New Drug Releases- Just In Time
Last month the FDA approved about 40 medications and six new drugs got tentative approval.
With so numerous drugs produced and approved it is overwhelming to fathom how physicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, can keep up with the information.
There is finally Auidiolearn.net is helping to bridge the gap. They provide audios with over 500 commonly prescribed drugs. Medical professionals and the public can also subscribe to the monthly updates at no charge. Audio learning? What a great idea. The audio includes interactions, side effects, indications, and mechanism of action. When else will these busy people have a chance to keep current the newest drugs?
It is easy to find a doctor who has not heard of a newly approved drug that may have fewer adverse side effects or treat an illness more efficiently. When was the last time a doctor ordered a less effective drug than one that recently approved for distribution prescribe the most current drug? No one knows. It is going to take a concerted effort on the part of all professionals to keep abreast of the changes.
This is particularly challenging for the elderly. Majority of the elderly are still not Internet savvy. They are 100% dependent on their doctor to give them good advice. The elderly population take many drugs on a regular basis. They often see more than one specialist and their specialists don't always talk to each other.
If a patient only visits the doctor once a year, then this can be a year of consuming a medication that is of less value than an alternative available. Many patients suffer painful side effects, such as, stomach pains, muscle aches, bloating, cramping and rapid heart beat or worse.
Many insurance companies will not cover brand name medications, when there is a generic alternative. What happens if the drug store fills a prescription as ordered and a generic available? A drug store that is keen to the generic alternative may cal the doctor to find out if they will the generic. A pharmacist when they try to but the charge through the insurance company and it comes back. Sometimes it does not come to anyone's attention until the order is filled and the customer goes to pick up their order.
Customers ask the pharmacist why the bill is so high and the pharmacist looks into it. This of course takes up the pharmacist's time. They come back and state that there is a generic available and the health insurance will not pay for brand name medications! Some customers may ask that the pharmacist contact the doctor.
On the other hand most consumers aren't aware of the problem with the price. They won't talk to the pharmacist and will either pay the more money or not purchase the drugs regardless of how badly it is necessary. The retail price without insurance is not affordable for numerous people.
This may seem unbelievable, but there are millions of elderly people who have to select between eating and medications. They simply don't have enough money for both. Notably, it is an unacceptable situation, it takes time and energy to stay current.
Whether you are a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, pharmaceutical technician I implore you to take an active roll in giving your patients with the most up to date information.
Published July 28th, 2008
Filed in Health
BlinkList
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Fark
Furl
Google Bookmarks
Livejournal
Ma.gnolia
Netvouz
Newsvine
Reddit
Spurl
Stumbleupon
Wists
Yahoo My Web