaphorical sacks of cash."

In financial filings in January, the company had indicated that it would pay $2.3 billion over allegations it had marketed the pain reliever Bextra and possibly other drugs for medical conditions different than their approved use. The civil settlement announced Wednesday also covered Pfizer's promotions of three other drugs: blockbuster nerve pain and epilepsy treatment Lyrica, schizophrenia medicine Geodon, antibiotic Zyvox and nine other medicines. Pfizer said the agreement with the Justice Department resolves the investigation into promotion of all those drugs, plus several related whistleblower lawsuits.

Under terms of the settlement, Pfizer must pay $1 billion to compensate Medicaid, Medicare, and other federal health care programs. Some of that money will be shared among the states: New York, for example, will receive $66 million, according to the state's attorney general, Andrew Cuomo.

There's nothing wrong with off-label use of medicines, but there's plenty wrong with aggressively marketing medicines to physicians for off-label use.

Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty over promotions [Boston]
Pfizer settlement: Be wary of off-label drug use [Consumer Reports Health]

(Photo: wadem)

The first is that the FDA doesn't require Lexapro's makers to statistically back up their claim that Lexapro is more effective than Celexa, which is basically Lexapro's parent. (Forest Laboratories changed the molecular structure of Celexa, which was about to lose its patent protection, in order to create Lexapro in 2002.) In fact, Forest has even used this near-interchangeability to its financial advantage:

The F.D.A. views the two medicines as so interchangeable that the agency recently approved Lexapro's use in depressed adolescents based in part on the results of a study Forest conducted using Celexa.

The second is that sales of Lexapro are on the wane, and correspondingly Forest "has been recently raising the price." But, "Many doctors say they believe that Lexapro is the best antidepressant, so they prescribe the drug despite its cost."

"Document Details Plan to Promote Costly Drug" [New York Times]
(Photo: mandiberg)

Of course, what that course of action saves you on medical bills you'll end up losing on funeral costs. So it's probably best to steer away from video game medical care professionals and just heed these tips from Panama City, Fla. ABC affiliate to ease health care bills.

My favorite of the bunch is No. 5, pill splitting:

Richard Moss, Diretor of Pharmacy Services at Bay Medical Center, says you should "have your physician write you a prescription for a tablet that's twice as strong that you can cut in half. You can pay a little bit more to get the more concentrated tablet and stretch it out by splitting it in half."

Oddly enough, the price of a pill is the same whether it's 5, 10, or 20 mg.

The tough part is some doctors aren't willing to pull one over on pharmaceutical companies due to cozy relationships. Say what you will about Dr. Mario, but he never accepts free golf trips from Pfizer.

Money Matters: Saving on Medical Care [WMBB News 13]
(Photo: blue_j)

Rite Aid had its own similar natural remedy, Germ Defense, which was sold and marketed in its stores alongside Airborne. The FTC went ahead and charged Rite Aid with false advertising, and now Germ Defense customers are entitled to refunds.

The manufacturer of Germ Defense, Improvita, has also been charged with false advertising. If you bought Germ Defense tablets or lozenges, you're eligible for a refund of the value of up to six packages of the supplement. From the FTC's press release:

Like Airborne Health, Inc., which settled deceptive advertising charges with the FTC last
year for marketing its effervescent tablets as a cold prevention and treatment remedy, Rite Aid will settle similar charges for selling a purported cold-and-flu remedy under its private label. Rite Aid will pay $500,000 for consumer redress under the agreed-upon final order. The company is required to post a refund notice, along with postage-pre-paid refund request forms, in a clear and conspicuous location in the cold-and-flu aisle at each of its stores for 60 days beginning on October 1, 2009. Consumers will have until December 31, 2009 to submit refund requests for up to six packages of Germ Defense.

Also under the settlement agreement, Rite Aid may not claim that any Rite-Aid-label version of Airborne, or any Rite-Aid-label food, drug, or dietary supplement can reduce the risk of or prevent colds or flu, reduce the severity or duration of colds, or boost the immune system unless the claims are truthful, not misleading, and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence.

Rite Aid and Improvita marketed several flavors of Germ Defense lozenges and tablets as
dietary supplements that contained vitamins C and E, zinc, and echinacea. They claimed the products could reduce the risk of or prevent colds and flu; protect against or fight germs; reduce the severity or duration of a cold; protect against colds and flu in crowded places; and boost the immune system, according to the complaints. The FTC charged that there is inadequate evidence to support these claims.

If you're eligible, make sure to wander by your nearest Rite Aid and pick up those forms in October. And be wary of the health claims made about any supplement that aren't backed by actual, like, science.

Rite Aid to Pay $500,000 in Consumer Refunds to Settle FTC Charges of False and Deceptive Advertising [FTC] (Thanks, Mary!)

(Photo: el_en_houston)

In this case, the dangerous products were fake antimalarial tablets destined for Nigeria. 642,000 people would have been affected had the Nigerian government not discovered the fake drugs and intercepted them. While the tablets were labeled "Made in India," evidence showed that they were produced in and shipped from China.

Both China and India are big players in the manufacture of generic drugs, and both export medicines to Africa. The Indian government is, understandably, concerned that the incident may hurt the reputation of India's pharmaceutical industry in Africa and elsewhere around the world. Rightly so, since India is more than capable of exporting their own fake drugs. No help from China needed.

Fake generic medicines from China with ‘Made in India' label seized: Nigerian Government [Government press release]
Chinese passing off fake drugs as ‘Made in India' [Times of India] (Thanks, Abhinav!)

(Photo: untitleed_x)

Several recent studies have shown convincingly that older, less expensive drugs work just as well as newer, far more expensive ones. According to a recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a decades-old, inexpensive diuretic does as good a job preventing fatal and non-fatal heart attacks as some newer high blood pressure medications.

Similarly, older medications for illnesses ranging from arthritis to schizophrenia have proven to be as effective as newer, higher-priced drugs.

So, whether you're already taking a medicine or getting prescribed a new medication, ask your doctor if there are any established, but not as pricey, versions of the drug that you could be taking instead.

Seven ways to cut the cost of medicine [Vanguard] (Photo: Spidra Webster)

The drug in question is prasugrel (to be advertised as Effient), which watchdog Public Citizen and Johns Hopkins research director Dr. Victor Serebruany say wasn't tested at a proper dosage by Lilly. The result, Public Citizen argues, is an unsafe drug potentially harmful in the long term may be released to the public.

This is a high-stakes issue because the drug, as a competitor to Plavix, could earn Lilly a billion dollars a year, an Associated Press story says.

The drug prevents more heart attacks than Plavix, but it also causes more internal bleeding, according to a study of over 13,000 patients conducted by Lilly.

But consumer watchdog Public Citizen says that study did not give an accurate comparison of prasugrel versus Plavix.

In a letter Wednesday, the group notes that the dose of prasugrel studied by Lilly was about 2.5 times more potent than the dose of Plavix. The scientists say that the higher dose accounted for the excess bleeding seen with prasugrel. The letter said some patients on prasugrel actually stopped forming blood-clotting platelets completely, putting them at increased risk of hemorrhages.

The story says a panel of outside advisers recommends the FDA approve the drug, because it cured 24 heart-related problems for every 10 cases of bleeding it caused. The department is mulling things over and has already missed two target dates for the drug's review.

Consumer group wants halt on review of Lilly drug [AP]
(Photo:largeprime)

Fuze Slenderize
Advertising for Fuze Slenderize energy drinks was allegedly misleading consumers with claims that the drinks would cause appetite suppression and/or weight loss. (Consumerist was suspicious of Fuze's advertising claims years ago.) If you bought a Slenderize drink between July 16, 2004 and April 6, 2009 (July 16, 2002 and July 15, 2004 in New Jersey) You can claim for fewer than ten bottles without proof of purchase. Fill out the form here. Deadline: July 10, 2009.

T-Moble Early Termination Fees
If you were charged a flat-rate early termination fee instead of a prorated one when canceling your T-Mobile contract between July 23, 1999 and February 19, 2009, you're eligible. However, you're also eligible if you happened to be under a T-Mobile contract with a flat-rate ETF during that period, whether you canceled the contract or not. The claim form is located here. Deadline: September 25, 2009.

450 Prescription Drugs
The suit alleges price-fixing among major pharmaceutical companies, and consumers who paid cash (between 8/1/01 and 1/23/09) or percentage-based co-pays (between 8/1/01 and 3/15/05) for any of 450 name-brand drugs (PDF link) are eligible. Evidence such as receipts or a doctor's letter is recommended, but not required. Get the claim form for your class here. Deadline: July 9, 2009.

Bextra and Celebrex
The suit claims that Bextra (which is now off the market) and Celebrex were marketed in a way that was not consistent with their FDA approval. If you paid cash or a co-pay for Bextra or Celebrex before July 29, 2005, you're eligible to file a claim. Deadline: October 23, 2009

GE Microwaves (warning: site immediately plays video with sound)
A number of GE microwave owners have experienced scary, scary problems with their appliances, including control panel failures, arcing, fires, pet deaths, property damage, and the microwaves turn themselves on for no reason. They are looking for other people who have experienced similar problems and are interested in a class action suit.

(Thanks to Top Class Actions for some of this info, and our lovely readers for the rest!)

(Photo: muffet)

He wrote, in part:

I don't know how many people are affected by this, but I bet quite a few. I'm certainly annoyed by it. I've been taking Prozac for years. I remember how nice it was the day it went generic (fluoxetine hcl) and my prescription drug insurance cost went way down. It's been generic for a long time now.

United Health Care has a three tiered prescription drug program. Tier 1 for generics (the cheapest, was $8 now $10 for 30 days supply), Tier 2 for name brand ($25) and Tier 3 for optional stuff like Viagra ($40). That was how it used to be defined anyway. Now it seems they can put any drug in any tier they want. As of last August my generic Prozac went from Tier 1 to Tier 2. I asked them why and they just said that sometimes drugs change tiers.

As many people take this, I'm surprised there hasn't been more of a backlash. I used to have 2 generic Tier1 prescriptions and one name brand Tier 2 (Lipitor), for a total of $41 per month. (8+8+25). Now I have two Tier 2 and one Tier 1 for a total of $60 per month (10+25+25).

It just makes me mad that they are so greedy.

We don't normally have time to answer every question on the tipline, but I had some extra time that day. So I wrote B. back, telling him about the $4 generics program at Wal-Mart, Target, and some other stores. I remembered seeing fluoxetine on the list, and behold, there it was. I advised him to fill his prescription at Wal-Mart without using his insurance card.

A few weeks later, he wrote back:

I just want to thank you for your reply. I was not aware of the deals available at Wal-Mart on fluoxetine and triamterene/HCTZ, both of which I use. Now, instead of paying $33.99/month for these two items thru my United Health Care prescription drug plan, I can pay $20 every 3 months by not using any insurance at all! It turns out that even though the fluoxetine is a $25 Tier 2 UHC drug, Walgreens "only charges $23.99 for it because that's how much they sell it for". So they save me $1.01 and think I should thank them.

I've been thinking about it since, though. It's been a few years since I've filled a prescription with an insurance card. I remember Target charging me just the $4 generic cost instead of my $10 co-pay, I wasn't sure whether Wal-Mart and other stores had this policy, and even whether it was still done that way, so I advised him not to use his insurance.

Have you switched to a store that carries $4 generics since stores started this policy?

(Photo: jm3)

Pfizer, like most of the big drug companies, already has a variety of assistance programs for people who have trouble affording Pfizer drugs. For more information about such programs, visit the Prescription Assistance Program site.

So why start a new program for the newly unemployed? Most people don't now about assistance programs, and those who never expected to find themselves without insurance may be grateful for the new publicity. Also, makers of pricey brand-name drugs are suffering in the current economic climate.

The Chicago Tribune notes:

Pfizer's program comes at a time when many drugmakers, including Pfizer, have been raising prices on their drugs, partly to offset declines in revenue as the global recession reduces the number of prescriptions people can afford to fill.

The 70-plus drugs covered in the program include several diabetes drugs and some of Pfizer's top money makers, from cholesterol fighter Lipitor and painkiller Celebrex to fibromyalgia treatment Lyrica and Viagra for impotence. Drugs from several other popular classes such as antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungal treatments, heart medications, contraceptives and smoking cessation products also are included. Cheaper generic versions are available for quite a few of the drugs.

It's worth pointing out again that yes, many of these drugs are available as generics, or there are similar generic medications that treat the same issue.

Prescription Assistance Program
Pfizer offers free Viagra, Lipitor and other drugs to uninsured, jobless Americans [Chicago Tribune] (Thanks, HiPwr!)
(Photo: mundolaura)

MIRAPEX - for "Restless Leg Syndrome"
"...hallucinations may occur..."
"...increased gambling, sexual, or other overpowering urges..."




ABILIFY - bipolar disorder, schizophrenia
"coma or death...And trouble swallowing."




FLOMAX - decreases symptoms from having an enlarged prostate (mainly frequent urination)
* runny nose
* dizziness
* decrease in semen


ALLI - weight loss aid
"These changes may include gas with oily discharge, an increased number of bowel movements, an urgent need to have them, and an inability to control them."



VERAMYSYT - "treats allergy symptoms with a gentle fine mist that is scent-free."
"nasal sores, glaucoma, cataracts and nasal fungal infection"
More disturbingly, ads for Veramyst used to say, "The way VERAMYST works is not entirely understood."

ORTHO-NOVUM - birth control pill
"...benign but dangerous liver tumors. These benign liver tumors can rupture and cause fatal internal bleeding. In addition, some studies report an increased risk of developing liver cancer."



ADVAIR - asthma treatment
"asthma related death"





CHANTIX - anti-smoking aid
"Nausea, sleep disturbance, constipation, flatulence, and vomiting."

That doesn't sound so bad, except "sleep disturbance" is more like psychotic nightmares that persist even after you stop taking the pill. To wit:

By night four, my dreams began to take on characteristics of a David Cronenberg movie. Every time I'd drift off, I'd dream that an invisible, malevolent entity was emanating from my air conditioner, which seemed to be rattling even more than usual. I'd nap for twenty minutes or so before bolting awake with an involuntary gasp. I had the uneasy sense that I wasn't alone.

Did we mention the killing of yourslef? Another side effect is, "suicide ideation"

Like a spoiled teenager, I'd suddenly uproot drawers from the bureau, push all the belongings off shelves with a sudden swat of the arm, smash a glass against the wall, and then the crying would take over yet again. Meanwhile, the room seemed to be pulsing and reverberating around me, and my eye would keep zeroing in on objects-the television, the AC, a pair of shoes-and feel as though they were somehow buzzing with life and gleefully watching me endure the biggest meltdown I'd ever had. I had somehow ruined myself, and suicide seemed like a good way to avoid the embarrassment of this fact's being exposed.

This Is My Brain on Chantix [NY Mag]

ACCUTANE - acne
* depressed mood, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, crying spells, aggression or agitation, changes in behavior, hallucinations, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
* sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
* blurred vision, sudden and severe headache or pain behind your eyes, sometimes with vomiting;
* hearing problems, hearing loss, or ringing in your ears;
* seizure (convulsions);
* severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
* loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
* severe diarrhea, rectal bleeding, black, bloody, or tarry stools;
* fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, purple spots under your skin, easy bruising or bleeding; or
* joint stiffness, bone pain or fracture.

But hey, at least you don't have pimples!

Undoubtedly we've missed some deservingly disturbing drugs. Rectify our omissions in the comments.

(Photo: Maddest Hatter)

(Photo: nseaver)

A Yale University School of Medicine study found that phenylpropanolamine did increase the risk of stroke in women, prompting the FDA to ask drug makers to reformulate their products.

These emails have been circulating for years now (the FDA's Public Health Advisory was issued in November of 2000) and, as a result, most products that formerly contained the ingredient have been reformulated.

The FDA says:

We have received numerous requests for a list of products containing PPA. Since companies continue to reformulate their products, FDA is not maintaining a comprehensive, updated list of products that still contain PPA. FDA is aware of emails circulating widely that list many products allegedly containing PPA. These emails, however, generally contain dated and inaccurate information and should be ignored.

The FDA recommends that consumers read the labels of OTC drug products to determine if the product contains PPA. The Agency believes this to be the most accurate method for determining the PPA content of OTC products rather than providing an incomplete or out-of-date list of products that may have already been reformulated and no longer contain PPA.

If you're still concerned, you should check the labels of your older medicines — for PPA and for the expiration date.

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Information Page [FDA]
(Photo:yoshiffles)

Our sister-publication Consumer Reports Health has this to say about Latisse:

If you go to the Latisse Web site you'll see an eye as blue as a tropical sea, surrounded by lush, palm-tree-like eyelashes. But that Caribbean-blue iris could change to dark brown in patients using the drug. Some people could see a permanent change in the color of their eyes, with lighter greens and blues turning to darker browns.

And then there's the possibility of a permanently darkened eyelid. We are concerned that the Latisse trial included too few African-Americans, who may be especially prone to this side effect. And it can cause itchy, red eyes in a significant number of users.

We're also worried that the people using Latisse for cosmetic reasons could be less likely than users of Lumigan to use the medication as directed. Might some people apply more than necessary in an effort to get even longer eyelashes? If so, it might exacerbate some of the cosmetic side effects that appeared in the drug's trials.

And then of course, there's the possibility that using Latisse for cosmetic reasons might mask the symptoms of glaucoma — causing the disease to go undiagnosed.

Drug promises fuller lashes, but at what cost? [CR Health]

So what type of data was falsified? Info regarding the shelf life of products, and data concerning production practices.

To be clear, it's applications for new drugs that have been suspended. Nothing is being pulled off the market and there are no reports of anything bad happening to anyone.

"FDA Halts New Applications From Indian Drug Maker's Plant" [U.S. News & World Report]

CRH says that Chantix is an effective drug — but its commercials never mention its name. Why not? Well, no one knows — but what we do know is that if you mention the drug you have to mention the side effects — and the side effects of Chantix are pretty serious.

Last year, the drug's label was updated to include a warning about potential psychiatric effects of the drug which include "changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal ideation and attempted and completed suicide"— and CRH says that the FAA has actually banned pilots from taking the drug because of the severity of these potential side effects.

So if you see an advertisement that looks like a PSA, stop and think.

CRH says:

When you see an ad or Web site with that PSA-like tone, listen or look to see who's sponsoring it. If it's a drug company, and you decide to visit the site, realize that the information, however useful, is there to help promote a drug. And be wary of the interactive options that these sites offer. For example, a Share Your Story section on the FibroCenter site requires you to sign a release basically allowing Pfizer to change your whole story to make it more "commercially viable." So much for an authentic online community.

As far as Chantix goes, about a year ago, New York Magazine had an interesting first person account from someone who had a bad experience with the drug.

The most unsettling thing about sleeping on Chantix is that I never felt like I was truly asleep. Some part of me remained on guard. It was more like lucid dreaming, what I thought it might feel like to be hypnotized. And it didn't entirely go away come morning. As I showered, shaved, and scrambled into clothes, I tried to shake a weird, paranoid sense that I'd just been psychically raped by a household appliance.

Mental air conditioner rape aside... it did help him quit smoking, before he started hallucinating and smashed up his entire apartment. Chantix isn't for everyone, it seems.

Pfizer and Chantix: Stealth advertising at its finest [Consumer Reports Health]

From the NYT:

Regulators say the ads overstated the drug's ability to improve women's moods and clear up acne, while playing down its potential health risks. Under a settlement with the states, Bayer agreed last Friday to spend at least $20 million on the campaign and for the next six years to submit all Yaz ads for federal screening before they appear.

"You may have seen some Yaz commercials recently that were not clear," an actress says in the new corrective television spot, as she looks into the camera. "The F.D.A. wants us to correct a few points in those ads."

The offending ads can still be found on YouTube. Wow, look at all of our problems floating away in happy balloons.

A Birth Control Pill That Promised Too Much [NYT]

"Times are tough," said Robin Michel, executive vice president for Giant Food, which is based in Landover. "If this is the way that we can help most people, why not?"

Shortly after the announcement, Wegmans, a chain of 72 stores on the east coast, announced their own free antibiotics program.

Wegmans' spokeswoman Jo Natale says the program has been in the works for weeks and called the timing of the announcements coincidental. She says the Wegmans program was not a direct reaction to Giant's program.

Customers will, of course, still need a prescription from their doctors.

Giant Food To Offer Free Prescription Antibiotics [WaPo]
Wegman's Joins Giant, Offers Free Antibiotics [WaPo]

What won't stop, according to critics of the industry: free dinners, payment for consultations, or the $16 billion spent annually to hand out free drug samples:

“We have arrived at a point in the history of medicine in America where doctors have deep, deep financial ties with the drug makers and marketers,” said Allan Coukell, the director of policy for the Prescription Project, a nonprofit group in Boston working to promote evidence-based medicine.

One side-effect of the voluntary ban is that swag companies—"providers to the world's landfills"—stand to lose around $1 billion, or about 5% of their annual income. (And you know what that is going to do to swag prices!) But hey, at least you won't feel like you're at a NASCAR event the next time you're waiting on the examination table.

For a good look at the wide variety of promo items drug companies hand out, pay a visit to the Drug Rep Toys blog.

"No Mug? Drug Makers Cut Out Goodies for Doctors" [New York Times]
(Photo: Drug Rep Toys)

Drug maker Wyeth paid ghostwriters to write medical journal articles that were favorable to its female hormone replacement therapy drug, according to Congressional letters referenced in an article in the NYT.

The letters, sent electronically Friday by Senator Charles E. Grassley, ask Wyeth and DesignWrite, a medical writing firm, to disclose payments related to the preparation of journal articles and the activities of doctors who were recruited to put their names on them for publication.

The letters are part of a continuing investigation by Mr. Grassley, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, into drug industry influence on doctors.

“Any attempt to manipulate the scientific literature, that can in turn mislead doctors to prescribe drugs that may not work and/or cause harm to their patients, is very troubling,” Mr. Grassley, an Iowa Republican, wrote Friday to Wyeth’s chairman and chief executive, Bernard J. Poussot.

One article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommended a hormone replacement therapy drug that now carries a cancer risk warning. The article claimed that there was "no definitive evidence" that the drug caused breast cancer.

According to the NYT, the documents show that the drug company executives came up with ideas for the articles, titled them, paid writers to write the manuscripts, "recruited academic authors and identified publications to run the articles — all without disclosing the companies’ roles to journal editors or readers."

At least 10 of the articles seem to have been written before they were submitted to the "author" to review. In all cases, the drug company had final say before the articles were published.

Drug Maker Said to Pay Ghostwriters for Journal Articles [NYT]

The reader writes:

I live in Oxford, MS, and my girlfriend and I researched the availability of Plan B in this state. We knew there might some puritanical problems with purchasing it here in Mississippi – we have all kinds of arcane alcohol laws and only one abortion clinic in the state, after all – and from what we could tell, a pharmacist can refuse to sell Plan B to a woman on religious/moral grounds. But otherwise pharmacies do carry it, and it should be available to a woman as long as she can prove she is over age 18. As this is a university town and a top-ranked party school, we supposed it wouldn't be as hard to get Plan B as in other really small, ultra-conservative rural towns. And we also figured that a corporate pharmacy such as Walgreens would be less troublesome to deal with than a mom-and-pop one.

Well, the other day we decided to be extra-safe and to get the Plan B pill from Walgreens here in town. My girlfriend went and requested Plan B, equipped with the knowledge that it's a non-prescription drug available with ID. She said the pharmacy worker started asking for proof of insurance in order to get the pill. My girlfriend refused and asked to speak to someone in charge. The pharmacist then came, and my girlfriend told him she simply wanted Plan B and that her ID should be good enough. The pharmacist then went about getting the pill, but they also seem to have a policy, a lá abortion clinics, of forcing a waiting period of an hour and giving adoption literature to the person requesting the contraceptive. Now, Plan B is just an additional spermicide, not an abortion pill, but that's another can of worms. In the end, my girlfriend demanded the Plan B immediately, and she got it, but not without a fair amount of interference on Walgreens' part. They also insisted on writing down her driver's license number.

I'm wondering how much trouble other people may have had with Walgreens (or any other pharmacy) over acquiring Plan B. There are several other Red States that make allowances for the pharmacists' "moral concerns" to get in the way of getting Plan B. What are our rights in getting this pill right away? Walgreens' website didn't indicate that they could possibly get all high-and-mighty with her when she went to make the purchase. Could they also get uppity when you buy other kinds of contraception?

(Photo: Monotasker)

Vermont courts found that Wyeth hadn't given adequate warning to doctors and patients that one particular injection method, the one used on Diana, greatly increases the risk of gangrene. Wyeth is trying to use Federal preemption to win the case, arguing that patients is that consumers can't sue a pharma company if the drug has been approved by federal regulators. The case, Wyeth v. Levine, is before the Supreme Court. The Alliance for Justice has made a 22-minute documentary about Diana Levine so you can learn more about her story. Watch it in its entirety, inside...

Access Denied [Alliance For Justice]
PREVIOUSLY: Big Pharma Goes Before Supreme Court To Get State Lawsuits Banned

When the drug program began in 2006, Humana's premiums were among the cheapest. Humana, Mr. Noland said, has provided the most cumulative value for its drug-plan members, saving them an average of $4,900 on drug costs during that time and that the premiums are still in line with rivals.

The drug plans are heavily subsidized by the federal government and are offered through private insurance companies. Insurers will begin advertising their plans Oct. 1, and the six-week enrollment period starts in mid-November.

It's unclear how the price increases will affect the market. Medicare beneficiaries tend to select a plan and stay with it, and the market is highly concentrated.

"Medicare Drug Premium on Rise" [Wall Street Journal]
(Photo: Getty)

Here's the drugs affected by the embargo:

Acyclovir
Cefprozil
Cefuroxime Axetil
Cephalexin
Ciprofloxacin HCl
Clarithromycin
Fenofibrate
Fluconazole
Fosinopril Sodium
Fosinopril Sodium and Hydrochlorothiazide
Gabapentin
Ganciclovir Sodium
Glimepiride
Isotretinoin
Lamivudine
Loratadine (OTC)
Metformin HCl
Nefazodone HCl
Nitrofurantoin; Nitrofurantoin and Macrocrystalline
Ofloxacin
Pravastatin Sodium
Ranitidine
Simvastatin
Terazosin HCl
Valacyclovir HCl
Zidovudine (PEPFAR)

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Clarithromycin
Valacyclovir HCl
Pravastatin Sodium
Acyclovir
Ciprofloxacin HCl
Ganciclovir Sodium *
Gabapentin

These are the citations from the warning letters the FDA sent to Ranbaxy that were not resolved and prompted the import ban:

* The facility's beta-lactam containment program (measures taken to control cross-contamination), which appeared inadequate to prevent the potential for cross-contamination of pharmaceuticals;
* Inadequate batch production and control records;
* Inadequate failure investigations; (A failure investigation is done to address any manufacturing control or product rejection to determine the root cause and prevent recurrence); and,
* Inadequate aseptic (sterile) processing operations.
* The lack of assurance responsible individuals were present to determine the firm was taking necessary steps under cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice);
* Inaccurate written records of the cleaning and use of major equipment;
* Incomplete batch production and control records; and,
* Inadequate procedures for the review and approval of production and control records for drug products

FDA Issues Warning Letters to Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., and an Import Alert for Drugs from Two Ranbaxy Plants in India [FDA] (Thanks to Chris!)

(Photo: Schodts)

"When we did testing with consumers, what we found out was John really resonated with them," said Jim Sage, senior director and leader of the Lipitor marketing team at Pfizer.

The Wall Street Journal describes the commercial as "visually similar to some of the Jarvik ads, in that it shows Mr. Erlendson in an outdoorsy setting, biking and picnicking by the water with his wife and son — a notable ad with Mr. Jarvik showed a body double rowing a racing scull across a lake."

Rather than impress you with his resume (John is actually a talent agent, if you must know), the new Lipitor pitchman encourages you to be smarter than he was. Silly, John. He tried to control his cholesterol with diet and exercise. What was he thinking?:

"Talk about a wake-up call. I had a heart attack at 57," Mr. Erlendson says in the commercial's opening, in which he's filmed in close-up and black-and-white. "My doctor told me I should have been doing more for my high cholesterol. What was I thinking? But now I trust my heart to Lipitor."

Pfizer Brings Back Lipitor Ads — Without Robert Jarvik [WSJ Health Blog]
Pfizer Drops Celebrity Pitch in New Lipitor Spots [WSJ via Gawker]

They're not the same after all. The Target generic on the right is 1/2 the strength of the name brand on the left. How? Check the dosing...your recommended intake of the generic is twice as much as the name brand. So in this case, the generic is not only cheaper, it's inferior.

It's not enough to just read the price tags, also check out the product labels to make sure you're really comparing apples with apples.

(Thanks to Bruce!)

Whether it says CD, CR, ER, LA, SR, XL, XR, or XT, the letters really stand for a version of the drug that releases differently into the body. By coming up with different variations on old drugs, pharmaceutical companies can keep the profits rolling on drugs whose patents have expired. Best of all, if they can get the doctor to write one of these letter sequences after the drug's name, the pharmacy can't substitute a lower-priced generic (unless a generic of the extended release version is already on the market).

For example, Wellbutrin (bupropion) came out in 1985 requiring 3 pills a day. In 1996, 36 months before the old patent expired, they came up with Wellbutrin SR, only 2 pills a day. In 2003, 5 months before the SR patent expired, Wellbutrin XL was released, only one pill a day.

A 3 month supply of 300 mg of bupropion per day retails on average for $270. You'll have to pay $693 and $656 for Wellbutrin SR and XL, respectively. Over the course of a year, that's $1080 extra dollars. Is it really worth paying 2.5 times as much just for one fewer pill?

There are exceptions where an extended formula works better, like short-acting calcium channel blockers like nifedipine, or Parkinson's treatment drug Sinemet CR. Luckily, in both cases, the extended release versions are available as lower-costing generics. Furthermore, a certain medication might otherwise be too hard to time correctly if several pills are needed a day at specific intervals. As always always always, any change in your medication needs to be discussed with your doctor.

[source: How To Save On Prescription Drugs]
RELATED: 14 Ways To Save On Drugs Big Pharma Doesn't Want You To Know

ELIMINATE NONESSENTIAL PRESCRIPTIONS
1. Eliminate medicines that are no longer needed
2. Eliminate medicines that no longer work
3. Eliminate medicines that have never worked
4. Eliminate medicines that were never needed

THINK OUTSIDE THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BOTTLE
5. Treat with lifestyle changes
6. Use nondrug treatments
7. Prevent disease naturally

STEER CLEAR OF OVERPRICED REDUNDANT DRUGS
8. Don't "Ask Your Doctor" (for Advertised Drugs)
9. Insist on generic drugs
10. Insist on cheaper medicines with the same class
11. Insist on a cheaper class from the same treatment goal

PLAY IT SMART!
12. Cut costs by splitting tablets
13. Don't treat side effects of one drug with another
14. Comparison-shop

Be sure to talk to your doctor before changing anything about your medication. In fact, that's the very first thing Jardini wants you to do, schedule a "treatment review" visit where you discuss the efficacy and cost and ask the right questions about the treatment you're getting. "It is not just tough luck if your doctor chooses costly medicines for you," writes Jardini, "The system is designed this way....a health care revolution...needs to take place in the United States...but it will only start when patients enlist physician support and refuse to be denied affordable care...prohibitive cost is an intolerable side effect too."

How to Save on Prescription Drugs: 20 Cost-saving Methods [Amazon]

(Photo: xysmas (Aaron))

Here’s how it works: Many health insurers contract with PBMs to administer their drug plans. Among other functions, the PBMs negotiate lower drug prices with pharmacies. But some PBMs, under a practice allowed by Medicare, then charge a higher price to health insurers and, ultimately, both the government and patients. Though the opaque practice is common in the private insurance market, Medicare currently has a proposal to curb it, because the agency is worried the tactic, by inflating patients’ drug costs, is speeding their pace toward the “doughnut hole” coverage gap.

The differences between what the PBMs pay pharmacies and what they charge the plans can range from a few dollars to well over $100. In one case, a Medicare patient filled a prescription for a 90-day supply, or 270 pills, of the generic antinausea medication prochlorperazine. The difference between what the PBM, Express Scripts, paid the pharmacy and the price that showed up on the patient’s explanation of benefits was $146.53.

Well, that seems high. The PBM told the WSJ that mark-ups over $100 are rare, and that the money is used to help " fund programs that drive patients away from branded drugs and toward generics that ultimately still cost less."

Generics Are Cheap, but They Could Be Cheaper [WSJ Health Blog]
(Photo: Daquella Manera )

In December 2007, John (not his real name) was in hospital with an infection and he was given Cipro. “Shortly after starting treatment with Cipro, I felt a "popping" in my shoulders,” he says. “At the time, I could barely move my arms and since then I have suffered constant pain; I am only now starting to improve thanks to physical therapy.”

Any patient taking these drugs and experiencing tendon pain should immediately stop taking them, stop any exercise, and contact their doctor.

Antibiotics can harm tendons, FDA warns [Reuters]

He consumed 1 teaspoon measured in a medicine cup which in its concentrated state contained 20 times the prescribed dose (100mg) and within hours, his organs began to fail and had to be placed on a ventilator.

The KSLTV article says,

Laurie Scott said, "This shouldn't have happened. It was needless. It was senseless and it's changed lives forever, not just Jessie, but there are other people who love him and his future."

Laurie trusted what she gave her son, what had been filled, was correct.

"I always ask questions. I've always medicated him his whole life. I'm the caregiver and it makes it extremely difficult," she said.

After 16 days in ICU, Jessie moved to intermediate care for another four days, then to HealthSouth for intensive therapy.

Wal-Mart Corporation issued the following statement to KSL News: "This is a very sad situation. Our thoughts are with this young man and his family."

There was a dramatic turn of events this weekend. For the first time, Jessie spoke, though the words are limited and intermittent. We will continue following his story in the weeks and months to come.

What makes this even more infuriating is that pharmacists receive extensive specialized training to prevent these exact types of situations. We are supposed to be able to trust that the medication the pharmacy prepares won't kill us, or worse. We are, however, shocked that Walmart seems to actually be acknowledging the error—they usually deny everything until the point of absurdity. Our thoughts are with the Scott family, we hope that Jessie gets better soon.

Teen in coma after wrong dose of medication [KSLTV] (Thanks to Seth!)

Home buyers should look beyond low prices for long-term values [Consumer Reports] "Follow these tips to help secure the best deal [on a home] you can."

New ways to save on drugs [CNN Money] "Here's the news you need to know to avoid the worst of the pain - no clandestine trips to Canada required."

The Four Pillars of Investing [Get Rich Slowly] "For the past year, I've been looking for a book to recommend for novice investors, a book that would offer sensible advice without becoming too technical. I believe I've finally found that book."

5 stupid 'fixes' for money woes [MSN Money] "If a solution sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And the words 'quick and easy' should set off alarm bells."

— FREE MONEY FINANCE

(Photo: Tengaport)