GLG News by Neonatal-Perinatal Physicians

Just like expensive, do-everything end-of-life care, like unlimited imaging studies, like newest drugs, patients want it all. This is one of the attitudes which causes the US to spend far more than other developed countries for far less efficient and cost-effective health care.

(There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.) Just like the electronic devices which claim to stimulate constant muscle contractions, these pills seem to produce increased muscle metabolic activity, making the muscle "think" that it has been exercising. The animals in the study had increased endurance...

There is not much new here for those involved in clinical care of children, but it is good to have statistical support for what we have always taught about pollution and allergic disorders, especially asthma.

Treatment of atopic dermatitis has always been frustrating. Flare-ups, which are all too common, can be treated with topical steroids, but these cannot be used for prolonged periods without significant downside. And lubrication of the skin, the mainstay of maintenance therapy, is not always effective...

While the need for urgent care does not disappear during tough economic times, patients are far more selective about when they consider themselves sick enough to require medical care. With higher copayments, often $25-50, patients think twice before going to a physician for minor complaints--they might...

As in so many other instances, some potential side effects will only show up once the number of patients has grown far beyond the number studied in pre-marketing studies.

While I am sure that there are a few children with hereditary lipid disorders which should be treated aggressively and early with statins, the data is certainly not available to support routine treatment of every child with elevated lipid values.

If the same drug is available OTC, insurances won't cover the rx form, and patients will (continue to) self-treat with OTC meds, without even needing to see their doctor.

Taro just got approval for Rx cetirizine - big whoop!  Zyrtec has been OTC in all forms (tablet, chewable and syrup) since 11/07.  Do you know anyone who will write a prescription for an OTC drug or an insurance company that will cover it?

Glaxo has just gotten approval for Kinrix (DTaP-IPV).  It's products for infants and toddlers, Pediarix (DTaP-HepB-IPV) and Infanrix (DTaP) are used in children under 2; Kinrix will be used for the 4-6 year booster dose, reducing by 1 the number of vacthat children get at this age.