U.S. approves first no-period pill
I guess having a period can be a very stressful event for women. If women have a choice between menstruation and pregnancy, which one will they choose? Men will probably never understand it.
|
|
No-Period Pill.
|
The first birth-control pill meant to put a stop to women’s monthly periods indefinitely won federal approval in the U.S. Tuesday. Called Lybrel, it’s the first such pill to receive Food and Drug Administration approval for continuous use. When taken daily, the pill can halt women’s menstrual periods indefinitely and prevent pregnancies.
Lybrel is the latest approved oral contraceptive to depart from the 21-days-on, seven-days-off regimen that had been standard since birth-control pill sales began in the 1960s. The pill, manufactured by Wyeth, is the first designed to put off periods altogether when taken without break.
The pill isn’t for everyone, an FDA official said. About half the women enrolled in studies of Lybrel dropped out, said Dr. Daniel Shames, a deputy director in the FDA’s drugs office. Many did so because of the irregular and unscheduled bleeding and spotting that can replace scheduled menstruation.
“If you think you don’t want to go down this road, this is not for you,” Shames told reporters.
Wyeth plans to start Lybrel sales in July. The Madison, N.J., company said it hasn’t yet determined a price for the 28-pill packs. The pill contains a low dose of two hormones already widely used in birth-control pills, ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel.
A study showed Lybrel was just as effective in preventing pregnancy as a traditional pill, Alesse, also made by Wyeth. However, since Lybrel users will eliminate their regular periods, it may be difficult for them to recognize if they have become pregnant, Shames said.
Read more: canada.com
Filed under: Health, medicine | No Comments
Disinfecting Solution for Fungal Infection
1 teaspoon of household bleach
2 teaspoons of Calgon (water softener)
8 oz of cool water
For complete dentures, soak overnight and then brush with soap and rinse.
For dentures with temporary reliners, avoid soaking for > 10min.
For partial dentures, use cotton swab to clean the denture flanges with 1:10 diluted household bleach. Avoid contacting the metal surface.
Intraoral Fungal Infection
Rx: Mycostatin (Nystatin) oral suspension 100,000IU/ml
Mitte: 48ml bottle with calibrated dropper
Sig: 1ml q.i.d., swish mouth for 1min then swallow, continue for a minimum of 2 weeks
Rx: Peridex/Perioguard (chlorhexidine) 0.12% oral rinse (0.2% alcohol free)
Mitte: 475ml bottle
Sig: 15ml b.i.d, rinse mouth for 30sec then expectorate, continue for 1 week
Angular Cheilitis
Rx: Mycostatin (Nystatin) ointment 100,000units/gm
Mitte: 30gm tube
Sig: Apply to corners of mouth q.i.d., continue for a minimum of 2 weeks
Filed under: Health, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy | No Comments
FDA - Food & Drug Act
- Part A: administration
- Part B: Foods
- Part C: Drugs
- Part D: vitamins, minerals, amino acids
- Part E: Cyclamate, saccharin, sweeteners
- Part F: schedule F - part I and II drugs
What is a Part F Schedule F Drug?
- Part F Schedule F Part I
- Vitamin A > 10,000 IU
- Vitamin D > 1,000 IU
- Folic Acid > 1.0mg
- Part F Schedule F Part II
- Vitamin K
- Sodium Fluoride > 1mg of fluoride ion
- If for human use: verbal or written Rx is required, refills are allowed
- Exception: can be sold without Rx to practitioner, pharmacist, drug manufacturer, wholesaler, hospital
Filed under: Health, medicine, pharmacy | No Comments
Controlled Drugs
- Schedule I: opium and derivatives (cocaine, methadone, pentazocine)
- Schedule II: cannabis (not stalks or non-viable seed) and its preparations
- Schedule III: amphetamines, methyphenidate, LSD
- Schedule IV: barbiturates, appetite suppressants, anti-anxiety/hypnotics, benzodiazepine, anabolic steroids
- Schedule V: phenylpropanolamine, propylhexedine
- Schedule VI: precursors (ie, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, lysergic acid
- Schedule VII: cannabis resin (3kg), cannabis marihuana (3kg)
- Schedule VIII: cannabis resin (1g), cannabis marihuana (30g)
Straight narcotic contains:
- ONE of the drugs in schedule I (narcotic)
- ONE of the drugs in schedule I (narcotic) plus ONE active non-narcotic ingredient
- ALL narcotics for parenteral use
- ALL products containing any one of the followings:
- diamorphine (heroin)
- hydrocodone
- oxycodone
- methadone
- pentazocine
- Dextropropoxyphene, propoxyphene: single entity (no other ingredient)
Legal Requirements of “Straight Narcotic”?
- Written Rx only (verbal Rx not allowed)
- Part-fills allowed (no refills)
- Transfers not allowed (ie, parts have to be filled with the same pharmacy)
- Keep records for 2 years
- Report any loss or theft within 10 days to the Office of Controlled Substances
- aka “Verbal Prescription Narctoic”
- Contains ONE narcotic plus TWO or more medicinal ingredients other than a narcotic in a recognized therapeutic dose
- Is not intended for parenteral administration
- Does not contain:
- diamorphine (heroin)
- hydrocodone
- oxycodone
- methadone
- pentazocine
- Contains dextropropoxyphene or propoxyphene plus other active ingredients
Legal Requirements of “Verbal Prescription Narctoic”
- Written or verbal Rx allowed
- Part-fills allowed (no refills)
- Transfers not allowed (ie, parts have to be filled with the same pharmacy)
- Keep records for 2 years
- Report any loss or theft within 10 days to the Office of Controlled Substances
- Contains codeine up to 8mg/solid dosage form or 20mg/30ml liquid, PLUS TWO or more active non-narcotic ingredients
- Sold over-the-counter (no Rx required)
- Contains a cautionary statement “This preparation contains codeine and should not be administered to children except on the advice of a physician or dentist.”
Filed under: Health, medicine, pharmacy | No Comments
Straight Narcotic
Written Rx only, no refills, part-fills allowed - more info
Tylenol #4 (acetaminophen 300mg, codeine 60mg)
Verbal Prescription Narcotic
Verbal or written Rx, no refills, part-fills allowed - more info
Tylenol #3 (acetaminophen 300mg, codeine 30mg, caffeine 15mg)
Tylenol #2 (acetaminophen 300mg, codeine 15mg, caffeine 15mg)
Exempted Codeine Product
Sold OTC—Schedule 2 (NAPRA) - more info
Tylenol #1 (acetaminophen 300mg, codeine 8mg, caffeine 15mg)
Filed under: Health, medicine, pharmacy | No Comments
