2003

On the psychology of pharmaceutical trade names

December 28, 2003

The Science of Naming Drugs (Sorry, ‘Z’ Is Already Taken) It has often been noted that drug makers have favorite letters, and that they run the gamut from X to Z. Think Nexium, Clarinex, Celebrex, Xanax, Zyban and Zithromax. But why are these letters so popular? “Some letters look better in print, make sounds people [...]

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The top ranting subjects of 2003

December 27, 2003

I started thinking recently about the major impact medical stories of 2003. This is a work in progress, and I need your help. This rant will just list (in no particular order) stories which captivated me and the commenters this year. I plan to consider them all week, and elicit your opinions. On New Year’s [...]

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Prather on health savings accounts

December 24, 2003

As we start to digest the monstrous Medicare bill, we find the good, bad and the ugly. HSAa are in the good category. Robert Prather has championed this idea on his excellent blog for the past year at least. He addresses the issue once again with reference to the bill – Maybe I (Mis)Underestimated The [...]

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A surgeon’s take on the appendectomy issue

December 23, 2003

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Laparoscopic appendectomy

December 23, 2003

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A good article on Type II Diabetes Mellitus

December 23, 2003

Stampede of Diabetes as U.S. Races to Obesity Many people seem to think they don’t have to worry about a preventable disease that does not, at the outset at least, have serious consequences and that can be treated. One such disease was long called adult-onset diabetes. There are two things wrong here: first, this disease [...]

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Gabapentin (Neurontin) works for chronic daily headaches

December 23, 2003

I posted 3 rants on Neurontin in May and July – The whistle blower and Warner-Lambert, The Neurontin story, and More on Neurontin. These rants received many comments from angry users (who blame many side effects on these drugs. One of my guiding principles is to carefully look at the data rather than anecdotes. Thus, [...]

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What drugs should be OTC?

December 22, 2003

There’s a Blurry Line Between Rx and O.T.C. The decision to sell a drug by prescription, experts say, may involve factors that have nothing to do with science or patient safety. Marketing and financial considerations, politics, doctors’ concerns and consumer psychology all may play a role. “Unequivocally, there is no bright line,” said Peter Barton [...]

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Expert witnesses – a vanishing breed?

December 21, 2003

Making Malpractice Harder to Prove Slowly and quietly, the rules regarding expert witness testimony in medical malpractice cases have been changing: a handful of states have passed legislation in the last two years that generally requires physician experts to work in the same field as a defendant doctor, while professional doctors’ groups are setting up [...]

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Influenza – when to seek care

December 20, 2003

Most influenza does not need a physician visit. This article makes clear the signs that should lead to physician care. U.S. Offers Advice on When to Seek Flu Care But for some, influenza can be life-threatening. Among warning signs that should bring immediate notification to a doctor are rapid or difficult breathing and a fever [...]

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