Two anti-parasitic drugs, pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, given during the first year of life, can reduce eye and brain damage for children with a dangerous infection called congenital toxoplasmosis, new research shows.

The parasite that causes the infection -- Toxoplasma gondii -- can infect humans through a number of ways, including undercooked, infected meat and T. gondii oocysts (eggs) found in cat litter. Newly infected pregnant women can transmit the parasite to the fetus.

In most people, the immune system prevents the parasite from causing acute illness. However, if the infection is acquired for the first time while a woman is pregnant, it can cause severe eye and brain damage in the fetus.

This study of 120 infants with toxoplasmosis found that treatment with the two anti-parasitic drugs during the first year of life resulted in normal longer-term outcomes for all children born with the infection who did not already have severe brain involvement.

Even among children born with moderate or severe neurologic disease, symptoms were resolved within a few weeks of starting treatment, and 72 percent of them had normal long-term cognitive outcomes, the study said.

Reporting in the May 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Disease, the researchers said their findings show the importance of screening for toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and newborns.

"We now know that we can improve longer-term outcomes if we treat the acute infection early, but to treat it early, we have to detect it early, and we know we are missing many infants who would benefit," study author Dr. Rima McLeod, a professor of infectious diseases and medical director of the Toxoplasmosis Center at the University of Chicago, said in a prepared statement.

An estimated 85 percent of women of childbearing age in the United States are at risk of acquiring the infection for the first time during gestation and transmitting the infection to their fetus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

COMMON painkillers such as ibuprofen can double the risk of a heart attack if taken at the highest recommended levels, research suggests.

Analysis of all trials revealing a vascular event linked to use of painkillers has shown that high doses of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen and diclofenac, could cause attacks.

The drugs have been previously identified as increasing the risk of heart attacks but experts say this is the biggest and most definitive study yet.

The study does not examine low-dose over-the-counter painkillers, but rather high-dose prescription products.

Vioxx, which is part of a group of anti-inflammatories known as COX-2 inhibitors, was banned in 2004 after it was shown that patients using it were more than twice as likely to have heart attacks.

The latest study confirmed that COX-2 inhibitors doubled the risk but found that NSAIDs did, too.

When all "vascular events" - heart attacks, stroke or vascular disease - were taken together, the drugs increased the risk by 40 per cent.

Researchers from the universities of Oxford and Rome carried out the study, which was published in the British Medical Journal.

They examined the results of all trials in which vascular events had been recorded for COX-2 inhibitors and NSAIDs.

By combining the results they were able to estimate the effects of these drugs more reliably than any individual trial.

They found there were three more heart attacks per 1000 people every year in those who did not already have heart disease but who were taking one of the two types of painkillers.

NSAIDs relieve pain by blocking the action of enzymes called cyclooxygenases (COX), which control inflammatory responses. Although they are effective, the drugs can cause ulcers and dangerous stomach bleeding. COX-2 inhibitors were designed as a safer, long-term alternative to NSAIDs.

Senior researchers said yesterday that the findings showed the urgent need for further clinical studies to identify whether some drugs carried a lower risk than others.

Colin Baigent, who directed the research for Britain's Medical Research Council, said the analysis was carried out over several years and involved 140,000 patients.

"It supersedes all the previous work that has been done in this area," Dr Baigent said.

"Until now, doctors have been very confused. We have looked at all the evidence that has ever been done and our report is hopefully going to help doctors assess these drugs."

He said that people should not panic at the findings as the heart attack rate was small and related only to high-dose patients - those who took "about twice what the normal person would take". Some patients are on high doses with their doctor's approval.

Aspirin, one of the most commonly used painkillers which is sometimes grouped with NSAIDs, was not included in the analysis.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The new 'smart bomb' cancer drugs designed to eliminate tumors at their genetic weak points may set off a huge competition in the U.S. drug market.

Results of clinical studies on several of these drugs will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology which opened Friday in Atlanta, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Most of the drugs haven`t received Food and Drug Administration approval but could prove to be good news for cancer patients and doctors, the report said.

But if and when the new drugs go on the market, manufacturers of existing drugs could have a big problem on their hands as their huge investments would be threatened.

Some experts say increased competition will eventually hold down skyrocketing prices for new cancer therapies, which can cost as much as $100,000 a year per drug, the Journal reported.

To be sure, any potential competition is still some time away as the challengers have yet to prove their products work, but the threat is looming.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Many Rwandan women and girls infected with HIV/AIDS are now getting supplemental food with their medicines.

For Grace and her daughter Juliette, the anniversary of the April 1994 Rwanda genocide means one thing: they have lived with HIV for a dozen years, and their disease has progressed to AIDS. Grace was among the estimated 250,000 women who were raped at the time and is one of the untold numbers of women who were infected with HIV as a result. Juliette, now eight years old, is also infected.

Until recently Grace was living in abject poverty, trying to cope with the stigma associated with being HIV-positive and with the daily worry that there would be no one to look after Juliette after her early death.

At first, when Grace began to get sick, she found it inconceivable that she had AIDS. Those who carried out the genocide "murdered my husband and left me to die slowly from their AIDS," she said. She found it equally inconceivable that there were drugs that could fight the disease. "In my case, only God, who knows that it wasn't my fault that I caught this sickness, could perform a miracle and heal me."

Grace and her daughter, like Josiane, Didacienne, Triphonie and other women in her situation, have now found that they do not have to wait for miracles to occur. All have been able to benefit from the Rwandan government's commitment to providing anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy to those who need it -- and for those who cannot afford it, at no cost.

These women are among the estimated 6 million Africans living with HIV/AIDS who are in immediate need of anti-retroviral medicines, out of a total of nearly 26 million HIV-positive people in the region.

Recent data from Rwanda's 2005 Demographic Health Survey indicates an estimated overall adult infection rate of 3 per cent nationally. Earlier estimates by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for 2003 placed the prevalence rate in the towns at 6.4 per cent and in the rural areas at 2.8 per cent. The programme's Global Report for 2004, also using 2003 figures, estimated that some 250,000 Rwandan children and adults up to the age of 49 are living with HIV (figures for adults over 49 were not available). Of those, 22,000 were estimated to be children under the age of 15. Of particular concern is the high prevalence rate among young women between the ages of 15 and 24, five times the rate among young men of the same age group.

Wide treatment coverage

The Rwandan government, with financial support from a variety of sources including the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, bilateral donor agencies and private funds such as the Clinton Foundation, is able to provide ARV treatment to about 40 per cent of the people in need. Doctors and nurses are being trained, and a growing number of health clinics are able to treat AIDS patients. The estimated 19,000 people living with AIDS under treatment by December 2005 represented one of the highest coverage rates in sub-Saharan Africa.

This is particularly impressive in a country where 66 per cent of the population live below the poverty line and where the majority of households are unable to produce enough to feed themselves, even though 91 per cent rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Rwanda's food crisis remains chronic. It is even more severe in the context of HIV/AIDS, presenting a challenge to the ultimate success of the government's treatment and care programme.

That programme involves not only medical and resource questions, but also interlocking issues of poverty, stigma and gender inequality. Because of these issues, access to ARVs is often not a reality for those who are the most marginalized and in greatest need of the medicines.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Dubai has become a major transit point for trafficking in counterfeit drugs and Viagra, the popular recipe for impotency, tops the list. A major part of the fake drugs are meant for the Indian subcontinent.

About 41 per cent of counterfeit drugs seized in 2005 came from the Far East, while 35 per cent came from north Asia. The Middle East, Africa and Europe  accounted for 8 per cent each. Impotency drug Viagra accounted for 15 per cent of the total drugs  Dubai's customs officials seized last year. It was by far the most popular counterfeit drug with traffickers, officials from customs, health as well as intellectual property departments told reporters.

Other drugs seized included steroid injections for performance enhancement and beauty shots, Botox. Panadol, a painkiller equivalent of Crocin was also recovered in large quantities. There have been allegations that most of the Panadol tablets available in the groceries and supermarkets here were counterfeit.

The drug is popular with expatriate Indians who carry it in large quantities during their trips to India. Mohammad Mattar Al Mari, Executive Director of Customs Operations at Dubai Customs, said Dubai was a transit point and a major share of the drugs were meant of other countries including India.

"Dubai is a logistics hub for many regions. The drugs go from here to other countries, such as Russia, the Indian sub-continent and Africa," he said.

Dubai is a huge market for spurious goods including automobile spare parts, high-end watches, perfumes, DVDs and even alcohol. In the popular Karama market in Dubai, Rolex watches — duplicates of course — are available for Dh 100 (Rs 1200) and are a hit with tourists.

Municipality inspectors conduct raids from time to time but the fake goods return to the shelves sooner or later.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Young women with diabetes with sexual dysfunction may find that Viagra (sildenafil) improves arousal, orgasm and sexual enjoyment and decreases pain during intercourse, results of a small study suggest.

Diabetic women may experience sexual dysfunction due to vaginal dryness, discomfort, and other factors, Dr. Salvatore Caruso and associates, from the University of Catania in Italy, note in their paper, published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility. Some of Viagra's physiologic effects, which are beneficial in men, may also be helpful for women, they hypothesized.

To test their theory, they recruited 32 women with type 1 diabetes who in the past had experienced normal sexual desire, but currently experienced sexual dysfunction -- for 3.5 years on average.

The subjects were randomly assigned to Viagra or inactive "placebo" and then the opposite treatment for 8 weeks at a time. The women were instructed to take the medication 1 hour before sexual intercourse.

Viagra use was associated with significantly improved arousal, orgasm, and enjoyment. Only desire and frequency did not change significantly.

A special ultrasound test was used to measure blood flow in the clitoris. Viagra, but not placebo, was associated with improved blood flow.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The Washington State Board of Pharmacy has issued a draft rule which would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions; a public hearing is set for 31 August. The rule would amend WAC 246-863-095, Pharmacist's professional responsibilities. ( Draft Rule - PDF).

The rule appears to allow a pharmacist to decide "not dispense prescriptions for any reason" because this new item is listed as something that "[a] pharmacist shall not delegate." This is a backhanded way to grant pharmacist the power to override a doctor's treatment plan for a patient.

I'm scratching my head on this one: the rule says that a pharamacist shall not delegate the professional reponsibility: "[d]ecision to not dispense prescriptions for any reason." Leave the handwriting jokes aside -- I don't think a lawyer could have made something any less clear than this. Well, except for the new preamble (emphasis added):

Pharmacists and pharmacy ancillary personnel shall not obstruct a patient in obtaining a lawfully prescribed drug or device. If a pharmacist cannot dispense a lawfully prescribed drug or device, then the pharmacist must provide timely alternatives for the patient to obtain treatment.

First, the pharmacist "shall not obstruct" .... to this lay person, this sounds like the pharmacist has to fill the script.

Second, "cannot dispense" sounds like the pharmacy doesn't have the drug in stock. It is not the same thing as "will not" dispense ... that is, not until you get to that "decide not to dispense for any reason" bit, which comes later in the rule.

Washington State is not alone. According to a March article in Salon, "at least 15 states have legislation pending that would allow not just pharmacists to refuse to dispense prescriptions, but would also protect cashiers who refused to ring them up."

Forty Years of Legal Contraception At Risk?
The political war on morning after or emergency contraception has morphed into a war on all contraception, according to some critics. Cristina Page, writing for TomPaine.com asserts that all anti-abortion groups in the US also oppose the use of contraception. Some oppose the use of condoms in Africa, the home of AIDs. She writes:

The American Life League explained, "We have been working to prove that prescription contraceptives have nothing to do with woman's health and well-being but are recreational drugs that prevent fertilization and abort children."

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

 

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The U.S. government announced a new synthetic drug control strategy Thursday that calls for a 15 percent reduction in methamphetamine and prescription drug abuse in three years.

"Although teen drug use in the United States has dropped by nearly 20 percent over the last three years," said John Walters, director of national drug control policy, "we will not let up on the pressure being applied to the methamphetamine market. The aggressive measures called for in the synthetics strategy build upon significant progress already made as a result of law enforcement efforts."

Methamphetamine is also known by many more street names such as ice, speed and crystal meth. It is highly addictive and can be injected, snorted, smoked or swallowed. It can be produced in small, hard-to-detect labs and is made with materials that have been easy to find.

Walter said drug use "is a behavior that starts with our youth in the United States. If you don't try by age 20, you're unlikely to go on and try."

Walters said the strategy has three goals over the next three years:
* To reduce methamphetamine use by15 percent.
* To reduce the number of meth labs by 25 percent.
* To reduce prescription drug abuse by 15 percent.

The policy also lays out ways to prevent the distribution and use of methamphetamine.

This starts with extensive communication and what Walters called a "unique expression of cooperation" with Mexico and other international partners, including India, Germany and China.

That will include tightening control over shipments of so-called precursor chemicals, or raw materials needed to make meth.

"If you can cut off the precursor, you can see the number of small, toxic labs go down dramatically," Walters said.

Methamphetamine is cheap and easy to produce. Legislation approved last year required that products – mainly cold medications – that contained pseudoephedrine, one of meth's main ingredients, be kept behind store counters. It also limited how much can be sold to an individual.

The use of methamphetamine was originally a problem in only select parts of the country. However it has now spread worldwide. Mike Braun, chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, referred use of methamphetamine as a "global epidemic."

"The synthetic strategy is a comprehensive plan that focuses on reducing the supply of methamphetamine and controlled substance prescription drugs through aggressive enforcement efforts," said Rachel Brand, assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Policy.

Walters said controlling illegal immigration will help control illegal drug imports.

"This is not an either or," he said.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Phentermine hydrochloride, along with fenfluramine, is active ingredient in phentermine pills, which suppress appetite. The combination activates neurotransmitters in your brain that tell you to stop eating because you're full.

 

Phentermine pills, when taken without supervision may result in severe complications, such as the destruction of the pulmonary valve.

 

Along with phentermine hydrochloride, small amounts of ethyl, n-butyl and isopropyl alcohol, F D & C Blue 1 Aluminum Lake and Propylene Glycol are present in the capsules as well as modified Pharmaceutical Shellac or food grade Refined Shellac. Even though phentermine hydrochloride has many brand names, and even more generic versions, the most popular brand is Adipex-P.

 

Phentermine pills can work right away or via daily time release, depending on the phentermine hydrochloride present in the pills. Adipex-P is an instant action capsule while Ionamin is a slow acting pill. However, both versions produce similar results and are preferred based on the patient's medical history and the doctor's discretion.

 

Phentermine hydrochloride should be combined with correct diet, good sleeping habits and exercise in order to be effective.

 

Excess dosage or long-term usage may result in unexpected complications. Consult your physician regarding dosage for effective results. Self-medication of phentermine is not advised.

 

Also be aware of the herbal versions of phentermine. They are believed by many to be superior to the prescribed, synthetic versions of the drug, because of its higher ability to suppress appetite, and because "herbal" is seen as a more natural version. These herbal versions of phentermine usually do not require prescriptions, but consult your doctor either way.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

People taking high daily doses of two common painkillers are at increased risk of heart attack and stroke, say Oxford researchers.

But the British Medical Journal study says the risk is moderate, with only an extra three people in every thousand suffering from an adverse reaction.

Long term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and diclofenac have raised fears before.

They are standard drugs for those with chronic pain, like arthritis sufferers.

Concern had focused on the newer COX-2 drugs, but there are now also fears over NSAIDs.

The doses given for chronic pain conditions are much higher than those used by people taking the drugs as occasional painkillers.

The newer COX-2 inhibitors were developed to avoid the side effects of gastric bleeding and ulcers which sometimes occurred with traditional NSAIDs.

One COX-2, Vioxx, was taken off the market after concerns about the risk of heart attack.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

A new software that incorporates prescription information for more than 15,000 drug brands availaible in India along with details of their possible side effects and the correct dosage, was introduced here on Thursday.

Priced at Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000, the software is aimed at assisting doctors who find prescribing drugs to patients a challenge in the face of new brands of medicines entering the market daily.

'Prescription Pad 2.0' software, probably the first in India, is availible on CD format and also contains complete diagnostic information of more than 1500 diseases and 600 investigations.

"Unlike similar softwares available in the US, the database of Prescription Pad has been left open, so that doctors can update it with new brands introduced in the market later on," Dr Anil Vij of Compu RX Infotech told a press conference here on Thursday.

The software eliminates chances of giving a wrong prescription to patients as it checks the safety profile of every drug in its database and also tests for reactions if prescribed with other drugs.

It also contains the facility to store detailed and exhaustive information regarding the case history of each and every patient, Vij, a practising physician said.

"The software, will help doctors make accurate prescriptions with near-zero chances of side-effects and also serves as a complete factfile of each and very patient facilitating easy retreival of data," he said.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The next generation of anti-depressants -- known as triple reuptake inhibitors (TRIs) -- may face a significant barrier, with many HMO pharmacy directors saying that, even if the new drug class proves more effective than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the HMOs will still not give the new mood-lifting drugs a favorable place on their formularies.

The drugs, which include GlaxoSmithKline`s NS2359 and Dov`s 216303, are still likely to be blockbusters, but a listing in drug formularies` higher co-pay category, 'tier 3,' could limit their uptake, Natalie Taylor, an analyst with Decision Resources and author of a new report on the issue, told United Press International.

'I don`t think it`s likely to change the forecasts substantially for the TRIs,' Taylor said.

TRIs block the uptake of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. Decision Resources estimates both GSK`s and Dov`s drugs will rake in approximately $2 billion each when they are launched. Both drugs are in phase 2. GSK`s NS2359 could launch in 2009, and Dov`s drug isn`t expected to launch until 2011.

Merck, which was developing Dov`s 216303, said it has returned the compound to Dov.

'We have amended our agreement with Dov and the compound in question has been returned to Dov,' Merck spokeswoman Janet Skidmore told UPI. 'Dov is now studying it in the clinic and we have taken it off of our pipeline chart because the compound is no longer internal to Merck research laboratories.'

Dov and GSK did not return a phone call from UPI requesting comment.

In the Decision Resources report, 20 HMO pharmacy directors were surveyed about TRIs. When they were told the drugs appeared tolerable, safe and equally effective as SSRIs in phase 2 testing, 35 percent said they would place the drugs on tier 3, 15 percent said tier 2 and half wanted more data before deciding.

When the pharmacy directors were asked how they would handle the TRIs if new data emerge that show they are more effective than SSRIs, 35 percent still said they would place the new class on tier 3.

If further data show the TRIs offer no comparative advantage to SSRIs, half of the pharmacy directors said they wouldn`t cover them in their formularies.

'It seems that even if they are more effective than SSRIs, a lot of HMOs are going to have them on tier 3,' which generally entails higher co-pays for patients, Taylor said.

'This can limit uptake, especially as patients are becoming more sensitive to co-pays,' she added. In addition, co-pays are increasing and could be even higher by 2009 when the first TRI is expected to be launched.

However, this does not necessarily mean the drugs will have problems in the market.

Lilly`s Cymbalta, which is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI, has been placed on tier 3 by most HMOs and yet it had more than $200 million in sales in the first quarter of this year, which indicates the drug could take in close to $1 billion for the year.

'So tier 3 status doesn`t seem to be restricting Cymbalta that much,' Taylor said. GSK`s Wellbutrin XL is another example of a drug that`s doing well on tier 3, she noted.

Another challenge facing TRIs is that, as more SSRIs and other anti-depressants go off patent, HMO pharmacy directors may be unlikely to add new drugs to tier 2.

In the survey, the pharmacy directors said the launch of generic versions of Pfizer`s Zoloft in June could result in a first tier/third tier arrangement for anti-depressants, with generics on tier 1 and brand drugs on tier 3.

'With the number of generic drugs available, it might be impossible for any new anti-depressants to be placed on tier 2,' Taylor said.

So the uptake of the TRIs could depend somewhat on patient`s tolerance to co-pays.

'If co-pays continue to increase, more and more patients are going to become sensitive to that,' Taylor said. 'If other drugs have only $10-12 co-pays, they might opt for those rather than other drugs with higher co-pays.'

However, if the TRIs do have a better efficacy and side-effect profile, patients may be willing to tolerate the higher costs, she said.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Thousands of hurricane evacuees scattered throughout Louisiana were without their life-saving medications for days, sometimes weeks.

Pharmacists now say during times of emergencies, the state will relax its requirements so people can get their much-needed medicines.

Pharmacists say there are some basic things you need to do to make sure you have the prescriptions you need during a time of emergency.

First, keep your original prescription bottles.

The label has valuable information on it, such as the name of the drug and the number of refills that are left.

Or, you can ask your pharmacist to print out what is called a patient profile, which includes the name of the patient, what drugs they are currently taking and how often.

Logan Lemaire, owner of The Medicine Shoppe in Lafayette says following both hurricanes, his store was flooded with evacuees desperate to get their hands on life-sustaining medication.

Many people use little boxes to separate their pills so they know what to take and when.  Pharmacists say it's a great idea for that purpose, but if you are going to evacuate, they also recommend bringing the original prescription bottle with you for identification purposes.

Robert Rosser, owner of Rosser's Pharmacy, says if pills are separated from their bottles, it's difficult, if not impossible to correctly identify them.

These pharmacists say one way to avoid potential problems is to simply refill your prescription ahead of time, before a storm makes landfall.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

By early summer, the state plans to make it easier for you to shop for the best price for your prescription drugs.

The Michigan Department of Community Health expects to debut a Web site by July 1 that would allow Michigan consumers to find comparable prices for their drugs at all the pharmacies in a given ZIP code.

The goal is to help Michiganders save money without having to call or visit dozens of pharmacies, department spokesman T.J. Bucholz said Tuesday.

The department told the Free Press about its plans for the Web site on Tuesday as Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced the results of a second undercover investigation into prescription drug prices at Michigan pharmacies.

The Attorney General's Office said a May 15 look at pharmacies in 10 Michigan communities from Ann Arbor to Escanaba found that drug prices ranged broadly. Cox said the price disparities show the need for a state-run Web site on which Michigan residents can search for the best prices.

Shopping around can be time-consuming and frustrating, so many people don't do it and it's costing them a bundle.

For example, the Attorney General's Office found the price for the epileptic drug Gabapentin varied from $12 in Dearborn to $153.65 in Muskegon.

Even in the same community, prices varied widely. In Ann Arbor, Village Pharmacy II quoted a price of $79.69 for a month's supply of the allergy medicine Nasonex, while the Prescription Shop across town quoted $105.15.

Cox's office previously announced the results of a similar study in February as part of a push for passage of House Bill 4559, which would compel a state-run, drug-price-comparison Web site.

Spokesman Nate Bailey said Cox's office is pleased to hear about the Department of Community Health's plans to launch a statewide, searchable drug-price Web site, but will continue to push for legislation until such a site is operating.

"If they're really going to put the Web site up in a way that helps the consumer shop, good," Bailey said.

"The most important thing is that this Web site is up and online to help people start saving money right away."

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

A New Jersey drug company says an inhaler it's working on could be the long-sought female version of Viagra.Palatin Technologies of Fort Lee says it has had encouraging results in both men and women with Bremolanotide, which stimulates the brain, rather than the genitals.The company's director of preclinical development said it may help women with female sexual dysfunction, who lack desire and have trouble getting aroused.The company said female sexual dysfunction consists of hypoactive sexual desire disorder, female sexual arousal disorder, dyspareunia or painful intercourse, and anorgasmia. To establish a diagnosis, these components must be associated with personal distress, as determined by the affected woman.
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the consistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse, and is associated with increasing age, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and smoking.
Here's what makes Bremelanotide different. According to a Palatin statement, Bremelanotide is the first compound in a new drug class called melanocortin receptor agonists under development to treat sexual dysfunction. Unlike current erectile dysfunction treatments that act on the vascular system, it acts on the neural pathway that controls sexual function.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Bird flu medication will only be handed out to those already diagnosed and their immediate carers if the virus reaches Australia, after a government backflip.

The government had previously proposed giving essential workers access to antiviral medication.

However Health Minister Tony Abbott on Tuesday said only sick people and those in direct contact with infected patients will have access to antiviral stocks.

"The attempt to keep prophylaxis going for the up to one million people who would normally be deemed essential was simply not going to work," Mr Abbott told reporters.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) criticised the government's change.

"I think there needs to be consideration about giving antivirals to the next of kin of sufferers," AMA bird flu spokesman Mukesh Haikerwal told AAP.

Dr Haikerwal said antivirals should be available to all people in the health industry.

"You would expect to minimise the exposure of individuals in the health industry," he added.

Mr Abbott was speaking at the launch of a four-day operation to be held in Brisbane to test Australia's ability to react to a bird flu outbreak.

Operation Cumpston 06 will cost $4.1 million and all states and territories will participate alongside federal authorities.

Two years ago the government thought little of the threat of bird flu, with Alexander Downer saying in January 2004 that people could be confident it would not reach Australia.

More than two years on, the government has developed a detailed plan to combat the flu if it reaches Australian shores.

About 50 million surgical masks and 40 million syringes have been stockpiled along with mass quantities of antivirals including Tamiflu, widely regarded as the best drug for combating bird flu.

Mr Abbott defended the government's about-face on access to antivirals.

"We will treat sick people with antivirals for as long as we have antivirals and for as long as we believe antivirals are effective treatment," Mr Abbott told reporters.

"We will be using antivirals for prophylaxis for people who have been heavily exposed to the disease.

"The attempt to keep prophylaxis going for the up to one million people who would normally be deemed essential was simply not going to work."

Indonesia confirmed six more bird flu cases, three of them fatal.

Mr Abbott said Australia would have to do more to help Indonesia fight the virus.

"We are happy to do whatever we reasonably can to assist and we recognise that Indonesia is a country with less well-developed veterinary and human health infrastructure than Australia."

Mr Abbott said it was a real possibility rock concerts and major sporting events could be cancelled if the flu hits Australia.

Home quarantine of suspected victims is also being encouraged by the government.

"If there's reasonable grounds to think you've been exposed to someone with pandemic influenza we would expect to ask people to go home, to stay home, to avoid all non-essential contact with others," Mr Abbott said.

Comment was being sought from opposition health spokeswoman Julia Gillard.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Arzneinmittel AG said it intends to cut prices on several generics drugs in the German market from July 1, with many pharmacy retail prices for active ingredients to be cut by more than 50 pct.

The generics maker said the price cuts do not change the group's growth outlook for fiscal year 2006.

The price reductions will affect more than 50 pct of its German unit's portfolio of prescription-only active ingredients.

The total volume of the reductions amounts to around 32 mln eur, resulting in savings for patients of around 7 mln eur annually.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

the world's biggest AIDS drug producer, said on Tuesday it was cutting the not-for-profit price charged for some of its medicines in poor countries by around 30 percent.

The group is also adding two more antiretroviral medicines to the scheme and has signed an eighth voluntary licence agreement, allowing South Africa's Sonke Pharmaceuticals to make generic copies of some of its drugs.

The moves are the latest in a series of price reductions introduced by Glaxo and other AIDS drugs manufacturers, who have been criticised in the past for not doing more to ensure access to life-saving treatments.

Glaxo has previously pledged to bring down prices as it achieves greater economies of scale, something that is now happening as shipments of HIV/AIDS medicines to Africa pick up.

About 1.3 million people in the developing world are currently on antiretrovirals but most of the estimated 40 million infected people around the world are still unaware of their status.

The new prices, which take effect from July 1, will see the price of a 60-tablet pack of Trizivir in poor countries fall 31 percent to $70 while Ziagen is reduced by 28 percent to $52.29.

Glaxo is differentiating packs of medicines destined for not-for-profit markets to prevent illegal diversion back to the company's profitable high-price markets.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Being overweight may put you into many embarrassing situations. And at that time you may choose dieting to lose that extra pound of weight, unaware of the fact that it makes you lose fat as well as muscles. Dieting is dangerous and makes you prone to perilous diseases. So, is there any other effective alternative available that can help you to reduce weight? Yes, definitely.

 

"Where there is a will, there is a way"

 

This statement stands true for people who want to accomplish the impossible. What all matters, is your approach towards life. The same applies to overweight people, if you want to lose that extra weight then phentermine diet pills combined with healthy diet and exercise will serve the purpose.

 

You must have heard about several weight loss drugs then you must be wondering why I suggested you phentermine diet pills only. Advantages attached with phentermine diet pills that make it stand different from others are:-

 

- Appetite suppressant

- Gives you a better control over what you eat

- Easy and quick way to lose weight

- Works effectively in combination with diet plan and exercise regiments

 

If you have made up your mind to buy phentermine, then you can either buy it from a nearby pharmacy shop or from the comfort of your home through internet. Online pharmacies are available in large numbers; you can book your order online. In case you are looking for good quality phentermine diet pills that too at cheap rates, then you need to do a little effort. Make sure to go foe only FDA approved phentermine diet pills. Collect catalog offered by online pharmacists and compare them to find the diet pills offer that satisfy your needs as well as pocket to the best.   

 

As far as safety regarding phentermine diet pills is concerned, one may face some side effects if not taken as per the prescription. Some of the side effects that may persist are high blood pressure, severe headache, abnormal behavior, blurred vision, swelling of your lips or dry mouth. Consult your doctor in case these side effects persist for long.

 

Follow few simple precautions and minimize the intensity of side effects that may occur:-

 

• In case you are a diabetic patient, you may need a larger dose of insulin while taking phentermine. Contact your doctor for questions or problems related to this.

• Make sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding

• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart disease, high blood pressure or a history of drug abuse.

• Do not exceed the recommended dose for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.  

Stop being called obese. Set the goals that you want to achieve in terms of weight you want to lose, evaluate a plan and start following it.  Your goals will be easier to meet with phentermine diet pills; you will find more energy in your day and can enjoy long healthy life!

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced new findings in an undercover investigation into the cost of prescription drugs in 10 cities across Michigan Tuesday.

Cox said he discovered prescription drugs being sold for more than twice the amount at different locations in the same city. He is now pushing a plan to help consumers shop around for the best price without having to go to the pharmacy.

Cox's team of drug surveyors investigated the prices of 10 drugs taken from the Department of Community Health's top 25 most commonly prescribed drugs in the state. Pharmacies in 10 Michigan communities -- including Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Flint, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Marquette/Escanaba/Iron River, Midland/Bay City, Muskegon and Warren -- were contacted during the investigation, according to the attorney general's office.

The investigation includes a previous round of surveys conducted by the attorney general's office during January and February of this year. The latest drug survey was conducted during the week of May 15.

"The results of the January and February surveys were clear -- prices of prescription drugs vary significantly from pharmacy to pharmacy and between communities," said Cox. "Our newest undercover investigation shows dramatic disparities in the cost of prescription drugs in 10 more Michigan communities. The results resoundingly support the need for a prescription drug cost Web site to help Michigan's consumers shop, compare and save."

For example, Cox discovered that prices reported by pharmacies for the epileptic drug Gabapentin ranged widely across the state, from $12 in Dearborn to $153.65 in Muskegon.

The Drug Cost Pricing Web site legislation, which is sponsored by Rep. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw), a cardiologist, would create a user-friendly, interactive Web site with prescription drug pricing information and links to other helpful resources for consumers.

"Other states, such as Maryland, Indiana and Florida, have already successfully implemented similar drug pricing Web sites," said Cox. "We need to add Michigan to this list, enabling our consumers to shop around for their prescription drugs."

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

There's a pile of drugs on my desk. Dozens of pills of different shapes, sizes and colors, designed to treat obesity, baldness and erectile dysfunction. My doctor did not prescribe them, and – knock on wood – I have no medical need for any of them.

How did they get here? Through the magic of the World Wide Web.

It's no secret that online drugstores comprise one of the hottest categories in e-commerce. Prescription drugs make up a significant chunk of the $230 billion drug and health-and-beauty-aid market, and U.S. pharmacies dispense some 2.5 billion prescriptions a year. Hence the online blitz, from the multibillion dollar WebMD-Healtheon (HLTH) merger to Amazon.com (AMZN) 's 40 percent share of Drugstore.com. Even Rupert Murdoch has gotten into the act – in early June, a division of Murdoch's News Corp. was the lead investor in a $50 million investment round for PlanetRx.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Ivax Corp. of Miami, Florida, part of Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., becomes the first company cleared to make a generic version of the prescription drug, according to the Web site of the Food and Drug Administration. The agency approved 5, 10 and 20 milligram doses of the drug, also called escitalopram oxalate, for the treatment of major depression.

Lexapro, the brand-name version of the drug, is made by New York-based Forest Laboratories Inc.

In 2005, Lexapro was the No. 2 antidepressant in the United States, behind Zoloft, with 29.6 million prescriptions filled, according to IMS Health, a prescription information provider. Lexapro's U.S. sales last year were $2.1 billion.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Let us commence a journey into the much travelled and exciting topic of Viagra. In depth analysis of Viagra can be a soul enriching experience. While it is becoming a hot topic for debate, there are just not enough blues songs written about Viagra. Crossing many cultural barriers erectile dysfunction still draws remarks such as 'I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole' and 'i'd rather eat wasps' from so called 'babies', many of whom fail to comprehend the full scope of what Viagra can do for them, and without having experienced a journey into the exciting topic of Viagra.

BUY DISCOUNT VIAGRA ONLINE - NO PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED

More a melody to societies dysfunctions than a parody of the self, Viagra provides standards by which we may judge our impotent selves as well an exciting Journey into pleasure.

Recent thought on Viagra has been a real eye-opener for society from young to old. It is intrinsically linked to adolescent inner acclimatisation.

Do we critique those buying Viagra from online markets, or do they in-fact critique us? We will begin by looking at the Pfizer-Tuesday-Lending model, a classic economic system of Viagra analysis.

I hope, for our sake that the Viagra topic will endure. LEARN ABOUT OBTAINING VIAGRA ON SALE!!

In summary, Viagra may not be the best topic for discussion since sliced bread, but it's still important. It fills a hole, it stimulates men and is always fashionably late.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

By day, residents of The Villages enjoy all the respectable pursuits of a healthy old age - a hand of cards, a tea dance and perhaps a round of golf before happy hour.

But doctors are reporting a sharp rise in sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) among pensioners at the retirement community and say the growing popularity of Viagra is to blame. "I worked in Miami before coming here and I never saw so many warts or herpes," said Colleen McQuade, a gynaecologist at The Villages hospital, 60 miles north of Orlando.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Some call it a kickback. Others say it's an essential part of doing business in the pharmaceutical industry.

Whatever the terminology, a proposal to ban generic drug companies offering rebates and other incentives to pharmacists was among the issues debated yesterday at public hearings into proposed changes to Ontario's drug benefit plan.

Some pharmacists fear that without the rebates, they'll be forced to cut staff and spend less time giving advice to patients.

"It will have a devastating effect on my business," said Gordon Lane, a pharmacist and pharmacy owner from Parry Sound.

He said the practice of rebates -- generic drug companies giving discounts to pharmacies to encourage them to buy their version of certain medications -- evolved out of necessity to offset the low dispensing fees paid by the province.

Lane told the hearing that filling government-funded prescriptions, such as those for seniors and people on social assistance, cost him 83 cents each because his fee is $9.38, while the government only covers $8.50, on average.

"My store does not profit from offering that service," Lane said.

Some patient groups, however, applauded the proposed abolition of the rebate program, which can include incentives such as tickets to sporting events.

"We do not support 'under the table' payments," said Gerda Kaegi of the Ontario division of the group known as Canadian Pensioners Concerned.

"We're paying for that."

Taxpayers end up footing the bill for the rebates, because drug companies raise their prices to pay for them, Kaegi said.

Tim Towers, who owns a pharmacy in Mississauga, said the money isn't being used to pad his wallet, but instead to fund in-store courses such as CPR training.

"I understand that the health-care system is broken . . . (but) the proposed change in reimbursement may prove to create an environment in which pharmacy is no longer sustainable," he said.

Health Minister George Smitherman offered a reprieve to worried pharmacists by announcing plans to scrap a proposed $25 cap on markups on special, expensive medications such as HIV drugs -- a move that will save pharmacies $13 million.

And he hinted the rebate ban could use further definition.

"This continues to be, frankly, a very, very murky area of the Ontario drug system," he said before the hearing.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

NO PRESCRIPTION PHARMACY HOME

Here is something startling, because if it can happen to them, it can happen to any country - 564,830 American will die in 2006 because of cancer which will be caused by obesity, inactive lifestyle and poor diet, according to American Cancer Society. ACS has launched Great American Eat Right Challenge to highlight the alarming connection between obesity and cancer.

How many will die of obesity and cancer in India, or Sri Lanka, in Italy or Maldives, we don't know. But what we surely know is that being obese means an open arm invitation to practically all sorts of problems pushing you gently to untimely death. But cancer ensures that a bit quickly.

Coming straight to the point, follow some good advice on weight management – choose your own method finally; buy Phentermine, appetite suppressant or any other that would suit you. Go for a full fledged weight management program or see if cheap Phentermine does well for you. You can buy Phentermine online too and for that matter any pill. And follow the weight-height chart put up by Health Check Systems.

Weight chart for women
Weight in pounds, based on ages 25-59 with the lowest mortality rate
(indoor clothing weighing 3 pounds and shoes with 1" heels)

Height Small Frame Medium Frame Large Frame
4'10" 102-111 109-121 118-131
4'11" 103-113 111-123 120-134
5'0" 104-115 113-126 122-137
5'1" 106-118 115-129 125-140
5'2" 108-121 18-132 128-143
5'3" 111-124 121-135 131-147
5'4" 114-127 124-138 134-151
5'5" 117-130 127-141 137-155
5'6" 120-133 130-144 140-159
5'7" 123-136 133-147 143-163
5'8" 126-139 136-150 146-167
5'9" 129-142 139-153 149-170
5'10" 132-145 142-156 152-173
5'11" 135-148 145-159 155-176
6'0" 138-151 148-162 158-179

Weight chart for men
Weight in pounds, based on ages 25-59 with the lowest mortality rate
(indoor clothing weighing 5 pounds and shoes with 1" heels)

Height Small Frame Medium Frame Large Frame

5'2" 128-134 131-141 138-150
5'3" 130-136 133-143 140-153
5'4" 132-138 135-145 142-156
5'5" 134-140 137-148 144-160
5'6" 136-142 139-151 146-164
5'7" 138-145 142-154 149-168
5'8" 140-148 145-157 152-172
5'9" 142-151 148-160 155-176
5'10" 144-154 151-163 158-180
5'11" 146-157 154-166 161-184
6'0" 149-160 157-170 164-188
6'1" 152-164 160-174 168-192
6'2" 155-168 164-178 172-197
6'3" 158-172 167-182 176-202
6'4" 162-176 171-187 181-207

*Ideal Weights according to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company tables (1983)

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Diet Pills are nothing but drugs taken to control weight by decreasing hunger or making one feel full more quickly when eating. Some pills may also increase the metabolism to burn obese. Diet pills were introduced in the market some 30 or 40 years back and were supposed to bring a radical solution to weight Loss. People fighting obesity required much comfort in these prescription diet pills. Amphetamine low-calorie pills were the first ones to appear but soon it was discovered that they weren't as fantastic as first thought. People consuming this pill slowly became addicted to it. Recently sales of some appetite suppressants have also been stopped due to serious heart problems. Benefits of diet pills There is no doubt that diet pills can do wonders to weight within a short span of time. It can make you lose weight at the comfort of your home. The new breed of diet pills, such as Phentermine works by changing the chemistry of your brain, which is something hard for all of us to manage. Many times people need more than simply a diet plan to lose weight. It is for them that diet pills are most helpful. Diet pills provide mental and physical support to these people, especially if they are badly overweight. Efficiency of diet pills Diet pills are considered to be more effective than other weight loss programs. Most pills concentrate on patients consuming less food and exercise more. They work by suppressing the appetite. But along with this it is very important that people make genuine effort than simply consuming these pills. They need to make lifestyle changes in addition to these pills. Drawbacks of diet pills Diet pills are definitely a fast way to lose weight. However, along with fast weight loss, these can sometimes also bring fast health loss. This is because they bring a serious change in the appetite, which may cause some irreparable changes into the body making it weak. So you need to be careful before you start taking diet pills. At present, there are nine diet pill drugs available in the market. Phentermine is the most common among these. It is effective, cheap and safe. Therefore if you are planning to try diet pills, buy Phentermine and feel the difference.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Millions of American live with pain. Chronic pain, daily pain, short term severe pain. Of all the medications sold by online pharmacies, by far the most common type is pain relievers. You might think then that online pharmacies are a great source of pain relievers. Well, did you know the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States (DEA) has busted and close over 5000 online pharmacies? Did you know that many online pharmacies sell counterfeit medication? Did you know it is a federal crime for you to order prescription drugs from outside the United States? It is true, online pharmacies are a great source of pain relief medication. This article teaches you to order pain medication legally, from within the United States, with a legal prescription. It's the only way to go!

First, the caveats: You cannot legally order medication from outside the United States, even if you have a prescription. We always hear about the elderly taking buses to Canada to buy cheap medicine. The fact is, as of this writing, this course is illegal. Also, you cannot legally order medicine from a pharmacy without a prescription. Many online pharmacies (including my own) have physicians on staff who review your medication request and write you a prescription if they think it's safe. In addition, NEVER order narcotics through the mail. Forget codeine, Tylenol #3, oxycontin, demerol, percodan and percocet. You can be charged with a federal crime for buying these substances. Lastly, regardless of the medication you buy, be sure to read the package insert (or a monograph on my web site).

Drugs interact with each other and with your body- the package insert will tip you off to potentially dangerous behavior with respect to the medication you ordered. The following are quick summaries of common pain relief drugs you can order through the Internet with very little risk:

Fioricet (butalbital)

Fioricet is a combination drug. It is made up of acetaminophen, caffeine and butalbital. Acetaminophen is the same medication in Tylenol You know caffeine from coffee (or even your favorite candy bar.) Butalbital is a mild barbiturate. It relaxes you. Medical Science does not have an explanation for the reason this combination of drugs works so well, but the fact is Fioricet (and its generic form butalbital) is highly effective for tension headache. Presumably, it relaxes the muscles in the head and neck which typically tighten during tension headaches.. This is the top selling drug at our pharmacy month after month- it really helps headaches!

Soma (carisoprodol)

Soma is a muscle relaxant. It acts by blocking electrical signals among nerves in the reticular formation of the brain and in the spinal cord. Carisoprodol, combined with rest and physical therapy, is prescribed for the short term relief of painful muscle conditions- particularly muscle spasm (where the muscle tightens and does not relax). Most back strains result in muscle spasm, so patients find carisoprodol highly effective in relieving back pain.

Celebrex (celecoxib)

Celebrex is used in the treatment of symptoms of arthritis. This includes joint pain, stiffness, swelling and inflammation. The medication does not cure arthritis, but does provide symptomatic relief. It s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which relieves pain and inflammation. The drug works by blocking the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins contribute to the pain and swelling associated with arthritis.

Ultram (tramadol)

Ultram is used for treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain. It binds to the opiod receptors on nerves (the same mechanism used by narcotics), but it has a far lower potential for dependency. It's the closest medication to a narcotic you can order legally in the US online. It is not a NSAID (nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug) and does not carry the risk of stomach ulceration and internal bleeding which can accompany the use of such medications. It is often prescribed for pain associated with shingles, fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases.

Ulracet

Ultracet is a combination of acetaminophen and tramadol. It is typically prescribed for the short term (up to five days) relief of moderately severe acute pain. It is often prescribed for post-surgical pain or after dental procedures. The ultram mechanism as described above is very similar to the mechanism employed by narcotics. Acetaminophen of course is the active ingredient in Tylenol. It works by increasing the threshold to pain ( i.e. it takes more pain stimulus to cause the sensation of pain). These two drugs work by different mechanisms, and they combine to be more effective than either drug alone. Pain relief medication can be ordered safely online, but one should exercise appropriate caution before doing so. Specifically, it's important to determine whether you need to see a physician before ordering pain medication. If you have a sudden onset of pain which is not readily explained, you should consult a physician first. If in doubt, go to the emergency room. If however you are a patient who has been diagnosed, and pain is a recurring problem, you can conveniently order pain medication online- typically at a lower cost than the combined cost of a doctor's appointment and the medication itself.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

When it comes to health care, it's not the uncomfortable needle pricks that Americans mind so much. It's the cost of medical care.

Lately, consumers have been feeling pinched when they visit the doctor or receive care at the hospital, new government statistics reveal. In 2004, spending for these services grew at levels not seen since the early 1990s.

And workers' share of health-care premiums is mounting, too. People who get health insurance benefits through their employer can expect to pay out 10 percent more, on average, in 2006, according to benefit-consulting firm Towers Perrin.

To make your health-care budget stretch farther and avoid piling up medical debt, you've got to plan ahead, advised Jessica Cecere, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Palm Beach County/Treasure Coast in Florida.

"Nobody plans to have huge medical expenses," she said, "and that's why they're so huge."

For starters, consumers need to know exactly what their health insurance will and won't cover. Cecere recommends that people read and understand their policy before there's an emergency.

Using facilities that are not part of your insurer's provider network, for example, could cost you more than you anticipated. To keep your out-of-pocket costs at a minimum, stay in-network, she said.

Plus, if you don't use what you're entitled to, you could end up leaving money on the table, cautioned Alwyn Cassil, a spokeswoman for the Center for Studying Health System Change in Washington, D.C.

For example, some employers allow workers to set aside pre-tax dollars in a flexible spending account each year to pay for qualified medical expenses, including doctor fees and preventive care. But if you don't spend the money by the annual deadline your employer has established, you forfeit those funds.

In 2005, the U.S. Treasury Department modified an existing rule that required any leftover funds to be spent by the end of the plan year. Now, employers are allowed to give workers a grace period of two-and-a-half months. Check with your employer to find out what the deadline is.

"If you have a flexible spending account, use it," Cassil said. "You can use it for over-the-counter medications now, so there's no reason to lose it. Go buy ibuprofen for the next two years."

To save money on prescription drugs, consumer advocates suggest switching from brand-name products to less expensive generic alternatives. Shopping around for best prices also can help.

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, has produced a series of reports comparing prescription drugs by category. Each report sizes up medicines by price, effectiveness and safety. The information is intended to help consumers have a conversation with their doctors about the best drug for their condition, while also taking price into account. (To learn more click here.)

If you find yourself between jobs and you think health insurance is too expensive, think again. Going without coverage for a period of time, as people often do, is a huge risk, Cecere said.

"If you do fall off a ladder and have to go into the hospital for a week, that is devastating," she said. And that's why people should plan ahead. "The way you plan for it is you have some sort of coverage for that," even if it's a bare-bones policy that covers only "catastrophic" medical costs, she added.

Here's another tip: If you don't require emergency care, make an appointment with your doctor. Using the emergency room for routine medical care is a good way to start sinking into debt.

"You might get charged $1,000 for walking in the door," Cecere cautioned.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Lower back pain (also called lumbar pain or backache) is very common. Virtually everyone at some time in their life experiences a backache. Except for the common cold, backaches account for more doctor visits and more missed days of work than any other illness.

Typically, lower back pain sufferers experience a sharp pain or dull ache, occasionally accompanied by a tingling or burning sensation. The pain can result from a specific event such as lifting something which is too heavy, but often can be the result of numerous factors which weaken the back, such as sitting in a single position too long, then making a sudden movement.

Most commonly, backaches are the result of a muscle strain (where the muscle fibers are stretched or torn) or a lumbar sprain (where the ligaments which tie muscles to bone separate from their attachments). Many problems can result in a backache including herniated, ruptured or degenerated intervertebral disks, structural problems like improper spinal alignment and scoliosis, or pain radiating from the testes, ovaries, kidneys and other tissues. Frequently, the specific structure causing the pain is not identified.

Regardless of the cause, lower back pain typically involves spasms of the muscles along the spine, where the muscles tighten and do not release. These spasms and the associated stiffness can result in severe pain, often leaving patients unable to walk or move normally.

To reduce the pain, a wide range of choices are available. These include applying ice for the first 2-3 days, followed by heat. Over the counter medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) may provide relief. Many physicians will prescribe Soma (or its generic form carisprodol) to relieve the muscle spasms.

Soma is a muscle relaxant used to relieve the pain and stiffness of muscle spasms and discomfort due to strain and sprain. It blocks signals between nerves in the brain and the spinal cord. It's action is not completely understood- Soma does not directly relax tense skeletal muscles. Its action may be related to its sedative properties instead. Regardless of the mechanism of action, for many patients the reduction of muscle spasm associated with lower back pain brings considerable relief. For these patients, the back relaxes, pain is reduced, and their ability function normally is enhanced.

Soma comes in a 350 mg round, white tablet. Its onset of action is rapid, and it effects last 4-6 hours. The usual dose is one 350mg tablet 3 times per day and at bedtime. Many patients now order this medication from online pharmacies without visiting a physician in person, so it is important to understand which back symptoms should cause you to visit a physician first. If you experience any of the following symptoms, consult a physician.

- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Severe back pain following trauma like an object hitting you or a fall
- Fever
- Redness or swelling of the back
- Pain which radiates below the knee
- Weakness or numbness in the leg or pelvis
- Blood in the urine or a burning sensation when urinating
- Very severe pain

It is also important to be aware of the side effects of Soma to assure you are taking it safely and to avoid adverse reactions. Soma is a sedative and can cause drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo, agitation, irritability, headache and insomnia. Occasional allergic reactions are known to occur, including a skin rash and itching. Like all medications, there are very rare idiosyncratic reactions as well. Avoid taking Soma when drinking alcohol, as the alcohol will greatly increase the sedative effect of the medication. Avoid driving or operating machinery when taking this medication.

Lower back pain tends to resolve on its own. Most patients feel significantly better one week after the first onset of pain. After 4-6 weeks, the pain is typically completely resolved.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Picture yourself walking down the street where you live. Everything looks normal, but you have a feeling that something is not quite right. Suddenly there's a rumble and the road buckles up around your feet. You struggle, unable to move forward. Your thoughts become erratic and scattered, just when you need clarity. People come to help you, but that sinking feeling remains and something is telling you that your life will never be the same.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer you know what I am talking about. A cancer diagnosis can knock you out like nothing you've experienced before, and your life won't be the same. The learning curve is steep, and you're forced up that curve at an alarming rate so that you feel unsure of which turns to take. Sometimes you feel as if you're in a swamp with no road at all, and you rush around desperately looking for solid ground so you can rest. Some of these experiences are common, but everyone walks a different road on the journey with cancer.
Fortunately there is a lot of help out there to guide you to safety. Sometimes there seems to be too much help – too much advice, too many decisions to make. The trick is to listen to your intuition, your "gut instinct" or that "still small voice within". Take some time alone to ask yourself questions such as "How do I feel about that?" or "What is really important to me?" Listen for the answers which may come to you when you wake up, although it may take a few days or weeks to be clear.

Cancer gives you permission to evaluate your life and prioritize what is truly important to you. Look at your activities and the people around you to see where you gain or lose energy, and reduce the impact that energy robbers have on your health and on your life. If the problem is from a relationship or work, it may be necessary to make some changes. These decisions aren't easy, so make sure you have support from other sources. The process is worthwhile when the payoff is your health, so establish your priorities and values, and be prepared to draw a line in the sand to stay within your comfort level.

I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 1986 and 2 other minor cancers in 1987. I used the wake up call to figure out how to get rid of my excess anger and depression as well as cancer. From a variety of sources I noticed a common thread and created a list of categories which I call "Find Your Own Road" to serve as a guide in finding your unique road to health. It doesn't mean that you walk the road alone, but that you make choices about which building blocks you will use to build your road, as it will be different from everyone else's road. There are books, tapes and videos to suit every situation and help you "Find Your Own Road". Take the time to choose what speaks to you. Read every book with a critical eye and take only what you need, place what you may need in the future on an imaginary shelf, and discard what does not work for you. The act of taking charge and playing an active role in your health care will move you towards a better state of health.

"Find Your Own Road" –an adjunct to conventional Western medicine

1. Nutrition
2. Exercise
3. Sleep and Deep Relaxation
4. Simplicity
5. Spirituality
6. Volunteer Work
7. Support System
8. Humor
9. Art / Music
10. Complementary Therapies
11. Visualization
12. Cognitive Therapy

Items 1, 2, and 3 are the main categories to evaluate for yourself. There are guidelines posted daily about the benefits of healthy food choices and regular exercise. Pay attention – they're talking to you! With regard to making choices, ask yourself "Is this good for my health?" Listen for the answer, and use it to plan your diet and your exercise regime. Walking is the most basic and therapeutic exercise which can be incorporated into any lifestyle. The time spent sleeping is when your body heals, so give it ample opportunity to do that, especially if you are in active treatment for cancer. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are effective in getting rid of primary cancers, but your body needs help to recuperate and maintain a healthy state afterwards. Deep relaxation means complete mental and physical relaxation for at least 15 minutes a day, this does not include time spent lying on the couch with a remote control. Deep relaxation comes from such things as deep breathing, meditation, prayer, massage.

4. Simplicity in life will help you to focus on your health. In this fast paced, high tech world we have lost sight of our basic needs and the advantages of a simpler lifestyle. Our materialistic wants can be blown out of proportion to what is really important and a cancer diagnosis serves to remind us where our priorities lie. Loving and being loved by others is a prime human need without which life just doesn't make sense. Dealing with any unfinished business will help you achieve peace of mind and be comfortable with who you are.

5. Spirituality is an individual thing and may or may not include formal religion. Many people say that their faith has sustained them through an ordeal with cancer which is a wonderful thing for them. For those who have no formal religion, the world offers spirituality in many ways: spending time appreciating nature, and expressing gratitude for what you have, will help you to connect with your inner self and also see a bigger picture. Nurturing yourself will ultimately help you to connect with and nurture other people.

6. Volunteer work can provide you with many happy hours. When I was going through chemotherapy, I heard on the radio about a study which said that volunteering gives you satisfaction and promotes longer life. "Right, I can do that" I thought, and added one more block to build my road to health.

7. Building a support system keeps you moving forward on the road. I found support from my husband, other family members, and friends without whom I would not be where I am today. It's tough to walk a cancer journey alone and well worth the effort to develop a strong support system. Working with other volunteers provides me with peer support; we even ran a retreat for women with breast cancer for 6 years. I am now a life coach and I coach people who would like additional support in coping with cancer.

8. 9. & 10. The fields of music, art and laughter offer a wealth of healing power. At the retreats we provided a variety of activities including music, art, and humor workshops which were well received. There were also sessions with practitioners of Massage, Therapeutic Touch, Reflexology, Reiki, Yoga, Qi Cong, Tai Chi, Spirituality, and others. The idea was to give people a sample of things that would help to promote wellness in their lives after cancer treatment.

11. We all use visualization to get us where we want to go. During my cancer treatment, I used visualization to strengthen my belief that I could do something constructive to heal myself. I found color pictures of T-cells killing cancer cells in the June 1986 edition of National Geographic magazine, and I spent many hours visualizing my cancer cells being snuffed out by hard working killer T-cells. Imagery is an individual thing so it's important to visualize something that will work for you.

12. Cognitive Therapy has helped me to work through anger, and reduce negative self talk and depression. Positive thinking is encouraging, but without behavior change it can be superficial. Positive behavior comes from working through negative thoughts and letting them go, at the same time replacing them with positive thoughts and actions. Taking charge of your health helps to control stress from fear, anxiety or worry, and is a process which requires ongoing vigilance.
Western medicine can work wonders and I had excellent care through diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy in 1986 and 1987. I felt something missing though, and I struggled emotionally for a long time before I felt secure ground beneath me. Learning how to cope has now restored my confidence, but I continue to watch my step and stay focused on my road to good health. When my body tells me I'm a little off course, I make a conscious effort to get back on the road again.

Facing cancer has changed my life – I'm grateful to all the people who have been part of my journey and I appreciate every single day. I believe that by improving my quality of life, I have also been able to enjoy a greater quantity of life.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a study in humans of a new treatment for migraine headache. The treatment involves the precise delivery of tiny electrical shocks to the occipital nerve in the back of the neck to mask the perception of pain.
The study, known as PRISM (Precision Implantable Stimulator for Migraine) will use Boston Scientific Corporation's (NYSE: BSX) Precision Neurostimulator to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of occipital nerve stimulation to treat migraine headache. The study will involve approximately 150 patients at up to 15 sites in the United States.

The treatment offers hope to the millions of migraine sufferers who do not respond to conventional treatment. In the U.S., there are more than 28 millions migraine sufferers. Of these, up to 10 percent may not respond to existing treatments. Existing treatments include a range of medications and therapy.

"Occipital nerve stimulation has the potential to provide relief to the large population of refractory migraine sufferers who currently have no other medical treatments available to them," said Dr. David Biondi, Director of the Headache Management Program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston and Instructor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. "If effective, the Precision implantable neurostimulator would provide a new treatment option to free these patients from their long-standing headache pain."

The Precision neurostimulator is the smallest rechargeable neurostimulator on the market today and is already approved by the FDA for spinal cord stimulation to treat chronic pain. The device deliver precisely controlled electrical impulses to the spinal cord which mask the perception of pain. This treatment is prescribed for patients with chronic pain in the limbs, trunk and back. In the new study, the device will be used to stimulate the occipital nerves located just under the skin at the back of the neck.

"As the smallest rechargeable neurostimulator available, our Precision device represents a best-in-class neuromodulation technology that has treated more than 2,000 patients suffering from chronic pain," said Jeffrey H. Greiner, President of Boston Scientific's Neuromodulation Group. "We are excited about the prospect of extending this same advanced technology to address the unmet needs of migraine sufferers."

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. Boston Scientific's Neuromodulation Group is a global leader in the development of implantable, high-technology neurostimulation devices that include new treatments for deafness and chronic pain.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Diabetes is something that can be treated and even prevented very effectively with exercise. Most people are aware of the many other benefits of exercise but the one that could have the greatest impact on the health-care system is the prevention and relief of this health problem.
Diabetes comes in two main types. These are type I and type II.
Type I occurs when your pancreas is producing too little insulin or in some cases not producing any at all. If you already have type I you of course have the daily task of injecting insulin into your body in order to control your glucose levels.

This is not an enjoyable thing to do. If you currently do not have type I diabetes then learn to prevent it through exercise and healthy living. The alternative may be daily injections for the rest of your life.

The second main type of diabetes is known as Type II. Many people also refer to it as adult onset diabetes.

If you are suffering from the symptoms of Type II it's due to you pancreas not being able to make enough insulin to control glucose levels. It can also occur when your cells do not respond properly to insulin.

This is commonly known as insulin resistance.

One of the most effective ways of dealing with insulin resistance is through exercise and good nutritional habits. A large number of people with this type of diabetes are over-weight.
Therefore, weight control is a must. If you are not active, over-eat and become obese, you have a very high risk of being afflicted with type II. In most cases, simply adding in exercise, including both weight training and cardiovascular exercise, along with good eating habits is enough to prevent type II diabetes.

Only in rare cases will this not work, and medication is needed.

With type II diabetes there are a number of other health problems that can then occur, including; high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Exercise has a very positive effect on Type II for improving insulin sensitivity.

Ninety percent of all people with this health problem actually have type II, and exercise will help your body to process glucose at a quicker rate, lowering any high blood sugar symptoms you may have.

The intensity of your exercise session also plays a role. A more intense exercise program will help your body to utilize glucose quicker. However, high intensity does not mean faster. There is a difference.

Obviously before beginning any type of exercise program, regardless of what type of diabetes you have, you should check with your doctor. There are many differences between exercise for different types of diabetes that you need to be aware of before starting.

There can be certain dangers resulting from injecting insulin just before you begin to exercise. One situation that can occur is the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during the exercise session.

Here are some general rules to keep in mind when exercising if you are type I: allow for enough rest between weight training sets to avoid high blood pressure symptoms; avoid lifting heavy weights or going to failure on each set; when doing cardio, avoid high impact exercises such as running outside; always ensure that you have carbohydrates in your system before you start and a supply of them nearby as well.

You may begin to feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious or become irritable if you allow your blood sugar levels to get too low. Having a carbohydrate snack or drink nearby will help prevent these symptoms very quickly.

Blood glucose analyzers are very effective tools to use when exercising. You can test your blood sugar to ensure it's not at a level below 80 - 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl.
During your post-exercise recovery period, around three to five hours after you complete your exercise session, so-called diabetic diets can be beneficial. Diabetic diets should consist of a good amount of carbohydrates to prevent hypoglycemia.

Exercise has its greatest impact on people with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and sound nutritional habits work considerably well for type II diabetics.

Consistency is critical in the prevention of type II diabetes. You can't expect to exercise now and then, and prevent it. You need to make exercise part of your life if it's going to be effective.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The ads and infomercials are everywhere. On TV, the internet, your radio, magazines and newspapers. Fraudulent fat loss and diet pill marketers bombard you with outrageous claims and promises that are backed by so called university studies and clinical testing. These companies can usually get away with this behavior for several reasons. Loopholes and grey area in the rules they are supposed to abide by, the Federal Trade Commission being grossly outnumbered by the volume of these companies and the gullible nature of the general public who continue to purchase these bottled promises and hopes.

Recently, the FTC took action against the marketers of one of the biggest selling diet pill supplement on the market. The story follows:

--CortiSlim/CortiStress marketers hit for $4.5 million penalty.--California-based Pinnacle Marketing Concepts, Inc. and its president, Thomas F. Cheng, and Utah-based Shawn M. Talbott, Ph.D., have agreed to disgorge a total of $4.5 million in cash and other assets to settle FTC charges stemming from their roles in the marketing of CortiSlim and CortiStress, In its complaint, the FTC alleged that the defendants made false or unsubstantiated product claims and used deceptively formatted infomercials in pitching the dietary supplements. Litigation continues against three other defendants who were part of the scheme. The FTC's complaint, filed last years, charged that CortiSlim was marketed with false or unsubstantiated claims that it would cause rapid, substantial, and permanent weight loss in all users and that CortiStress would reduce the risk of, or prevent, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The settlement agreement also prohibits the defendants from making unsubstantiated claims in the future about any dietary supplement, food, drug, cosmetic, or device.[Three Cortislim defendants to give up $4.5 million in cash and other assets: FTC's litigation continues against four remaining defendants. FTC news release, Sept 21, 2005]
A more detailed version can be read on the FTC website at ftc.com

Rulings similar to this one happen quite commonly. They just don't make front page news and so the general public doesn't get to learn about the fraudulent nature of these companies and therefore continues to purchase the money wasting products marketed by these companies. Think about it. With all of the "too good to be true" products being sold today, the majority of the general public would be in fantastic physical condition instead of way out of shape and unhealthy.

Sooner or later we have to take responsibility for ourselves and stop looking for the magic fat pill or the breakthrough diet supplement. Nothing will ever replace smart nutrition and consistent exercise for getting you into the best shape that you are capable of. Even if a new legitimate diet drug becomes available to the public, just remember all of the diet drugs of the past that were eventually proven to result in severe adverse health effects and sometimes death.
Your magic pill is within you. You can give yourself the results you are looking for. Just seek out the information that pertains to you and begin taking action.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Chris Johnson was making close to $100,000 a year filling prescriptions in Austin, but the drug prices many of the patients were paying sickened him.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

More and more, Wigg said, the drugs these kids are taking aren't the ones their parents might expect.

A study released this month by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America found a growing number of teenagers to be abusing over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

"They think it's safe because it's medicine," Wigg said.

The partnership's conclusion? Generation Rx has arrived.

"Rest assured, there are people out there doing harder drugs, and these kids know that and they make that differentiation," Wigg said. "I've had them tell me, 'It's not like I'm doing anything serious like cocaine.'"

She mentioned the prescription drugs Xanax and Vicodin as the most popular local choices. Over-the-counter medications on the abuse list include the cold pill Coricidin.

"I'm told they call them Skittles because they take them six at a time," she said.

According to the study, two in five teens agree that prescription medicines, even if they are not prescribed by a doctor, are "much safer" to use than illegal drugs.

Nearly a third believe there's "nothing wrong" with using prescription medicines without a prescription "once in a while."

Almost three out of 10 believe prescription pain relievers — even if not prescribed by a doctor — are not addictive.

"When these medicines are abused — when they are used for anything other than their intended and approved purpose — they can be every bit as dangerous as illegal street drugs," Michael Maves, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Medical Association and a partnership board member, said in a news release announcing the survey results.

Nearly one in five teens reported abusing prescription medications, and one in 10 report abusing cough medicine.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The Pharmacy Guild says it does not believe the illegal selling of medications is widespread.

The comments come after the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal suspended for three months and fined $10,000 plus costs a Dunedin pharmacist who was caught illegally selling prescription medicines.

The Tribunal says Deborah Young played an extensive role in an elaborate scheme to supply medicines to overseas customers.

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal heard that Ms Young and her husband formed a company which, with the help of two companies in Fiji, took orders for medicines from people in Italy, the United States and England.

It said she appeared to have no regard to the potential health risks for those who bought the drugs.

The chief executive of the Pharmacy Guild, Murray Burns, says the medicines safety authority, Medsafe, provide stringent controls and he believes the case is a "one-off'.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Nobody likes to be called "obese". Just because you have few extra pound of body weight, you are counted to be obese. Obesity must have put you into many embarrassing moments, but you could do nothing? Tried a lot many medicines and other weight reducing products, but nothing could help. No need to feel the humiliation anymore weight loss drug is here to cure the obesity.

 

Weight loss drug as the name implies is the drug tailored to help overweight people lose that extra weight quickly and too with complete ease. Losing weight is no more difficult and horrifying with weight loss drug.

 

One can find several type of weight loss drug in the market namely Phentermine, Xenical, Adipex, Meridia, Ionamine and the list endless. Different weight loss drug have different features that stand them separate from others. Weight loss drug helps in losing weight either by working as an appetite suppressant or fat absorber; it totally depends on you that which one you find the most suitable as per your body requirement and resistance. Consult your doctor on which weight loss drug will satisfy your aspirations to the best. In case you don't want to waste your time in fixing an appointment with the doctor and visiting him. Online pharmacist or druggist is a perfect alternative who work with various online pharmacy websites. Most of the website will provide you this service free of cost.

 

As a coin has two sides, same is the case with weight loss drug. Few side effects may occur due to weight loss drug usage but can be minimized by keeping the precautions in mind. Follow the guidelines and reduce weight with ease.   

 

With the invention of Internet the whole scenario has changed. Pharmaceutical industry has also got influenced by it, that too on a large scale. Internet has become a centre place where both sellers and buyers can interact with each other. You can book your order for the needed weight loss drug by just filling a small online form available at various websites.

 

Always look for quality weight loss drug that are approved by FDA. If you want to get the weight loss drug at a price that suits your pocket to the best. You must collect catalogues from several online suppliers and then compare their offers; this will help you get the desired weight loss drug at the best price helping you reduce that extra pound of weight without pinching your pocket.  

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The hopes of hundreds of thousands of patients with Alzheimer's disease have been dashed after the Government's watchdog on new medicines banned treatments for most patients.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) announced last night that the drugs, which cost around £2.50 a day, are not cost-effective treatment for the majority of sufferers.

Alzheimer's groups reacted with fury last night to the decision, which Nice was forced to release earlier than planned after it was leaked to newspapers. The institute is proposing that newly diagnosed patients in both early and late stages of the disease should be denied the treatments, which will only be made available to people in the moderate stage of the disease.

The Alzheimer's Disease Society said the guidance was unethical, lacked clinical sense and put doctors in an impossible position. A group of more than 30 charities and professional organisations said they would seek to have the decision overturned.

Nice stressed that those currently being prescribed the medicines will not be affected, and that the ruling will only apply to newly diagnosed patients once the ruling comes into force this July. Professional bodies and selected charities have the right to appeal its decision before then.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

The World Health Organization has for the first time asked the maker of the anti-bird flu drug Tamiflu to ready the global stockpile after human-to-human transmission was suspected in a family cluster in Indonesia, while three more bird flu deaths were confirmed in the country, officials said Saturday.

"We have no intention of shipping that stockpile," said Dick Thompson, WHO spokesman. "We see this as a practice run."

The WHO in Jakarta received word from the Indonesian Health Ministry on Monday about a human cluster in Kubu Simbelang village in North Sumatra. That led to the global health organization, headquartered in Geneva, putting Swiss drug maker Roche Holding AG on alert, said Jules Pieters, director of WHO's rapid response and containment group in Geneva.

"We were quite keen to inform Roche quite timely, we knew Thursday would be a holiday in Europe and wanted to make sure Roche warehouses would be open," he said.

Pieters stressed that the move was part of standard operating procedure when WHO has "reasonable doubt" about a situation that could involve human-to-human transmission. He said Roche would remain on alert for approximately the next two weeks or twice the incubation period of the last reported case.

Pieters said a precautionary 9,500 treatment doses of Tamiflu along with protective gear was flown into Indonesia on Friday. It took about 72 hours to arrive.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Nyoman Kandun, a director general at Indonesia's health ministry, said a WHO laboratory in Hong Kong has confirmed five more cases of human bird flu, three of which were fatal. All five had earlier tested positive for the H5N1 virus in a local laboratory. Bird flu has infected 48 people in Indonesia, 36 of which were fatal.

In the cluster case in North Sumatra, six of the seven relatives of an extended Indonesian family who caught bird flu have died, the most recent on Monday. An eighth family member who died was buried before tests could be done, but she was considered to be among those infected with bird flu. Health experts have not been unable to link the family members to infected birds, leading them to believe the virus may have passed among them. None of the poultry in the village of about 1,500 people have tested positive for the virus.

The WHO has stressed the virus has not mutated into a version easily passed between people or shown any sign of spreading outside the family — all blood relatives who had very close contact with each other. WHO has said limited human-to-human transmission is believed to have occurred in about four previous clusters.

Bird flu has killed 124 people worldwide since the virus began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003. Experts fear the virus could mutate into a highly contagious form that passes easily among people, potentially sparking a pandemic. So far, the virus remains hard for people to catch and most human cases have been linked to contact with infected birds.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs

Prosecutors filed charges against a local woman after she allegedly used a computer to forge prescriptions for a controlled substance.

Laura Wright, 37, of Traverse City, is charged with three felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud after she allegedly faked prescriptions for the drug Phentermine, a drug similar to amphetamine.

Traverse Narcotics Team officials said Wright allegedly forged prescriptions that were filled on three separate occasions in January at area pharmacies.

Wright allegedly told TNT officials she made prescription forms on her computer and signed a local doctor's name. The doctor told police he never signed the prescriptions for her.

Wright, who has not been arraigned, faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs