Monthly Archives: February 2012

Q: I am a cardiologist with a patient who had elevated cholesterol in 2010. Her total cholesterol was 245, and her LDL was 156. I put her on Pravachol. It brought her cholesterol down to under 200, and her LDL to around 100. Last year, her insurance company switched her from Pravachol to generic pravastatin. It came from India. After two months on this generic medication, her total cholesterol had risen to 249, and her LDL was 151, basically back where she started. I was not pleased, so I prescribed a generic from an Israeli company. Within six weeks, her cholesterol was back to 196, and her LDL was 113. While she was on the generic from India, it was as if she were taking nothing at all. A: In the past decade, we have heard from thousands of people who have experienced generic-drug failures. Sometimes it happens when they are switched from a brand to a generic. Other times it occurs when one generic product is substituted for another. One way to tell if generic drugs are doing the job is to test the results and keep careful records, as you did with your patient. Q: I need cataract … Continue reading →

The University of Charleston School of Pharmacy already draws students from around the country but may soon open a branch campus in Kentucky to expand its reach. University officials announced in January the Charleston school is considering a partnership with Midway College, a private institution in Kentucky, to open a branch pharmacy school campus in Paintsville. Midway and UC signed a letter of intent on Dec. 28 agreeing to a 60-day "due diligence" period to work out details of a partnership. That period is now drawing to a close but UC president Ed Welch said there are still a few questions left to answer before the schools move forward with their plans. Welch said the first question is, "Would it be an academically strong program?" "The answer seems to be yes," he said. A satellite campus in Kentucky would utilize distance-learning technology to connect students with teachers here in the Mountain State. That means students would sometimes teleconference with professors, instead of having a live teacher in the classroom. "Other schools have done branch pharmacy campuses," Welch said. "There are ways to use distance education to have a high-quality program." Welch said the second question is, does UC's pharmacy school … Continue reading →

Home > Video > U.S. Missing Florida Firefighter Search Continues Missing Florida Firefighter Search Continues New developments have surfaced in the disappearance of Jerry Perdomo. Douglas Kennedy Arrested at Westchester Hospital Douglas Kennedy Arrested at Westchester Hospital RFK's son was charged with harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. Pharmacy Robber Caught by Determined Manager Pharmacy Robber Caught by Determined Manager The manager sprayed pepper spray that's designed to stop a 500-pound bear. Jason Young Retrial: Prosecution Rests Its Case Jason Young Retrial: Prosecution Rests Its Case Prosecutors use Young's custody battle with mother in-in-law as evidence. Dunwoody Day Care Trial: Widow Removed From Court Dunwoody Day Care Trial: Widow Removed From Court Andrea Sneiderman was kicked out of court due to her odd conduct. Florida Firefighter Disappears Florida Firefighter Disappears Police now questioning a couple in connection with his disappearance. Tyler Clementi Trial Begins Tyler Clementi Trial Begins Dharun Ravi is accused of spying on his gay roommate, who later took his life. Gas Prices Cause Outrage Coast to Coast Gas Prices Cause Outrage Coast to Coast As prices soar, reports are coming in of people stealing "liquid gold." Wild Weather Hammers the US Wild Weather Hammers the … Continue reading →