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Scientists Say Taking Adderall to Get Through Day May Be OK

CitizenSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:30:38 -0800

College students and other concentration seekers know it's not hard to score a 'script for ADHD drugs. Fidgety, disorganized, forgetful. They know the symptoms and they work the system.

But while using Ritalin and Adderall to edge out competition in school and life is nothing new (though the science journal Nature disagrees), a vocal group of scientists supporting it is. They argue that "cognitive enhancement" should no longer be a bad word because it's no different than using education, good health habits, and technology to get ahead. Another similarity? Access to prescription drugs requires a certain degree of privilege, too!

Opponents argue that it's cheating, unnatural, and on par with drug abuse. If they want to curb this trend, I recommend showing young teens Requiem For a Dream at just the right age. But until then, is it just best to accept and regulate it?

Source

FDA Lists Drugs Under Investigation

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Ever been prescribed a drug by your doctor and wondered how safe or unsafe it is?

The FDA has recently begun posting a list of prescription drugs under investigation for safety problems on its site. Currently there are only about 20 meds on the list, but the FDA will continue to update it each quarter. If a medication you're currently taking is classified as under investigation, don't freak out. Continue taking your medicine as prescribed and make an appointment to talk to your doctor as the potential risks may not outweigh the benefits of taking the medicine.

For all other prescription drugs check out my new Health Guide where you'll find thousands of overviews of common medications. It's very helpful, especially if you've thrown away the little foldout pamphlet that comes with all prescriptions.

Source

Do You Share Prescription Drugs?

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

If you pass the occasional pill to your friends, you are not alone. According to a recent study published in The Journal of Women’s Health, sharing prescription drugs is common among young adults, especially 18- to 44-year-old women. The recent survey of 25,000 people found that more than one-third of the women polled shared prescription drugs with friends or took pills from their pals. The drugs included everything from allergy meds to pain pills. I'm definitely guilty of offering the occasional Allegra to friends who also take the drug, but how about you? Source

Do You Share Prescription Drugs?

Yes, I'll admit, I do it often!

Sometimes, but only if the person takes or has taken the drug before.

Only in extreme circumstances.

No, never.

Other — Please share below.

Judge Orders Company to Give Test Drug to Dying Teen

LibertySugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:00:22 -0700

Doctors aren't the only ones who can write prescriptions in the US. Yesterday, a federal judge ordered a research group to provide experimental drugs to a terminally ill teen suffering from a fatal type of muscular dystrophy.

The family of Jacob Gunvalson sued PTC Therapeutics alleging that the company led them to believe that Jacob could participate in a trial of the drug necessary for his survival. The company says it denied Jacob because it worried that unsafe results could taint the reputation of the new drug and hold back research. Since Jacob wasn't part of the preliminary trial, he did not qualify for the second round of the drug trial.

PTC maintains that it never promised Jacob an exception. The company's lawyers also argued that terminally ill patients do not have a legal right to unapproved drugs. But Jacob isn't just any terminally ill American. The judge said this case was different because PTC has a particularly close relationship with Jacob and his family, who even stayed overnight once at the company's VP's home.

Should we just take away the need for a lawsuit all together, and allow access to any terminally-ill patient willing to pay for experimental treatment?

Source

Do You Pay Attention to Drug Interactions?

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I'm always surprised when I read the labels on my prescription medications that they can often interact with seemingly innocent over-the-counter drugs. So I'm very careful to read the texts that come with my prescriptions, to make sure that they don't create a harmful combination with something else. Do you pay attention to the interactions spelled out on your drug labels?Source

Do You Pay Attention to Drug Interactions?

Yes, I always read all of the drug information very carefully.

Sometimes, if I remember or happen to look.

No, I never think about it.

Other (tell us below)

Top 10 Most Medicated States

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Where you live affects many elements of your daily life, like how often you walk to your destination as opposed to drive. Based on a new study by Kaiser Family Foundation, which side of the Mason-Dixon line you live on could affect how medicated you are.

According to numbers compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation the top ten medicated states, based on the number of retail prescriptions filled per capita annually, were in the South. Many states were considerably higher than the national average of 11.1 prescriptions filled annually. Here are the top 10 medicated states.

Public health experts believe the high prescription drug usage is related to obesity rates, which are also higher in the South. Obesity is a risk factor in many chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

To see the least medicated states,

Drugs For Sale! Prescription Slogans Meet the News. . .

CitizenSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:00:45 -0700

Last week we heard that the GOP's new slogan — The change you deserve — is the same as the antidepressant Effexor. Hey! The homeless guy on my corner says the same thing, except he substitutes “I” for “you.” Well it got me thinking. Pharmaceuticals, the government, and current affairs are nothing if not bedfellows. Yes. I know that’s three and crowded and possibly not legal in some states. But what if I matched up drug slogans with recent news stories? Well, I did — and lemme tell you, it answers the question, "what do Midol and the election have in common?" Here goes! Source