Category: Drugs and alcohol

Has osteoporosis been mistreated?

Osteoporosis drugs strengthened the bones of millions of women. But their future may not be so bright. Here’s what we know about their long-term effects.

Since the mid-90s, when Fosamax (alendronate) was first approved, bisphosphonates have been commonly used to effectively treat osteoporosis in millions of patients.

But bisphosphonates (the class of drugs that work to rebuild and strengthen bone tissue), which are taken either orally or as injections, are not without side effects and recently, some of the potential long-term effects of these medications, while rare, have come under scrutiny. Conversations about what those effects might or might not be and who, in fact, should be taking these drugs have been taking place in the media and medical community alike.

One issue is that no one really knows yet the optimum length of time patients should be taking these drugs. A study by the FDA, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, caused a stir — taking on the question of whether or not continued use of bisphosphonates helps patients or might put them at increased risk for atypical fractures or other side effects.

‘In other therapies we are confident in saying the effects of the medicine are gone, once we stop giving them… Whereas with bone the exact opposite is true.’ — Kurt Kennel, MD

The study suggests that taking bisphosphonates beyond 5 years doesn’t necessarily continue to improve bone density or strength for all patients. One recommendation is that patients who were initially at low-risk for osteoporosis-related fractures would probably benefit from discontinuing the medication after 3 to 5 years, whereas those patients at a greater risk from the outset would benefit from continuing.

To read the rest of this article from the Medshadow Foundation, click here.

To learn about the latest findings on proton-pump inhibitors, click here. And, here are five ways to avoid heartburn without drugs.

If you have Medicare, here are six ways to save money on your drugs.

March 9, 2016
To save money on drugs, avoid chain pharmacies

A Consumer Reports investigative report reveals that to save money on drugs, you may want to avoid chain pharmacies. Pharmacies such as CVS, RiteAid and Walgreens sometimes charge as much as 10 times more than big box stores, such as Costco and Sam’s Club for the same drugs. Even if you have insurance that covers your drugs, the copays could be higher for the drugs you get at the chain drugstores than the full price you pay for the drugs at the big box stores.

Based on calls to 220 pharmacies by its “secret shoppers,” Consumer Reports found substantial price variations within communities. Be it in Raleigh, North Carolina, Denver, Colorado, or Dallas, Texas, the chain drug stores or grocery stores often had prices for commonly use prescription drugs strikingly higher than some independent drug stores. In Raleigh, a month’s supply of generic Cymbalta cost $220 at Walgreens, $190 at Kroger, $118 at Walmart, $64 at an independent pharmacy, and $43 at Costco. In Dallas, a month’s supply of generic Plavix cost $150 at CVS in Dallas and $23 at an independent pharmacy a 20-minute drive away.

To keep your costs down, you might want to take the time to price your drugs at a few different pharmacies. Be sure to ask the pharmacy whether you can get the drug at a better price or whether there’s a discount program. Consumer Reports found that shoppers who asked the pharmacy whether they could get the drug at a lower price were sometimes able to get steep price reductions. Also, chain pharmacies may have discount programs for cash-paying customers that significantly reduce prices on some drugs.

Remember that you might spend less for your drugs buying them directly online or from a big box store than if you use your insurance. The list price for several generics at www.healthwarehouse.com and Costco is likely less than your insurance copay for the drugs. And, if you can, get a three-month prescription, which tends to deliver better value.

Here are six tips for keeping your drugs costs down if you have Medicare. And, here you can find free local resources for older adults.

December 18, 2015
The Five ‘Rights’ Rule for Taking Medications
We all know that both prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications can help keep us healthy. But, it is estimated that 50 percent of people do not comply with their medication regimens. About half of this non-adherence is intentional, because medications are expensive, (some are unaffordable), or they may have side effects that don’t feel good. People also may not understand their medication regimens and are therefore unable to follow them.

The number of medications we take has steadily increased over the past ten years. And, this can lead to harmful mistakes when it comes to taking our daily doses.

How can you make pill-taking safer for yourself and your loved ones at home? Hospital staff and ambulance workers frequently use the Five ‘Rights’ of medication management to help them give medications correctly.

Before taking or giving someone else a medication, you too should follow the Five ‘Rights’ rule to keep you and your loved ones safe at home. Check that these five things are right:
1. Right person (Is the right person taking the medication?)
2. Right medication (Is it the right medication?)
3. Right dose (Is it the recommended dose?)
4. Right route (Is this medication being taken in the right way? For example, orally?)
5. Right time (Is this medication being taken at the right time of day? Has the right amount of time elapsed between doses?)
To help ensure the people you love are safe and healthy, make sure you have a list of their medications and follow these other tips. Also, make sure the primary care doctor knows all the drugs they are taking, both prescription and over-the-counter to avoid risky drug interactions.
September 2, 2015
Alcohol abuse among older adults needs addressing

We need to address alcohol abuse among older adults. New research projects a doubling of the number of older adults who suffer from alcohol abuse. Between 2002 and 2006, there were an estimated 2.8 million adults over 50 with alcohol problems. By 2020, the number is expected to grow to 5.7 million. Another study found increased alcohol consumption specifically around retirement; over the next several years a high number of baby boomers will be retiring.

If you or someone you love needs counseling, Medicare covers alcohol screenings and counseling.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association has a host of materials in English and Spanish on how to help people and families with substance abuse problems. It offers practical tips for the identification, screening and assessment of alcohol abuse. It also offers a host of information on treatment and recovery for older adults who suffer from alcohol abuse.

If you’re interested in learning more about the link between retirement, aging and substance misuse, Google offers this book commissioned by the National Institute on Health, based on the findings from a 10-year study, for free: Retirement and the Hidden Epidemic, by Peter A. Bamberger and Samuel B. Bacharach.

If you’d like to further understand the consequences of alcohol abuse, click here to read Alcohol: Are you feeling its effects?

April 16, 2015
If you’re smart and driven, you’ll quit smoking

As you know, when it comes to smoking, the evidence is clear and compelling. You should not smoke. You’re better off doing almost anything else. Smoking hurts just about every organ in your body. And, smoking kills. Smoking also causes heart disease, blood disease, strokes and cataracts.

What you may not know is that smoking is the principal cause of lung cancer deaths, responsible for almost 9 out of 10 deaths from lung cancer. And, more people die of lung cancer than any other type of cancer. In 2011, almost 157,000 people in the United States died of lung cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Lung cancer is responsible for about 27 percent of all cancer deaths, which is more than breast, colon and prostate cancer deaths combined. Of note, two out of three people with lung cancer are over 65.

The good news is that it’s never too late to quit smoking. Quitting smoking reduces your health risks. Very quickly, your blood pressure and your circulation improve. You also lower your risk of getting lung cancer. And, you can save a bunch of money. That’s why Medicare pays for counseling to help you quit smoking.

Different people use different methods to quit. Though it’s not easy. Nicotine is addictive. If you are trying to quit without success, talk to other people you know who have found a way. And, if you have Medicare, take advantage of the Medicare smoking cessation counseling benefit. We’d welcome advice from those of you who have quit.

March 28, 2015
Tylenol and other painkillers with acetaminophen can be toxic when overused

Millions of Americans can and do safely rely on painkillers with acetaminophen on a regular basis. They also take acetaminophen to lower fever. According to the NIH, they generally have nothing to worry about so long as they do not exceed the maximum dosage for the drug, 4000 mg a day.

If you are taking multiple medications, however, make sure that those drugs do not contain acetaminophen. You could be exceeding the maximum daily dosage and doing harm to your liver.

It’s also unsafe to take acetaminophen if you’re on warfarin, a blood-thinning drug, sometimes known as Coumadin.

And the NIH warns that you should not have more than two alcoholic drinks a day when you are taking acetaminophen.

February 5, 2015
Alcohol: Are you feeling its effects?

According to the National Institute on Health, it is often the case that people feel the effects of alcohol more as they age. That’s why the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends that people over 65 drink no more than seven drinks a week and no more than three drinks a day. Curious what makes up a drink? Click here.

Some health problems, such as high blood pressure or mood disorders, can be made worse with alcohol intake. And, alcohol interactions with your medications could jeopardize your health. The NIH strongly recommends that you speak with your doctor if you are drinking alcohol while on medications or in poor health.

Alcohol can interact with many medications and could potentially cause more health problems. You might want to alter your drinking habits in order to lower your blood pressure, be good to your liver or otherwise feel better. You may have read that red wine in moderation is good for you. There is some data to suggest this is true and some data to suggest it is not. Regardless, the key is to drink in moderation.

Keep in mind that Medicare covers some services to help people with drinking problems. For more information, take a look at this NIH publication.

December 11, 2014