PhRMA’s Post

Following a review, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has updated guidance on the use of #paclitaxel-coated devices stating that such devices can be considered for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (#PAD), including intermittent claudication and critical limb-threatening ischaemia (#CLTI). #peripheralarterialdisease #paclitaxelcoateddevices https://lnkd.in/eyYvzc8a

💊 New in our QTdrugs Blog Series: "Increased deaths when Hydroxychloroquine prescribed for COVID-19" Our latest blog entry explores the complexities and potential dangers of prescribing Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19. The article examines its widespread use during the pandemic, despite the lack of evidence for its efficacy and the subsequent revelation of an increased mortality risk. Highlighting the importance of reliable data and a thorough understanding of medication risks, especially in emergency healthcare situations, this analysis provides essential insights into the critical need for informed prescribing practices. Read the full article for an in-depth exploration of this significant public health issue: https://bit.ly/3ujGEOC #QTdrugs #MedicationSafety #CredibleMeds

💊🍏 Expanding Obesity Treatment Access: A Medicaid Shift #foodandnutrition Health-conscious professionals, here's a significant healthcare update! Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Utah, and Vermont are exploring the inclusion of weight loss drugs in their Medicaid programs, as per a KFF survey. 📊💡 With only 16 states currently covering obesity medications and limited options like Orlistat, this move could mark a pivotal change in obesity treatment access for many. Stay informed about these healthcare developments, especially if you're in the affected states. How do you think this change will impact public health and nutrition? Share your thoughts! #HealthcareInnovation #ObesityTreatment #MedicaidCoverage #PublicHealth

Yes! A clinically safe, and validated, approach to support patients not only get off of GLP-1 medications, but to help keep the weight off for the long term; where have I heard this before...?? Take a look at Virta Health's leading published research on this important matter. DM to learn more https://lnkd.in/e6-KfTjn

https://lnkd.in/g9qtxU3m Highlights • Hydroxychloroquine was prescribed in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 despite of the low-level evidence. • Subsequently, HCQ use was associated with an 11% increase in the mortality rate in a meta-analysis of randomized trials. • The number of hydroxychloroquine related deaths in hospitalised patients is estimated at 16,990 in six countries. • These findings illustrate the hazard of drug repurposing with low-level evidence for the management of future pandemics

🚨 Is Our Healthcare System Failing Us? A Gut-Wrenching Reality Check 🚨 Imagine this: A 35-year-old man ends up in the ICU after a DIY injury turns into a severe infection. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, medication shortages force them to use less effective, side-effect-laden drugs. The infection spirals out of control, leading to kidney failure, severe pain, respiratory failure, and eventually, death. This isn’t a nightmare—it’s our current reality. Our healthcare system is crumbling under critical medication shortages. From life-saving antibiotics and IV fluids to essential cancer treatments and resuscitative drugs, the scarcity is impacting patient care on an unprecedented scale. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a crisis that leads to medical errors, longer hospital stays, and tragic outcomes. Why is this happening? The root cause lies in the outsourcing of drug manufacturing. Most of our medications are produced overseas, leading to supply chain disruptions, quality control issues, and even counterfeit drugs entering the market. The consequences? Devastating. It's time to take action! We must demand change—urge pharmaceutical companies and political leaders to bring drug manufacturing back to the United States. This move will not only secure our medication supply but also create high-paying jobs and boost our economy. Our health is our most valuable asset. Let’s not wait for another tragedy. Prioritize your health NOW and demand better from our healthcare system. 🌟 Stay proactive, stay healthy. 🌟 Are you faced with any acute or chronic illnesses? Request a free discovery call today to discuss how unique approach to treating you at the root cause. Worth with the Real Gut Doctor, and find out how great it is to start feeling better again. #HealthCrisis #DrugShortages #HealthcareReform #PatientSafety #GutHealth #PreventativeCare #HealthIsWealth #PharmaRevolution #USManufacturing #DemandChange #TakeActionNow #TakeChargeOfYourHealth #NoCounterfietDrugs #TheRealGutDoctor #5XBoardCertified Drug Shortages Are Killing Our Patients - Medscape - June 11, 2024.

Antibiotics are not harmless, and the risks of their use should always be weighed against their benefits. "The majority of antibiotics commonly used in clinical practice can contribute to acute kidney injury. The incidence of drug-induced acute kidney injury may be as high as 60%, with antibiotics being considered a main contributor!" #prescriberesponsibly #antimicrobialresistance #antibioticstewardship #antimicrobialstewardship #publichealth https://lnkd.in/etKvAbky

If not this (#PharmaCare) then what? How can #Pharmacists help patients access care? - gap coverage applications: I’ve helped dozens of patients apply for Trillium in #Ontario. And when their approval comes in we help interpret their deductible and navigate coverage - therapeutic alternatives: in some provinces (not Ontario), pharmacists can change to cheaper and equally effective alternatives. We need this in Ontario. We need to ensure the patients are always on the right drug at the right time. Limiting our scope limits care. - optimizing symptom control: going through too many test strips when blood sugar is too low or high? Pharmacists can optimize meds and therefore control and save $$ on strips. Blowing through inhalers? (Pun intended). Pharmacists can optimize maintenance meds reducing need for rescue meds. Allow Pharmacists to prescribe for chronic disease management. - illness prevention: vaccines are a simple easy way to prevent illness. This reduces costs to the system (reducing hospitalizations) and patients (needing more meds once function has declined) - allow us to give all publicly funded vaccines! (Use these federal dollars to pay for them too!) There are so many ways Pharmacists can improve the health of Canadians. We know where the gaps are. Leverage our knowledge and skills and you’ll see benefits for generations. #GapCoverage4All #Pharmacists #CommunityPharmacy

FDA removes red flag for paclitaxel-coated devices after review finds data do not support mortality risk In a letter to healthcare providers dated 11 July 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) communicates that the risk of mortality associated with paclitaxel-coated devices to treat peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is no longer supported based on the totality of the available data and analyses. This update signals a lowering of the red flag raised in a 2019 letter from the Administration—published in response to a meta-analysis that indicated a late mortality signal—warning that treatment of PAD with paclitaxel-coated balloons and paclitaxel-eluting stents was “potentially associated with increased mortality”. Click here for detailed insights: https://lnkd.in/exAxQ8DC

On the “LTC Pharmacy Podcast” Tamara Ruggles & Scott Stewart talk with Mike Steinman about #DePrescribing & the need for more senior care #pharmacists to dial deeper into patients drug regimens. Medicines are meant to help, not harm. But sometimes taking too many drugs can be dangerous, especially for older adults. The use of multiple drugs to treat diseases and other health conditions is known as polypharmacy. This is a growing concern for older adults. Polypharmacy is more common among older adults, many of whom have multiple chronic conditions (MCC), defined as two or more chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, depression, diabetes, and hypertension. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gthixiYi