New Drug to Treat Nasal Polyps - Dupilumab (Dupixent)

Patients who suffer from nasal polyps suffer from significant nasal obstruction, smell loss, and congestion. This condition is not normally "curable" and requires medical management for long-term symptom control. Traditional treatment includes surgical removal , leukotriene inhibitor (ie, singulair ), intranasal steroids , allergy shots (if applicable), and oral steroids. In the majority of patients, this treatment management usually controls nasal polyp recurrence/growth such t…

7/18/2019 0

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Meclizine (Antivert) to Treat Dizziness - Bad Idea?

It seems almost reflexive that anybody who complains of dizziness gets a prescription for meclizine (aka antivert , dramamine , bonine , etc). However, this drug which is also available over-the-counter is often not the best way to treat dizziness. Depending on what is causing the dizziness, this drug may actually prolong or even worsen this symptom. Meclizine is an anti-histamine similar to allergy medications like claritin , benadryl , zyrtec , etc. It also has anticholinergic properti…

10/17/2015 1

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Medical Alarm Fatigue

Alarms are an important part of clinical care as it serves as a warning to a possible medical error or an impending medical emergency. But when they occur frequently, most of which end up being "false-alarms," they become worse than useless and actually contributes  to an unsafe patient environment because a life-threatening event may be missed due to such sensory overload. In one fascinating research article performed in an intensive care unit (ICU) where the sickest of the sick…

4/25/2015 0

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Flonase Steroid Nasal Spray Now OTC

GlaxoSmithKline announced in July 2014 that the FDA has approved Flonase  steroid nasal spray  to be made available over-the-counter (OTC). It has now arrived! Flonase joins  Nasacort  which is has been available for purchase OTC for some time. Flonase is available to purchase on Amazon now as well. Flonase and Nasacort both are  steroid nasal sprays  used to treat  allergies  in patients. It is similar to prescription steroid nasal sprays like nasonex, omnaris, ceramist, etc. It is …

2/07/2015 1

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Flonase Steroid Nasal Spray to be OTC in 2015

GlaxoSmithKline announced in July 2014 that the FDA has approved Flonase  steroid nasal spray  to be made available over-the-counter (OTC) starting sometime in early 2015. Flonase would join  Nasacort  which is already available for purchase OTC. Flonase and Nasacort both are steroid nasal sprays  used to treat  allergies  in patients. It is similar to prescription steroid nasal sprays like nasacort, nasonex, omnaris, etc. It also would be the second steroid nasal spray made OTC in the Un…

7/25/2014 0

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Nasacort AQ Steroid Nasal Spray NOW Available OTC!

Sanofi announced in 2013 that the FDA had approved Nasacort  steroid nasal spray  to be made available over-the-counter (OTC) starting sometime spring 2014. Well... It's now available for about $20. Here's where you can get it on Amazon.com . Nasacort is a  steroid nasal spray  used to treat  allergies  in patients starting from the age of 2 years old. It is similar to prescription steroid nasal sprays like flonase, nasonex, etc. It is also the very first steroid nasal spray mad…

2/13/2014 0

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New Ragweed Under the Tongue Pill Instead of Allergy Shots Recommended by FDA Panel

Yesterday, the FDA Allergenic Products Advisory Committee supported approval for a new sublingual allergy tablets (Ragwitek) that work the same way  allergy shots  do... but instead is dissolved under the tongue at home instead of a shot in the arm in a medical office. Given this is only a panel recommendation, final "official" FDA approval may not occur for another year or so for sale/distribution under prescription in the United States. Ragwitek is made by  ALK-Abello  and  Me…

1/29/2014 0

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Two New Sublingual Allergy Tablets Approved by FDA Advisory Committee

This week, the FDA Allergenic Products Advisory Committee unanimously supported approval for two new sublingual allergy tablets (Oralair and Grastek) that work the same way allergy shots do... but instead is dissolved under the tongue at home instead of a shot in the arm in a medical office. Although both tablets have been available in Europe for some time, final "official" FDA approval may not occur until end of 2014 (or later) for sale/distribution under prescription in the Unite…

12/13/2013 0

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Nasacort Steroid Nasal Spray to be Available Over-The-Counter!

Sanofi announced today that the FDA has approved Nasacort steroid nasal spray to be made available over-the-counter (OTC) starting sometime spring 2014. Nasacort is a steroid nasal spray used to treat allergies in patients start from the age of 2 years old. It will also be the very first steroid nasal spray made OTC in the United States which can be both a blessing as well as a curse. Why? With Nasacort going OTC which will certainly make it more convenient for patients, I also antic…

10/11/2013 0

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Dante's Hell of Prescriptions: When Treatment Causes More Ills

Here is a scenario which I unfortunately see all too often... a scenario how prescriptions are provided to a patient to address their ills which due to associated side effects causes even more problems which in turn is treated with even more prescriptions. Take for example a patient who presents with a chief complaint of cough for over 12 months. Suspicion for bronchitis is made and prescription for levaquin (antibiotic) and tussionex (a narcotic cough suppressant) is given to the patien…

9/21/2012 0

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New Oral Appliance for OSA (Only Needs Heat to Fit)

A new sleep apnea oral appliance can be fitted and used at home without going to a dentist called  ApneaRx ! Oral appliances to treat obstructive sleep apnea ( OSA ) have an upper and lower component that fit into the upper and lower jaws. A mechanism within the device than allows for the lower jaw to be thrust forward to some degree which pulls the tongue and anterior airway forward thereby enlarging the airway and preventing obstructive apneas during sleep. It can also help with snoring…

6/29/2012 0

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Greater Patient Satisfaction At Expense of Better Care?

Much has been made about improving patient satisfaction in the healthcare industry in the belief that greater patient satisfaction equates with better health. To this end, patients are routinely asked to complete a survey based on their impressions on the care they received. BUT... does greater patient satisfaction actually result in or is the result of better care??? According to a recent study ... higher patient satisfaction actually resulted in: • Greater inpatient hospitalization •…

2/19/2012 0

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What Exactly Does a Generic Drug Mean (Opposed to Brand Name)?

Some patients are very confused by what the difference between a generic drug versus brand name drug is. From the patient perspective, they are thinking, how in the world can the same drug be called different things? Doctors answer by talking about active ingredients, patents, and copays which sometimes confuses patients even more. Well, here's to set the record straight using an analogy. So let's talk about orange juice. I consider Tropicana Orange Juice a brand name "dr…

6/05/2011 0

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Xyzal and Clarinex Generics Now Available

Xyzal and Clarinex are both anti-histamines used to treat allergies. Both medications are now available as generics by prescription since December 2010. The active ingredient for both xyzal and clarinex are the active stereoisomer of the over-the-counter zyrtec and claritin respectively. In other words, zyrtec and claritin available over-the-counter contain the same active ingredient found in xyzal and clarinex, but in an "un-purified" state. Still confused? Read this article w…

2/04/2011 0

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Allegra Going Over-The-Counter March 2011!

For allergy sufferers, the prescription anti-histamine, Allegra, will be going over-the-counter on March 4, 2011. And not just Allegra, but the full family of Allegra including those formulations for kids as well as Allegra-D which contains sudafed. Click here for more info. Allegra joins claritin and zyrtec which also used to be prescriptions but went over-the-counter in 2003 and 2007 respectively.

1/25/2011 0

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New Non-Addictive Sleep Drug to Help People Sleep!!!

It was with great interest that I read a recent report that a new drug, Silenor, was approved by the FDA this month (March 18, 2010) to help people who have trouble sleeping. Although there are already prescription medications to help with sleep (Ambien and Lunesta being the most common ones), Silenor is very interesting in that there was no suggestion of any addictive properties or withdrawal with this medication in over 1000 patients during clinical trials. In fact, Silenor has not been …

3/22/2010 0

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Taking Tylenol and Ibuprofen Also Has A Potential Risk of DEATH!

The New York Times in July 6, 2009 published an interesting article regarding the potentially fatal risk of taking tylenol and ibuprofen. The story titled " Reasons Not to Panic Over a Painkiller " states that tylenol (due to liver damage) kills about 400 people and hospitalizes about 42,000 every year in the United States. Ibuprofen is even worse. More than 100,000 Americans are hospitalized each year with complications associated with ibuprofen and an additional 15,000 to 20,000 di…

11/18/2009 0

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