Medical Marijuana Inches Closer to Beat Viagra

Seems like Marijuana is taking a medical form to stock up its sales and popularity. It’s a good way to become legal as well, well atleast for those who want to boost the performance of their senses. So now we guess that Viagra maybe facing some stiff competition from this heady plant medicine.

The fascination for marijuana has grown manifold ever since its medical version was introduced. Now people would get a taste of it legally and because of this fact, its sales have reached a whopping $1.7 billion in no time. Compare this to the annual sales of Viagra which is around $1.9 billion and we have a lip smacking clash of the titans, a battle of the drugs indeed. It has been said that in around 5 years time, the sales of the medical marijuana will reach around $8.9 billion, which is just amazing as this drug has been prescribed for various medical problems in many states of the US.

Although under the federal law, the sale of this medical form is prohibited, it remains to be seen as to what will be the future actions of the federal government regarding this drug. If people are being benefited from it and if its side effects are mild and harmless, then medical marijuana should be legalized in all the states.

Judging by its current sales and popularity, it might be likely that this medicine might just beat the blockbuster drug that is Viagra. Well, only time will tell.

Big Pharma Companies, Good and Bad

Big Pharma is both good and evil. Regardless of its motives, Big Pharma has prolonged our lives or kept our lifespan about this same (which is remarkable considering how fat an unhealthy we are). Maybe we all need a wake-up call to realize that a longer life isn't necessarily a better life... I for one would rather die at 70 then to live from 75 - 95 in a nursing home staring at a TV drooling while some nurse changes my poop filled depends twice a day.

If you want to give Big Pharma the proverbial 'middle finger' then put down the fork, the cigs, and get off of your couch and do 30 - 60 minutes of exercising a day (the anti-glutton effect). This will lower your blood pressure (no more ACEs, ARBs, beta blockers, CCBs, alpha antagonists), cholesterol (bye bye statins, niacin, fibrates and zetia), reverse diabetes (no more metformin, TZDs, insuline), and prevent heart attack (adios plavix/effient/brillinta).

Yes, I realize that genetics and other uncontrollable factors cause illness... but many things are preventable by not smoking, eating decent, and exercising. But if you choose to ignore the anti glutton effect fact, then don't you dare b*tch about "Big Pharma" and "Big Medicine."

Generic drugs help defray the cost pharma drugs which I would hope means lower healthcare costs and health insurance premiums. It certainly doesn't address more investment into preventative care. I would agree with many comments that while NIH helps to fund many pharma drug research projects, pharmaceuticals turn around charge health care providers and patients eye-gouging prices that only aid increasing insurance costs. So pharma basically uses the consumer, hospitals and health insurance companies as its piggy bank. Yet, these same companies cannot charge market rate for their drugs in countries with cost controls like Canada. The same Lipitor drug is sold at dramatically different rates. And what is so bizarre is that our government says it's fine to have two different pricing systems for pharma: the US and everyone else. So our government uses our tax money to finance a drug development system that gouges its own citizens. I understand pharmas use clinical developers that fund their own trials and the cost to bring a drug to market can run into the millions. If the government helps, then that cost to consumers should reflect savings proportionate to the aid. Bioethics aside, prevention is preferable to cure.

Drug agency Recommends Lower Dose of Ambien for Women

Ambien was taken for sleep in American’s for almost 20 years. However, FDA- food and drug administration got complaints that taking that drug made them drowsy the next morning and sometimes led to accidents.

After test on drowsiness risk on driving, the agency said on Thursday that woman should take half the drug.
This applies to the drugs containing Zolpidem. Half dose ensures that less drug remains in the blood and people can drive in the morning.

There is an increased usage of these sleeping pills due to the fast life. As per IMS which a healthcare and technology company, it says that in 2011 there were almost 60 million prescriptions, which was 20% then 2006 and 40 million were for products that was having Zolpidem.

The recommendation was mainly based for women because the mobilization takes longer in them as compared to men. Almost 10% to 15% of women will have the drug in their blood after 8 hours and compared to only 3% men, as said by Dr. Robert Temple, Officer, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

There were many reports in regards to problems caused after the use of sleeping pills, and doctors have questioned why it took time for the agency to act so late. The effects are driving in sleep, eating, texting having sex and no memory of the same in the morning, these are all well known.

As said by Daniel Carlat, Associate Clinical professor, Psychiatry, Tufts University, “the agency is behind to pass the recommendation as the doctors are well aware of the conditions like this. This will be good as the patients will ask proper dose.”

Agency said that there were 700 complaints about driving accident and Zolpidem intake, for many years, there was a spike in 2007, when the label was changed and more people complained. But a connection between the report and the drug was not easy to make, as they did not remembered the time of pill intake as they were drinking.

Until the time when agency performed controlled test of Inetrmezzo to get driving simulation, approved in 2011 for walking in mid of night, then they were aware of the risk. The driving simulation was then associated with the quantity of Zolpidem in the blood, if there was 50nanograms/milliliter that can cause accidents, as confirmed by Dr. Ellis Unger, Agency officer, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Dr. Unger also said that all sleeping pills manufacturers have to perform driving trials; however a spokesperson said that it is not necessary. Dr. Unger also added that it is a big problem and he is not sure why this decision was taken so late.

For the immediate release products such as Zolpimist, Edluar and Ambien, the normal dosage needs to be lessened to5mg from 10mg. For extended release it has to be lessened to 6.25mg from 12.5mg. Most of Zolpidem containing drugs are now generic.

For men the label should state that lower dose should be considered.

Patient’s prescribed higher dose should take them but agency said that they should speak with their doctors about lowering them as doctors can again switch to higher one of the lower is not working, as said by Dr. Unger lower doses are available they are used in older patients.

The manufacturer of Ambien CR and Ambien is Sanofi, they said that, it is always recommended to check with your doctor for dosage and also to know what it is; the label has important information. Company is supporting the clinical trials that are required for efficacy and safety.

Dr. Unger said that there are reports that Zolpidem causes sleep walk, hence the lowering of the dose may lower this, though it is not as strong as drowsiness in the morning. One of the patients of Dr. Carlat was gaining weight as was not able to remember the midnight trips that he use to do to the kitchen.

Dr. Daniel Kripke, Professor, Psychiatry, University of California, he agreed to the move with happiness but at the same time he wants the agency to look for other side effects as well.

He said it is a good move and in a right way. He also said that sleeping pills increase the sleep by 20 mins but can hamper the next day’s performance.

Agency’s critic said that on the Intermezzo label, there is a clear warning for women; hence agency was well aware about the problem.

However Thomas Roth, Director, Sleep center, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, also sleeping pills makers’ consultant, said that agency was concerned about the sleepy driving, but now they care more, the lowered dose will surely help in this.

Agency said that every patient will have different dose and they will be prescribed accordingly, however the dosage will be as lowest as possible.

Dr. Daniel J. Buysse, Professor, Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said that he has started telling the patient to take half dose if required by telling to cut the tablet half.

Also said that we will have to be more attentive in this and will not have big effect in what he has done.

Does Alternative Medicines Really Work?

Views are little ambivalent when it comes to alternative medicines. Reason for that is alternative medicine is very broad spectrum. Because of half a dozen varieties it is difficult to understand what really defines alternative medicine.

Alternative medicine or alternative treatment includes herbal remedies, acupressure or puncture, homeopathy, chiropractics etc. So experts classify medicine in two categories, one traditional medicine; second rest. Traditional treatment is evidence based with scientific back ground. Alternative medicine falls into 'rest category'.

One would definitely have got question in their mind on why do alternative medicines work? What is the reason of the success where as it does not have scientifically proven method? Some experts answer these questions with 'Placebo effects'. Placebo is treatment which does not have any effects. In clinical trial placebo concept is used to prove effects of real treatment by comparing results of placebo medicine.

People who oppose alternative medicine give example of recent proven-scam of PowerBalance bracelet. The bracelet was claimed to have increased positive strength and brought balance in one's life. The effects were supposedly caused by so called new holographic technology.

But the product eventually found to be not working when tested. Manufacturer company also confessed to falsifying about the effects of bracelet.

While on other hand, alternative medicine like Homeopathy has been found effective in treating many ailments such as hair loss (less effective than Minoxidil). But nobody has been able to explain its working mechanism. Only fact that has been proven about homeopathy is promising result can be obtained when medicine is administered with extremely diluted form. More dilution more powerful result that too with zero side effects.

Tasimelteon, Sleep Disorder Drug, Shows Promising Result

Tasimelteon was able to pass the second trial which was late stage and the results were good. It is effective against a rare condition called NON-24: Non 24 hours sleep wake disorder.

NON -24 is a sleep cicadian rhythm disorder, the characteristics are like the person falls asleep and gets up hourly late, as the body clock cannot adjust properly to the cycle of dark and light. As a result people feel tired and exhausted during the day. The disorder is rare and can happen to 1 out of 2000 people; however it is common in people who are blind.  There is no approved treatment for it yet.

Vanda’s drug helps to regulate circadian rhythm and act as melatonin agonist. The master clock in hypothalamus is reset, that stabilizes cortisol and melatonin rhythms back to 24 hours cycle of night and day.
To check the safety and efficiency of the drug a study was conducted where people were treated.

Trial result were impressive
Tasimelteon was better as compared to Placebo, in the first late stage. 20mg of Tasimelteon was given to 20 patients for 2 months. The effectiveness of the drug was displayed in the first trial itself showing entertainment melatonin superiorly maintained in Tasimelteon patients.

The second trial had same results, where cortisol rhythm was maintained better in Tasimelteon as compared with Placebo patients. Hence they had normal and better sleep.

As said by Steven W. Lockley, Ph.D. from Division of Sleep Medicine in Brigham and Women's Hospital also he is Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate.

The result prove that Tasimelteon can entertain the circadian clock and to maintain the same the continue treatment is required. The entertainment should be also beneficial clinically and to treat NON-24 the master clock has to be entertainment needs to be maintained.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc shares have gone up after this and they said that approval request will be send this midyear.

Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, CEO M.D and President, Vanda said that –

“We are happy with the result as this will help us to treat blind Non-24 patients. Also the result made a mark that for treating Non-24 chronic therapy is important. Once it is approved we are sure that Non-24 patient’s life will improve.”

Protein Linked to Heart Failure Identified by Bristol Uni Scientists

Heart patients face many risks of life threatening events such as cardiac arrest, stroke, heart attack and cardiac death etc. Calcium plays vital role in monitoring cells responsible for expansion and contraction of heart muscles. A study conducted by scientists has reportedly identified a protein (or a gene) related to heart movement.

Calcium, present in heart cells, enables heart to circulate blood throughout the body. Abnormal release of calcium in heart cells is believed to be responsible for abnormal heart beats. Ryanodine receptor, also known as RyR, controls release of calcium. RyR is a type of calcium channel which maintains selective permeability of calcium ions. This ensures normal and systematic release of calcium. Irregularity in heartbeats is most commonly found in patients of heart disease.

Scientists at Bristol University conducted an experiment with RyR. As a part of the experiment, researchers took out RyR channels from heart cells and planted in artificial membranes. By doing that scientists could measure calcium currents passing through calcium channel.

Experts believe that the finding of the experiment can pave the way for new and promising treatment for heart patients and ward off deaths cause by heart diseases.

During that experiment two genes (FKBP12 and FKBP12.6) were identified which were found to be changing the flow of calcium ions in RyR channels.

Structure of the two proteins was almost similar but their function was quite opposite to each other’s. FKBP12 raised flow of calcium ions in RyR channels and FKBP12.6 protein hampered FKBP12′s effects. Lost balance between the function of the two genes is found in most of the heart patients.

Avastin, a drug for Breast Cancer Patients Found Useful but Restricted

Efficacy of a new drug named Avastin to treat tumors from those suffering from breast cancer at their early stages may get revisited. Avastin is found useful in treating breast cancer.

Avastin is found useful in those who were new to cancer, and as doctors expected it has high efficacy of treating breast cancer. Chemotherapy was done in few women with Avastin plus before they go any surgery. Period of surgery arise, doctors didn’t see any sign any of cancer in them. It was a shocking result for everyone as women doing chemotherapy with Avastin plus were safe than those with only chemo alone.

Regular precautions and research are being made as it not stated that Avastin can continue existence. The drug can also cause harm, said experts.

Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Harry Bear commented against Avastin as it is not specified yet that it will lead them in success. More researches are going on.

Avastin got sanctioned in the treatment for advanced breast cancer by the United States, in 2008. Researchers found Avastin is helpless in increasing life’s validity, heart problems, bleeding and many other problems can occur. Till November the government retracted the consent.

The California-based Genentech, the Swiss company Roche is the manufacturer of the Avastin. Since in few countries it is not recommended by doctors but in nations like Europe and Japan it is still practiced by the doctors for treating advance breast cancer and the charges is $10,000 a month.

The sponsorships for study included support from drug companies and National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Gary Lyman, who is a researcher at Duke University and one of the members at panel which retracted Avastin, commented on Avastin’s positive side of outcome through study.

Minckwitz suggested in breast cancer patients more important is healing.

Looking at results Lyman stated, it was found nearly 200,000 women in U.S every year detect breast cancer.

Women who underwent with Avastin their sample tissues would be studied for genes bio markers to check which women are positive toward Avastin which will help researchers in finding more improvement in the drug.

Dr. Sandra Horning Global Development Chief of Cancer Drugs for Roche and Genentech said, the company is not planning to alter drug Avastin until more proofs are accessible.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Treating Parkinson’s disease

New study has shown that deep brain stimulation (DBS) can actually improve the life expectancy of patients who are having severe disease like advanced Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers of University of Florida and 14 other medial centers showed the result in the online version of the Lancet Neurology journal. Parkinson’s drugs can have adverse side effects on patients which include tremors, slowness of movement, motor disability to name a few. St. Jude Medical Inc., who has sponsored the test have come up with a DBS device with the help of St. Jude Medical to help reduce the effects of the disease with this device. The research showed that people under the effective symptom control also known as “on time” seems to have a better control over their involuntary movements. Patients who were getting stimulation showed a good increase in their daily work, mobility, emotional well being and physical health.

Dr. Michael S, Okun, first author of the study, administrative director of the UF College of Medicine’s Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, and the National Medical Director for the National Parkinson Foundation, highlighted that he thinks that with time there will be a lot of improvement in DBS device and was hopeful that lot of patients will get benefits from it.

The procedure is that an electrode is imparted in the brain which is connected to a device, the electrical currents are passed through it and the brain is rectified, the surgeons detects the problem area of the brain and the operation is done according to that. Research, is also going on in Baylor College of Medicine Columbia University, the University of Miami, Texas Health Presbyterian to name a few. Study confirms that the electrical currents given gently to the certain brain type with patients having advanced Parkinson’s disease will improve with time. The improvement in the device and transmittal system will get better.

The use of DBS was approved by FDA way back in 2002. The United States is suffering heavily due to Parkinson’s disease as 500,000 people have Parkinson’s and about 50,000 new cases of disease comes each year, as reported by National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke.

The study has been a wake up call for health organizations and new innovative development in this field as early as possible will only help to deduce the impact of disease that has struck America The infection rate is also come down drastically from 10% to 4% as highlighted by Dr. Gordon H Baltuch, a professor of neurosurgery in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a study author. Due to research taking place allover the doctor are extremely optimistic about DBS device helping curing the Parkinson’s disease.

Breastfeeding Lowers Risk of Obese Baby

A study revealed the childhood obesity of a child from a diabetic mother that it can be cured when babies are small by breastfeeding them for continuous 6 months.

An experiment was conducted on those 399 of non diabetic and 94 diabetic mothers from the
time they were pregnant, birth and ended at the age of 13 years, said Epidermiologist Tessa Crume, PH.D., MSPH Childhood obesity is analyzed on BMI i.e. body mass index according to the growth of child through breastfeeding.

Dr Crume also highlighted about the time immediately after birth in elaborating the danger of obesity and pregnancy at early stage in toddler life. Women are regularly checked by the doctors, when babies are in mother’s womb the doctors take care of the nutrition level in them and analyze that if it would affect child with obesity.

BMI of infants whose mother is a diabetic patient and fed her child less than six months of time, is BMI recorded slow than those who breast-fed their child full six months.

The Academy of Pediatrics suggested mother’s in order to increase the BMI growth, experts told them to breastfeed their children for regular six months to cut down the chances of childhood obesity and metabolic diseases. Crume explained children who were having chances of getting diabetes or obesity when they were in the womb are more prone to childhood obesity and metabolic disease.

Crume also continued in order to cut down the chances of childhood obesity and to maintain public health Breast-feeding is a must.

The study would encourage the pregnant mother to breastfed their children’s and more importantly to those mother’s who are suffering from diabetes. It is printed in the International Journal of Obesity.
read more at http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v28/n10/abs/0802758a.html

GLP-1R Agonists May Help Weight Loss, New Study Reavels

University of Copenhagen scientists have come up with a study that shows Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists can be used to aid in weight loss.

The study was undertaken by university scientists in that adult participants with BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) of 25 or more and not having diabetes mellitus were examined. They were also exposed to drugs like exenatide twice in day and once in a week. Diabetes drugs such as liraglutide were also given daily at clinically applicable doses for the duration of 20 weeks. These drugs that were given to the participants come under the class of GLP-1R agonists. Oral antidiabetic drugs, placebo and insulin are given to the control group.

The study covered broad range of trials, almost 25 of them. The group which was exposed to GLP-IR agonists saw a huge contrast in their weight as compared to the control set of group. Both diabetic and non-diabetic participants showed this effect. The study came out with the conclusion that GLP-1R agonists helps towards improving diastolic, plasma collections of cholesterol, systolic blood pressure a glycaemic regulation. But does not have any effect on plasma concentrations found in liver enzymes.

Scientists also cautioned that GLP-1R agonists have some side-effects like vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Drug did not develop hypo-glycaemia. So at last the team concluded that GLP-1R if consumed have great effect in attaining weight loss to obese patients having diabetes or not.
The study is available in BRITISH Medical Journal.

For Diet Pills, Drug Companies Want Explicit Approval Rules

Industry experts from U.S see possibility that pharmaceutical companies may halt investing for medicines indicated for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes drugs or weight loss pills.

The reason for that is believed to be lack of precise approval guidelines for medicines. Any product with therapeutic effects has to earn FDA approval before getting in market. Drug manufacturers are confused about how FDA inspects risk factors associated with medicine.

Focus of drug companies is likely to shift to other drugs, such as cancer drugs, where life-saving management is assured in case of severe side effects. The Food and Drug Administration is looking forward to address the concern.

Mr. Christopher Viehbacher, chairman of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), believes that there should be clear methods or guidelines which are being used by FDA so that manufacturer can predict the outcome before investing in production.

Pharma drug companies are preparing strategy for coming Congressional hearing on FDA user fee act. User fee is the fee manufacturer companies pay for faster review of their product by FDA.

Renewal is required from Congress for Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) every 5 years. Current fee structure is due to expire on September 2012.

Recently several weight loss pills have been denied approval by Food and Drug Administration. There are many weight loss pills, such as Acomplia. Review panel sensed that obesity drugs by Arena Pharmaceuticals, Orexigen Therapeutics and vivus have approval barrier for diet pills because of safety reasons.

In United States around 70% of the population is over weight and medicines will help weight control along with regime and workouts.

Patient’s well-being and safety are the concern of Food and Drug Department which Mr Viehbacher agrees on.

New Biologic Lipid Lowering Drug To be Used With Statin

A biologic drug found lowering LDL cholesterol when other lipid lowering drug such as statins are not showing adequate result. The drug is in experimental phase and named as REGN727.

The drug is biologic lipid lowering drug class. Researchers reported 75 percent reduction in LDL (bad cholesterol) level when REGN727 administered with statin drug such as Mevacor and generic Lipitor.
The study included 180 patients with LDL level of 100mg/dL. All the participants were given generic lipitor along with REGN727 injection. Result of the study represented at yearly meeting of American College of Cardiology.

40% reduction in LDL level was reported when 50mg of the drug was administered once every 2 weeks. LDL level lowered by 64 percent when dose of the drug raised by 50% i.e. 100mg. 150mg of REGN727 found to be more effective as it reduced LDL by 72 percent.

Reduction was only 5 percent for combination of statin drug and placebo.

Dosage of the drug adjusted to once a month but it does not produce effect as good as once in two week dose, said Dr James McKenney – lead author of the study. Dr McKenney is CEO of National Clinical Research in Richmond.

Working mechanism of new drug is quite different than that of statin drugs (cholesterol lowering drugs). The new drug lowered LDL by preventing action of a protein known as PCSK9.

FDA to take final call on smokeless tobacco products

Dissolvable Tobacco products are restricted for kids below 18 years. Tobacco products may have smell like candy bar but they are not for kids, the United States Food and Drug Department highlighted in a conference this week.

Dissolvable tobacco products are available in market, such as mint flavored, stick and strips of fumeless tobacco. These products are relief to those, to whom smoking is restricted. The desire for nicotine to satisfy ones need, Dissolvable tobacco products are made.

Star Scientific Inc., is promoting two new dissolvable tobacco product, namely Ariva and Stonewall. Even R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is going to promote their Camel Strips,Camel Orbs, and Camel Sticks in 2 towns. Health Supporters are fretful about these Tobacco products, children and teens are more likely to it. The nicotine in product is the reason for addiction.

A pediatrician at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Dr. Jonathan Winickoff commented the products look like a candy although, the nicotine levels in it is the cause of addiction in adolescents and adults.

The smokeless tobacco dissolvable products are second very popular cause of nicotine toxin substance in broods. A study showed in Journal Pediatrics, April 2010.

Winickoff also said that if youth is previously consuming cigarettes then there is not a single question arises that youth is not indulging Dissolvable tobacco products. Parents must bother for their kids and prevent then from consuming those nicotine products. Dissolvable products smell like candy or in mint taste it doesn’t mean that they are harmless, they are equally harmful as cigarettes are.

Headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea are the signs of nicotine symptoms, whereas dangerous nicotine toxic substances leads in heart palpitations, involuntary twitching, muscle paralysis and may even cause deaths.

When experimented, 1 milligram of nicotine given to toddler, diarrhea and vomiting takes place. It is found that Camel Dissolvable Tobacco Products contain 0.6mg to 3.1 mg of nicotine, liable to products. A normal typical cigarette contains 1mg of nicotine.

Orbs manufacturer R.J Reynolds commented that major steps are taking place as to cure unintended breakdown of Camel Dissolvable Tobacco Products in youth, and providing instructions to poison management centers regarding probable consequences of unintended consumption.

Tobacco Products must be out of reach from children below and 18 years, is the warning line written on products.

Food and Drug Administration department has all the power to put control over these products, according to 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Winickoff stated that FDA will take major steps in controlling these tobacco products among youth.

Scar Tissues, the strongest part of the human skin

Scars can be referred as the areas having fibrous tissues that are used to replace normal skin when it gets damaged after injury. It can also be called as the wound repair tissues, scaring is a natural process in which external healing is done. They are different from the normal skin tissues that are replaced, they are of inferior functional quality. As compared to normal skin, scars are less resistant to ultraviolet radiation, sweat glands etc. If they are exposed on the scalp areas, hair follicles will not grow back.

There are two types of scars that are formed in the body as the result of overproduction of collagen. This overproduction results in raising the surrounding skin. Scar tissues are those that work as natural healers in healing the wound, this process is carried out by putting together the new fibers that are not functional as the original ones. These fibrous connective tissues forms a scar, when a injury, surgery, cut or disease has taken place, then the healing is done naturally. The scars can be observed as extra thick or raised in case of extra production of the fibrous ones.


Scar are the permanent marks, they can never be completely removed. Doctors generally suggest using creams and supplements rich in Vitamin E, as vitamin E is good for developing and healing skin. This will help to speed up the process of healing. Cosmetic and plastic surgeries can eliminate the appearance of them.

Replacement For Viagra is Stendra, FDA Approves Stendra

FDA has approved new erectile dysfunction drug developed by Vivus. The drug has been named as Stendra.

With this development, Vivus has finally managed to get first approval for its product. The approval came in time when patent of Viagra is about to expire. Stendra is expected to be replacement for Viagra. The drug manufacturer is also hoping approval for its weight loss drug called Qnexa which is in reviewal process.

Stendra is brand name of Avanafil. Earlier we had reported development of Avanafil, and the drug has got approvalfrom FDA. Currently there are three FDA approved erectile dysfunction drug treatments namely, Viagra; Cialis; Levitra. Generic Viagra is most popular drug. Being top popular drug, pharmaceutical companies were competing to take place of Viagra when its patent expires.

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction is a disorder characterised as a man is unable to get erection or maintain erection or erection is not rigid enough for sexual intercourse. FDA estimates around 30 million suffering by erectile dysfunction caused by various reasons.

How Stendra Works?

Like other drugs, Stendra also works by increasing blood flow in penis which eventually results in erected penis.

How To Take Stendra for Best Effect?

Stendra is recommended to take half an hour before intercourse. Medical experts have seen Stendra producing effect within fifteen minutes. The time of action is maximum and can be less for other patients. Stendra is thus the fastest acting erectile dysfunction drug.

Stendra Side Effects

FDA has strictly advised patients not to take Stendra if patient is taking nitrate drug. Stendra is contraindicated to nitrate drugs and may lower blood pressure. Side effects reported by FDA are vision problem. Since Stendra is also PDE5 inhibitor drug it can cause vision loss in single or both eyes. Hearing problem is another side effect likely to develop in some patients.

Headache, nasal congstion, redness at several parts of body and back pain are common side effects observed by FDA review panel.

Glaucoma Treatment, Frost Predicts Huge Mart

Glaucoma is one of top causes for blindness across the world. In USA alone it is second top complication which leads to blindness. Frost & Sullivan, a market research company sees significant opportunities in pharmaceutical market of glaucoma treatment. Since glaucoma is widely occurs in old people, likelihood of market expansion is greater as patients grow old.

A rearch and analysis, titled as Analysis of the United States Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals Market, reckoned the market worth $2 billion for the year 2010. get more study details from here.

Drug treatment for glaucoma with higher efficacy, unique way to deliver drug in body and greater empasis on patient education for the disease could lead to remarkable success for the therapy. That is because around fifty percent patients are undiagnosed.

A strong need for a new drug treatment is felt for those who have glaucoma, because current therapies are inadequate and unable to meet goal.

There are couple of drug treatment for glaucoma in market such as prostaglandin and xalatan. Generic version of these drugs is likely to have negative impact on the market for participants in line to enter. Lack of innovations in treatment is believed to be because of the duration of the treatment which is usually for life time. Patients opts generics to make the treatment cost suitable to their budget.

The research is done by Frost & Sullivan.

Current eye drop treatment has not been convenient in many ways which leads to reduction in patient compliance. Difficulties in eye drops such as it cannot be self administered, greater frequency i.e. three times a day and failure to meet prescription duration mostly ends up discontinuation of treatment.

Effects of Hypertension on Sex Life

Elevating or fluctuating blood pressure can modify the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. There is a mutual relation between swinging blood pressure and hyper tension. The case is similar when it comes to hypertension and sexual difficulties. Hypertension can impact your sex life. Although they don’t have any signs or symptoms, but the impact on sex life can be majorly experienced. Hypertension can affect your overall sexual satisfaction. A link between high blood pressure and sexual problems is generally the major factor that affect men's sexual health.

Hypertension damages the lining of your blood vessels and causes the arteries to harden and narrow, this then blocks the blood flow towards the male reproductive organ and the man then faces difficulty in maintaining and sustaining erection for the desired period of time. Coming to females, hypertension can reduce the blood flow to the vagina, which may result in decrease in the sexual desire or arousal. It may also lead to difficulties in achieving orgasm. If this case is experienced, consult a doctor and get the necessary treatments before getting the case worsened.

Erectile Dysfunction Indicates Future Heart Disease

A research study has confirmed Vasculogenic ED as marker for future cardiovascular disease. Presence of Vasculogenic indicates that a person is going to have heart disease.

Many earlier studies have established close link between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease but failed to explain how exactly. The latest one has provided confirm proof that a biological marker is something that is responsible for heart diseases in patients who are suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Lead researcher of the study, Dr Kew Kim Chew says, the study has provided pathological evidence of connection on how atherosclerosis develops from endothelial dysfunction. Dr Chew is physician and senior clinical researcher at Keogh Institute for Medical Research.

Endothelial dysfunction is pathological status of membrane lining inside blood vessels. It is the status basically means imbalance in contraction and widening of blood vessels.

In both erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, dysfunction of endothelium is caused by higher concentration of biomarkers (such as cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and 18) in plasma. Also high level of C-reactive proteins has also been noticed in both the condictions.

This way erectile dysfunction deomnstrates vascular disease in penile muscles. That is the reason that ED medicines such as viagra helps in heart diseases also.

Although ED may get developed because of psychological (anxiety, stress and depression) and neurological disorders, vascular disorder is more common cause. Vascular cause in more observed in young adults with liklihood of developing heart disease in future.

Counseling Needed for Women on Fertility After Cancer Treatment Chemotherapy

A research study found that not all young women, who receive cancer treatment, taking precocious measures to preserve fertility. Study found very few women take counseling on presevin fertility after cancer treatment.



Different perceptions were seen in different groups of young women. Some women take measures such as eggs freezing or preserving embryo, says Dr Mitchell Rosen - lead researcher at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).



Researchers suggest, in a study published in Cancer Journal, to educate reproductive-age-women on various fertility preservation methods.



Number of young women seeking counseling has increased yet, number is still large of women not aware of protecting their fertility during cancer treatment.

Rate of survival of cancer diagnosed women has improved, but quality of life following treatment remains in question. 120,000 women are diagnosed in US every year.



There are many side effects of cancer therapy, particularly chemotherapy. One of the side effects is female patient may lose fertility and reduce chances of getting pregnant again. Change in menopause may also affect fertility.



In order ot be able to have kids later, storing freezed embryo or eggs is best bet for women who have not yet received or started cancer treatment after being diagnosed.

Cancer suffering women of age between 18 to 40, were surveyed to determine which women are utilizing fertility preservation method.

Antidepressants risks Pregnancy, serious take

A British Medical journal complained that pregnant women taking paroxetine (Paxil), Fluxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) which are the different forms of serotonin could possibly double the chances of PPHN persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newly born infants.

The search resulted in cautionary advice from FDA in 2006, which actively intellectually advised pregnant women to avoid SSRIs depression medications.

As PPHN effects in right ventricle of heart which helps in pumping the blood can cause in heart failure and heart infirmity.

It is noted that Pulmonary Hypertension is caused in newly born at the rate of 1 in 1,000 by taking antidepressants after women’s half duration of pregnancy.

In the first instance, it is found that not only mothers who took antidepressants themselves are at danger but also mothers who are suffering from other health problems such as asthma, diabetic, obese are also at risks. Mothers undergone with Cesarean section are also at warnings. Mothers undergone with all these are more likely to use antidepressants.

Pulmonary Hypertension could be cause due to intake of antidepressants. The distinctive are reference to warnings.

Looking forward to another study, being medicated psychiatrically former to pregnancy could

proliferate the chances of pulmonary hypertension to newborns, taking antidepressants before

pregnancy it did or did not affected mothers. That risk of depression in mothers causing pulmonary hypertension in infants.

Stopping antidepressants while pregnancy going on, would lead in isolation influences to women and her unborn offspring.

Peace of suggestions given to women such as, avoid using antidepressants, if needed in any case consult a physician or opt. for psychotherapy. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) helps in treating depression through magnetic pulses carried from head which helps in contraindications in pregnancy.

Stopping antidepressants in between unexpectedly, would result in severe abnormality in fetuses. Concluding it is believed psychiatrists are treating well patients with depression and

wanting to have child.