News and information about the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) and arthritis and rheumatology research. Written for NDB participants and anyone with a rheumatic disease.
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Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Requests for drugs affect doctors:
"Direct-to-consumer advertising appears to be affecting prescribing practices, according to new research that shows doctors are influenced by patient requests for antidepressant medications....Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTC) of prescription drugs, which totaled $3.2 billion in 2003, has come under increasing scrutiny since the cox-2 painkiller controversy, and the withdrawal of two of them, Vioxx and Bextra, from the market. Some experts have argued that such advertising could help people get treatment for conditions like depression that are chronically underdiagnosed. Others argue that it might result in individuals taking drugs they don't really need." - from HealthDay
"Direct-to-consumer advertising appears to be affecting prescribing practices, according to new research that shows doctors are influenced by patient requests for antidepressant medications....Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTC) of prescription drugs, which totaled $3.2 billion in 2003, has come under increasing scrutiny since the cox-2 painkiller controversy, and the withdrawal of two of them, Vioxx and Bextra, from the market. Some experts have argued that such advertising could help people get treatment for conditions like depression that are chronically underdiagnosed. Others argue that it might result in individuals taking drugs they don't really need." - from HealthDay
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Leflunomide effective against JRA
"After comparing the current gold standard of treatment, oral methotrexate, to an oral medication used in adult rheumatoid arthritis, leflunomide, researchers found that while methotrexate was the more effective of the pair, leflunomide also worked and, in some cases, was tolerated better than methotrexate....About 300,000 U.S. children have arthritis or rheumatic disease, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is one of three types of the disease and means that more than five joints are affected, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases." - from HealthDay
"After comparing the current gold standard of treatment, oral methotrexate, to an oral medication used in adult rheumatoid arthritis, leflunomide, researchers found that while methotrexate was the more effective of the pair, leflunomide also worked and, in some cases, was tolerated better than methotrexate....About 300,000 U.S. children have arthritis or rheumatic disease, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is one of three types of the disease and means that more than five joints are affected, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases." - from HealthDay
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Study says Lyrica relieves Fibromyalgia symptoms
"According to a study published in the April 2005 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, Lyrica (pregabalin), significantly reduced the pain of fibromyalgia, improved sleep and fatigue and improved other patient-reported conditions including bodily pain and vitality" - from arthritis.about.com
See the abstract here: Arthritis & Rheumatism
"According to a study published in the April 2005 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, Lyrica (pregabalin), significantly reduced the pain of fibromyalgia, improved sleep and fatigue and improved other patient-reported conditions including bodily pain and vitality" - from arthritis.about.com
See the abstract here: Arthritis & Rheumatism
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Merck study says Arcoxia compares well with Ibuprofen
"New research indicates that Arcoxia (etoricoxib) is a well-tolerated treatment for arthritis and relieves pain as well as ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Motrin or Advil, for example. Arcoxia is one of the newest members of the COX-2 inhibitor type of painkillers. Like Vioxx and other members of this class, it has recently come under scrutiny regarding a possible link to heart attack and stroke. As such, the US Food and Drug Administration is awaiting further safety data before approving the drug. Dr. Judith A. Boice, from Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, New Jersey, and colleagues compared Arcoxia with ibuprofen and inactive 'placebo' as a treatment for arthritis of the hip and knee. A total of 528 patients participated in the 12-week study. The researchers' findings appear in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings." Merck manufactures Arcoxia. - from Reuters
"New research indicates that Arcoxia (etoricoxib) is a well-tolerated treatment for arthritis and relieves pain as well as ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Motrin or Advil, for example. Arcoxia is one of the newest members of the COX-2 inhibitor type of painkillers. Like Vioxx and other members of this class, it has recently come under scrutiny regarding a possible link to heart attack and stroke. As such, the US Food and Drug Administration is awaiting further safety data before approving the drug. Dr. Judith A. Boice, from Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, New Jersey, and colleagues compared Arcoxia with ibuprofen and inactive 'placebo' as a treatment for arthritis of the hip and knee. A total of 528 patients participated in the 12-week study. The researchers' findings appear in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings." Merck manufactures Arcoxia. - from Reuters
Epstein-Barr Virus May Boost Lupus Risk in Blacks
"The common Epstein-Barr virus may increase the risk of lupus in black Americans, researchers report. Their study also found that genetic variations between individuals may influence immune system responses to the virus in people with lupus......'The racial difference in the association between EBV-IgA and (lupus) is intriguing, especially since African-Americans have a higher risk of (lupus), tend to develop the disease earlier, and often have a more severe course of the disease,' study author Christine G. Parks said in a prepared statement." - from HealthDay
"The common Epstein-Barr virus may increase the risk of lupus in black Americans, researchers report. Their study also found that genetic variations between individuals may influence immune system responses to the virus in people with lupus......'The racial difference in the association between EBV-IgA and (lupus) is intriguing, especially since African-Americans have a higher risk of (lupus), tend to develop the disease earlier, and often have a more severe course of the disease,' study author Christine G. Parks said in a prepared statement." - from HealthDay
Monday, April 11, 2005
BEXTRA refunds available
What do you do now that BEXTRA is off the market? Pfizer advises that you should stop taking it. Of course, you'll want to speak with your doctor about alternative treatments. You can get a refund for all your unused BEXTRA tablets at your local pharmacy. Or you may contact the National Notification Center (NNC) at 1-866-608-3935 to receive a patient product return kit by mail. NNC will process your refund on Pfizer's behalf. - from www.bextra.com
What do you do now that BEXTRA is off the market? Pfizer advises that you should stop taking it. Of course, you'll want to speak with your doctor about alternative treatments. You can get a refund for all your unused BEXTRA tablets at your local pharmacy. Or you may contact the National Notification Center (NNC) at 1-866-608-3935 to receive a patient product return kit by mail. NNC will process your refund on Pfizer's behalf. - from www.bextra.com
Friday, April 08, 2005
FDA changes for NSAIDs plus more Bextra news
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced actions which will be taken regarding the marketing of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The actions include changes for COX-2 inhibitors, as well as prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) NSAIDs." - from arthritis.about.com
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced actions which will be taken regarding the marketing of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The actions include changes for COX-2 inhibitors, as well as prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) NSAIDs." - from arthritis.about.com
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Pfizer pulls Bextra off the market
"The painkiller Bextra was pulled from U.S. and European markets Thursday on a request by the FDA.... FDA officials cited heightened cardiovascular risks associated with long-term use of the drug, as well as incidents of a rare but potentially fatal skin reaction, as the primary reasons for pulling Bextra from the market."
The New York Times quoted a statement from the drug manufacturer that "Pfizer respectfully disagrees with F.D.A.'s position regarding the overall risk/benefit profile of Bextra." - from HealthDay
"The painkiller Bextra was pulled from U.S. and European markets Thursday on a request by the FDA.... FDA officials cited heightened cardiovascular risks associated with long-term use of the drug, as well as incidents of a rare but potentially fatal skin reaction, as the primary reasons for pulling Bextra from the market."
The New York Times quoted a statement from the drug manufacturer that "Pfizer respectfully disagrees with F.D.A.'s position regarding the overall risk/benefit profile of Bextra." - from HealthDay
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Cancer drug also helps RA patients in clinical trial
"A top-selling cancer drug co-developed by Switzerland's Roche also helps patients with a hard-to-treat form of rheumatoid arthritis, data showed....'These data suggest that MabThera may offer new hope to patients who have explored all existing therapies,' William Burns, chief executive of Roche's pharmaceutical division, said in a statement....The companies plan to file for regulatory approval of the treatment for patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis in the second half of this year. The drug is already on the market as a treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma." - from Reuters.com
"A top-selling cancer drug co-developed by Switzerland's Roche also helps patients with a hard-to-treat form of rheumatoid arthritis, data showed....'These data suggest that MabThera may offer new hope to patients who have explored all existing therapies,' William Burns, chief executive of Roche's pharmaceutical division, said in a statement....The companies plan to file for regulatory approval of the treatment for patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis in the second half of this year. The drug is already on the market as a treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma." - from Reuters.com
Now available for your support group or arthritis meetings....Our new pamphlets explain what we do and how you and can help. Each one has a postage-paid postcard to request more information or join the project. The pamphlets and a small table-top stand are available free from the NDB. Just send us an email!