Consumer/Provider Topics
Seiter A. Health and economic consequences of counterfeit drugs. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2009;85(6):576-8.
"Counterfeit Drugs Kill" is the slogan the World Health Organization (WHO) uses in its anti-counterfeiting campaign. International organizations, governments of developed and developing countries, and the pharmaceutical industry created the IMPACT initiative (International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce) to take on the thriving illegal industry that makes profits by selling fake drugs. However, before committing resources,…
[...]Gautam CS, Utreja A, Singal GL. Spurious and counterfeit drugs: a growing industry in the developing world. Postgrad Med J. 2009;85(1003):251-6.
Spread of spurious/counterfeit/substandard drugs is a modern day menace which has been recognised internationally, especially so in developing countries. The problem assumes added significance in view of rapid globalisation. The market of spurious and counterfeit drugs is a well-organised, white collar crime. Poverty, high cost of medicines, lack of an official supply chain, legislative lacunae,…
[...]Graham MR, Ryan P, Baker JS, Davies B, Thomas NE, Cooper SM, Evans P, Easmon S, Walker CJ, Cowan D, Kicman AT. Counterfeiting in performance- and image-enhancing drugs. Drug Test Anal. 2009;1(3):135-42
The current drastic escalation in obesity may be contributing to the exponential rise in drugs used for image enhancement. Drugs such as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are perceived as a viable method of achieving a perfect physique. They are also the most widely abused drugs in sport. The Internet has encouraged the abuse of expensive drugs,…
[...]Panjabi SS, Panjabi RS, Shepherd MD*, Lawson KA, Johnsrud M, Barner J. Extended-release, once-daily morphine (Avinza) for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain: effect on pain, depressive symptoms, and cognition. Pain Medicine. 2008 Aug; 9(8):985-93.
Abstract. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an extended-release, once-daily morphine sulfate formulation on depressive symptoms and neurocognition in patients with chronic nonmalignant pain.
DESIGN: Prospective, open-label, one-group trial with a pretest-posttest design.
SETTING: Outpatient pain management clinic.
PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: Chronic nonmalignant pain patients inadequately controlled with short-acting opioid analgesics and eligible for treatment with once-daily morphine sulfate were initiated on a dose at or near the morphine-equivalent dose of the short-acting regimen.
OUTCOMES: The following assessments were made at baseline and 4 weeks after initiating intervention: pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, pain suffering, pain behaviors, Beck Depression Inventory, and cognitive function.
RESULTS: Eighty-four patients provided usable data. Pain intensity, unpleasantness, and suffering scores were significantly reduced at follow-up (P = 0.001). The mean Beck Depression Inventory scores were significantly lower at follow-up (P = 0.001). Significant improvements were seen in scores at follow-up on the three validated neurocognitive tests: the digit span test, the digit symbol substitution test, and the paced auditory serial addition test (P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Achieving adequate pain control with once-daily morphine was associated with a reduction in pain and improvements in depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning in the short term.
[...]Swaminath G. Faking it – I The Menace of Counterfeit Drugs. Indian J Psychiatry. 2008;50(4):238-40.
In a blow to the revenues of India's largest pharmaceiutical manufacturer and one of the world's leading generic companies, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has blacklisted about 30 generic drugs being manufactured by the company at two of their manufacturing sites, citing failure to adhere to current Good Manufacturing Practices requirements. The…
[...]Class JN.* Behind the Curve: A Critique of NGO Activity with regards to the Safety Concerns of Biologics. J Biolaw Bus. 2007;10(4):33-36.
Non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, play a role in engaging the safety of biological medicines. NGOs should reconsider their roles as safety watchdogs in order to promote positive change with respect to biological medicines. Behind the Curve: A Critique of NGO Activity with regards to the Safety Concerns of Biologics
[...]Roberts R. Counterfeit Biologics: A Personal Narrative. J Biolaw Bus. 2007;10(4):37-39.
Counterfeit drugs are not something that happen to someone else. Real people are affected by fake drugs they buy in pharmacies. It is an experience that teaches us the importance of safety of the drug supply. I know, because I was a victim. This is my story.
[...]Shepherd, M.* Impact of drug importation on community pharmacy and patient care. J Am Pharm Assn. 2007; 47(3):319-327
With the politcal powers shifting in both congressional houses, many pharmaceutical issues have resurfaced in the 110th Congress. One of these is legalization of drug importation. Many Democrats and Republicans have already stated that this is a high-priority item. In the first 60 days of the First Session, two bills were introduced that would legalize…
[...]Liang BA.* Structurally Sophisticated or Lamentably Limited? Mechanisms to Ensure Safety of the Medicine Supply. Albany Law J Sci Technol. 2006;16(3):483-524
Abstract. The use of medicines is ubiquitous. The benefits of pharmaceuticals are sought by virtually all citizens around the world to assist in sustaining life, treating illness, and preventing disease. As such, they represent a significant tool in promoting the quality of human existence. Because of this extensive demand for drugs for these purposes, there…
[...]Cates A. Medication, ID Theft, and Health Care: A Haven for the Criminal Element. J Biolaw Bus. 2006;9(4):61-64.
Fraud in medication claims results in significant false claims. Yet the systems that purportedly are designed to detect such claims are limited in effectiveness. In combination with the porousness of the US drug supply, the criminal element has entered into the pharmaceutical distribution world with little risk and high returns. To address this combination, spot…
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