- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
FDA delays Hemispherx drug vote
Hemispherx BioPharma is going to have to wait a little longer for a Food and Drug Administration decision on its lead new drug candidate – a therapeutic compound the company has had under development for more than three decades.
The FDA, citing an increased workload, said this week it is extending its review of Ampligen for another three months. A decision had been expected by Feb. 25. Ampligen had been studied as a potential treatment for diseases ranging from AIDS and cancer to the avian flu. The Center City biotech company is seeking approval to market Ampligen to treat chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Fibromyalgia
Richard Hoffmann, Ask the Pharmacist, 02/24/09
Q: I heard that a new drug was approved for fibromyalgia. What can you tell me about it?
A: The FDA recently approved Savella (milnacipran) for the treatment of fibromyalgia. It is not known exactly how Savella works to improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia (such as pain and decreased physical functioning), but some researchers believe that abnormalities in certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) may be involved in fibromyalgia.
Five tips for getting the rest you need
Whether you suffer from insomnia or are just having an off night, the solution is mostly mind over matter. No gadgets, no pills, no hypnotism, just some sound advice from Dr. Lisa Woofe, a physician with Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago who specializes in sleep medicine. Set your internal clock.
Dr. John Pittman Elected President of NCIMS
The Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine (CCIM), the Triangle’s leading provider of integrative medical treatments and therapies, is pleased to announce the recent election of John Pittman, MD as President of the North Carolina Integrative Medical Society. NCIMS provides educational opportunities to practitioners, as well protects the rights of practitioners to treat patients with the best health care modalities available.
A Reconsideration of the Relevance of Systemic Low-Dose Ketamine to the Pathophysiology of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a common disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain that affects an estimated 2% of the general population. Recent advances have shed insight on this mysterious disorder, leading to the growing conclusion that disturbances of pain-related processes within the central nervous system, termed central sensitization, represent its most likely source.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Licenses Lubiprostone in Japan to Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCMP – News) today announced that its subsidiary, Sucampo Pharma, Ltd., has entered into a license and commercialization agreement with Abbott Japan Co. Ltd. for Sucampo’s lubiprostone (trade name Amitiza) in Japan. Lubiprostone is the only FDA-approved treatment for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults and for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adult women.
Humira and Remicade May Increase Risk of Shingles
Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) drugs are the newest class of medications being used to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These drugs, such as Remicade (infliximab) and Humira (adalimumab), have been shown to be effective in treating IBD and other inflammatory conditions. However, they have also been shown to increase the risk of certain types of infections, such as tuberculosis. Researchers in Germany have also recently found that these drugs also increase the risk of developing singles (herpes zoster).
Misnomers About IBD Continue…
I have several news alerts set up for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, and for other digestive conditions such as colon cancer and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Every day I get emails telling me the latest news so I can keep myself and you up to date. Emory University recently posted a story about the possibility of melatonin as a treatment for ulcerative colitis, it popped up in my inbox, and I went to read it.
Ampligen will turn out to be another money making scheme for the manufacturer. It’s alot of expensive hype, and I hope that it is not FDA approved in it’s current chemistry. Take a placebo and stay home. It will save you money, and wear and tear on our already weakened bodies.