https://youtu.be/ihDeZscY8e4
gloves are spreading disease, masks are ok if not wet and if exposed to people with the dsease and hazmats are a waste of money more alcholol more wipes wash hands
Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »
Dr. Thomas Kline, MD, PhD: Medical Myths Revealed : Corona Virus Gloves Masks and hazmats
Posted on April 7, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
Johnson & Johnson posts ‘temporary’ Tylenol shortage amid heightened demand
Posted on April 7, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
Johnson & Johnson posts ‘temporary’ Tylenol shortage amid heightened demand
With anxiety about the U.S. drug supply running high these days, drugmakers have been keeping a close eye on demand spikes. Now, Johnson & Johnson, maker of ubiquitous painkiller Tylenol, is reporting shortages in certain markets as consumers stock their medicine chests.
J&J is reporting a “temporary” scarcity of Tylenol after heightened demand for the over-the-counter drug has strained supply, the drugmaker said in a statement.
The shortage is limited to specific regions, and J&J says it’s speeding up production to meet the increase demand. J&J is working with retailers to “encourage” purchasing limits and is working to keep supplies running to consumers and hospitals.
“We are committed to maintaining our increased production, including running lines up to 24/7 to maximize supply,” J&J said in a statement.
The spot shortages of Tylenol come as U.S. consumers have focused in on the global pharmaceutical supply chain’s ability to keep up with increased demand amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Saturday, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn told Fox News the administration has seen spot shortages of certain medications during the crisis but hasn’t observed state actors like China, a major producer of global active pharmaceutical ingredients, deliberately affecting U.S. supply.
Hahn did highlight the need for increased “redundancy” in the supply chain to help shore up patient access in the event of heightened and sustained demand for certain drugs.
Late last month, J&J began running its Tylenol manufacturing at top speed after the drugmaker saw between two and four times the normal amount of demand for the OTC brand, Reuters reported.
Last week, the FDA reported shortages of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, antimalarial meds that have been targeted by President Donald Trump and others as front-runners for a possible COVID-19 therapeutic.
Despite a “significant surge in demand,” the FDA said manufacturers are working to ramp up production of the drugs to supply ongoing clinical trials as well as fill prescriptions for existing patients. The FDA’s updated drug shortages list as of Monday listed 148 products across the pharmaceutical spectrum.
Other approved drugs and investigational candidates––including Gilead Sciences’ therapeutic hopeful remdesivir––have neared shortages as the push for a COVID-19 therapeutic continues. Earlier this week, Gilead said it had stepped up production of remdesivir to meet heightened demand, pledging to donate 1.5 million doses of the drug ready or nearly ready for shipment.
Filed under: General Problems | 1 Comment »
Given that Purell, which contains alcohol ONLY, has formally admitted that it doesn’t have studies documenting that it kills Coronavirus
Posted on April 7, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
PLEASE PASS ON !!!
[Note: Given that Purell, which contains alcohol ONLY, has formally admitted that it doesn’t have studies documenting that it kills Coronavirus (see email from them to Ron Panzer, below), and given the millions of human lives at stake, and given that ONLY Purell is provided to passengers on these various kinds of ships, provided in hospitals, health care centers, dentists’ offices, physicians’ and nurses’ offices and their hospital medical staffs, store employees across the board, etc. (not to mention decades of ONLY Purell supplied to ship passengers who suffered and died from contracting Norovirus!), shouldn’t our government officials revise their positions immediately, including our CDC, etc.? Shouldn’t the public and our officials at least be able to make a choice by also providing them with products that DO kill Coronavirus — rather than just continue with providing ONLY Purell across the board even though Purell admits that it doesn’t kill Coronavirus — and continue causing millions of deaths?? There are already many products that do kill viruses, and even safe to use on hands (e.g., 3% hydrogen peroxide, even UV light!); many more could be rapidly developed!
The email copied below from Purell’s producer, GOJO, was sent to Ron Panzer who requested documentation from them that their product kills Coronavirus. Ron is founder of Hospice Patients Alliance [https://www.hospicepatients.org/], is a nurse, and HPA President. With his consent I am forwarding GOJO’s email response to him to you, with my emphases in “bold red” included within the e-mail itself. These emphases are marks of serious points of concern with their remarks:
- Purell admits that its formula kills bacteria — but stops short of saying that it also kills viruses.
- Not true that the FDA has not approved any other hand sanitizers or hand sanitizing wipes as safe and effective for the prevention of coronavirus, as both Clorox and Lysol sprays and handi-wipes have been so documented, as well as several other sanitizers that could be used on hands (e.g., 3% hydrogen peroxide, etc.).
- One “scientific” study (even assuming it is true) does not an objective scientific fact make. Purell claims it is sharing “scientific knowledge” about ONE study, on a different virus. But it provides no URL for the “Table” presented, a single experiment does NOT pass the Scientific Method (including Replication by independent researchers in independent labs around the world) and thus is not an objective scientific fact, and no one can be sure if the researchers/company proving such “scientific knowledge” within this Table are under any undue influence from Purell or it’s producer, GOJO.
- Purell states specifically that it has published NO SPECIFIC STUDIES documenting that its product kills Coronavirus!!!
See also: “FDA to Purell: Stop claiming your hand sanitizers eliminate Ebola and the flu”, at: https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/27/business/fda-purell/index.html; also, Made in China: “Maker of PURELL Hand Sanitizer Denied Trump Tariff Relief”, at: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/maker-purell-hand-sanitizer-denied-120052178.html
To President Trump: Given the decades and millions of deaths of innocent people, high time that this monumental disaster of scientific fraud get LEGALLY RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY before any more human lives are lost. DNI]
——– Forwarded Message ——–
| Subject: | RE: Please provide link to scientific evidence that your products inactivates Corona Virus SARS CoV-2 |
| Date: | Wed, 1 Apr 2020 14:45:34 +0000 |
| From: | TIP <tip@GOJO.COM> |
| To: | rpanzer@hospicepatients.org <rpanzer@hospicepatients.org>, TIP <tip@GOJO.COM> |
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding activity of PURELL Hand Sanitizers and efficacy against Coronavirus. Before answering this question, we must inform you that hand sanitizers and hand sanitizing wipes are regulated as Over-The-Counter (OTC) drugs by the FDA and are indicated for use on hands to help reduce bacteria that can cause disease. FDA has not approved these (or any other) hand sanitizers or hand sanitizing wipes as safe and effective for the prevention of coronavirus. Consequently, we do not make any claims that use of these products will prevent infection by COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends practicing good hand hygiene to help prevent the spread of this type of respiratory illness “Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds… If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.” (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html). Our PURELL advanced products are all formulated with 70% alcohol.
FDA does permit the sharing of scientific knowledge regarding off-label information in cases such as your request. We can share that an independent laboratory has tested a similar strain of Coronavirus, SARS-associated coronavirus, CDC strain 200300592, like the one that is currently causing the COVID-19 pandemic in many parts of the world. The data has shown a greater than a six-log reduction of the virus in a 30 second contact time (Table 1).
[[no URL given for this single experiment]]
| Product | Method | Virus Strain | Study Number
Lab Date |
Time | Log Reduction |
| PURELL Advanced Gel (9670-532) | ASTM E1052 | SARS-associated Coronavirus, CDC strain 200300592 | 512-199
Microbac Laboratories Oct 19, 2012 |
30 sec | ≥6.17 |
| PURELL Advanced Foam (9870-532) | ASTM E1052 | SARS-associated Coronavirus, CDC strain 200300592 | 512-199
Microbac Laboratories Oct 19, 2012
|
30 sec | ≥6.17 |
| PURELL Advanced Skin Nourishing Foam
(9870-531) |
ASTM E1052 | SARS-associated Coronavirus, CDC strain 200300592 | 512-199
Microbac Laboratories Oct 19, 2012
|
30 sec | ≥6.17 |
No specific Coronavirus in vivo studies have been published to date.
Thank you for your inquiry. Please let me know if you have additional questions.
Chip Manuel, Ph.D.
Hygiene Sciences & Public Health Advancements
Food Safety Science Advisor
Office: 330-869-1481
Mobile: 864-940-7519
Fax: 330-255-61115
—–Original Message—–
From: Ron Panzer <rpanzer@hospicepatients.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2020 3:20 AM
To: TIP <tip@GOJO.COM>
Subject: Please provide link to scientific evidence that your products inactivates Corona Virus SARS CoV-2
Hi,
We are in healthcare and wish to see the actual scientific evidence that your hand sanitizer inactivates and protects people from infection from the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus that causes the COVID 19 illness.
Please provide the name of and a link to scientific studies so we can read what studies have been done.
Sincerely,
Ron Panzer
HPA, Inc.
Filed under: General Problems | 1 Comment »
New $35 Co-Pay Now Available Through Lilly Insulin Value Program in Response to COVID-19 Crisis in U.S.
Posted on April 7, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
New $35 Co-Pay Now Available Through Lilly Insulin Value Program in Response to COVID-19 Crisis in U.S.
INDIANAPOLIS, April 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In response to the crisis caused by COVID-19, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is introducing the Lilly Insulin Value Program, allowing anyone with commercial insurance and those without insurance at all to fill their monthly prescription of Lilly insulin for $35. The program is effective today and covers most Lilly insulins including all Humalog® (insulin lispro injection 100 units/mL) formulations.
The savings can be obtained by calling the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center at (833) 808-1234. The Solution Center is open 8 am to 8 pm (EDT) Monday through Friday. Representatives at the Solution Center will help people with diabetes obtain a card in the most convenient way for them, including through email or the U.S. mail. A card can typically be received within 24 hours by email. If you already have a co-pay card from the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center for an amount higher than $35, no action is necessary. Active co-pay cards have been re-set to a $35 co-pay.
Representatives at the Solution Center can also direct people to affordability options that may reduce their out-of-pocket costs further – such as free insulin for people with minimal income, or no income at all, that has been donated by Lilly to non-profit organizations.
“Too many people in the U.S. have lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 crisis, and we want to make sure no one goes without their Lilly insulin,” said Mike Mason, president, Lilly Diabetes. “We’ve been providing affordability solutions for a long time, but more is needed to help people during this unprecedented period. People with commercial insurance, as well as those without insurance at all, are eligible, and the process is quick and simple. We want people who need help to call us.”
“It’s critical that people with diabetes can reliably access insulin at a low, consistent out-of-pocket cost. Enabling a $35 per month insulin co-pay regardless of employment status will help many Americans in this difficult time,” said CEOs Aaron Kowalski and Thom Scher on behalf of the JDRF-Beyond Type 1 Alliance.
The program is one of several affordability options that can be accessed through the Solution Center. Because of federal guidelines, seniors with Medicare Part D plans are not eligible for a co-pay card, but they can call the Solution Center to see if they are eligible for another option, such as donated insulin for people with lower incomes or Insulin Lispro Injection (100 units/mL), a non-branded version of Humalog U-100 with a 50 percent lower list price. People with an urgent need for insulin and nowhere else to turn can contact the Solution Center for an immediate supply. Additionally, people with commercial insurance who use Baqsimi® (glucagon) nasal powder 3 mg can pay as little as $25 for up to two devices with a co-pay card, which was first made available last summer.
A separate co-pay card for Humulin® R U-500 (insulin human injection, 500 units/mL) allows for a monthly prescription fill for as little as $25 for people with commercial insurance and can be accessed at Humulin.com.
“The Lilly Insulin Value Program is meant to help address the needs of people in this crisis, but we also remain committed to exploring additional solutions that provide meaningful impact for those living with diabetes beyond the current crisis,” said Mason.
Lilly has introduced several solutions in recent years to help meet the individual financial circumstances of people living with diabetes, including three non-branded versions of Humalog insulin options with list prices 50 percent lower than the branded versions. In January, the company announced plans to donate at least 200,000 KwikPens® to relief agencies over the next three years.
As we announced on March 3, Lilly does not currently anticipate shortages of any forms of our insulin during the COVID-19 crisis. All forms of Lilly insulin are available in U.S. pharmacies, and pharmacies that don’t stock certain medicines can order them from wholesalers, with delivery in 1-2 days. Lilly is committed to manufacturing medicines that meet global safety, quality, value and environmental expectations and is committed to public health and the needs of people with chronic conditions, including diabetes, who depend on our medicines around the world.
Terms, conditions, and limitations apply to the co-pay cards. Not available to those patients with government insurance such as Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Part D, TRICARE®/CHAMPUS, Medigap, DoD, or any State Patient or Pharmaceutical Assistance Program.
PURPOSE and SAFETY SUMMARY
Important Facts About Humalog® (HU-ma-log) and Insulin Lispro Injection
- Humalog is also known as insulin lispro injection.
- Humalog and Insulin Lispro Injection are fast-acting insulins. They are used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes. They are available only with a prescription.
- Humalog comes in two strengths: U-100 (100 units per milliliter) and U-200 (200 units per milliliter). The Humalog U-200 prefilled pen contains 2 times as much insulin per 1 milliliter as standard (U-100) insulin. The dose window on the pen shows your insulin dose.
- It is not known if Humalog or Insulin Lispro Injection are safe and effective for children with type 2 diabetes or for children younger than 3 years of age with type 1 diabetes. There were no studies done with these insulins in these groups of children. If your doctor decides to give your child one of these insulins, he or she may give you special instructions.
Important Facts about Humalog® Mix50/50™, Humalog® Mix75/25™, and Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25
- Humalog Mix50/50 and Humalog Mix75/25 are known as insulin lispro protamine and insulin lispro injectable suspension.
- Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, and Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 are mixed U-100 insulins. This means they contain a mix of fast-acting and intermediate-acting insulins. They are used to control high blood sugar in people with diabetes. They are available only with a prescription.
- It is not known if Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, or Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 are safe and effective for children younger than 18 years of age. There were no studies done with these insulins in children younger than 18. If your doctor decides to give your child one of these insulins, he or she may give you special instructions.
All Humalog and Insulin Lispro Injection products contain insulin lispro. Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, and Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 contain insulin lispro protamine mixed with insulin lispro.
Warnings
Do not take Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, or Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 if you have:
- symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- an allergy to insulin lispro products or any of their ingredients.
Do not reuse needles or share your insulin injection supplies with other people. This includes your:
- prefilled pen for use by a single patient
- cartridges
- reusable pen that works with Lilly 3mL cartridges
- needles
- syringes
You or the other person can get a serious infection. This can happen even if you change the needle.
Do not change the type of insulin you take or your dose, unless your doctor tells you to. This could cause low or high blood sugar, which could be serious.
Do not use a syringe to remove Humalog from your prefilled pen. This can cause you to take too much insulin. Taking too much insulin can lead to severe low blood sugar. This may result in seizures or death.
Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, and Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 may cause serious side effects. Some of these can lead to death. The possible serious side effects are:
- Low blood sugar. This can cause:
| – dizziness or light-headedness | – sweating | – confusion | |||
| – headache | – blurred vision | – slurred speech | |||
| – shakiness | – fast heartbeat | – anxiety | |||
| – irritability | – mood change | – hunger |
If you are at risk of having severely low blood sugar, your doctor may prescribe a glucagon emergency kit. These are used when your blood sugar becomes too low and you are unable to take sugar by mouth. Glucagon helps your body release sugar into your bloodstream.
- Severe allergic reaction.
Get emergency help right away if you have:
| – a rash over your whole body | – trouble breathing | – a fast heartbeat | |||
| – sweating | – a faint feeling | – shortness of breath | |||
| – extreme drowsiness | – dizziness | – confusion | |||
| – swelling of your face, tongue, or throat |
|||||
- Low potassium in your blood. This can lead to severe breathing problems, irregular heartbeat, and death.
- Heart failure. Taking diabetes pills called thiazolidinediones (thIE-uh-zOH-li-dEEn-dIE-OHns), or “TZDs,” with insulin lispro products may cause heart failure in some people. This includes people who do not have any heart problems. If you have heart failure, it may get worse if you take TZDs with these insulin lispro products. Tell your doctor if you have any new symptoms of heart failure, or if they get worse. Some symptoms of heart failure include: shortness of breath, swelling of ankles and feet, and sudden weight gain. Your doctor may need to change or stop treatment with TZDs and your insulin lispro product.
- High blood sugar and ketoacidosis. You can have these serious problems when your insulin pump or infusion set stops working. They can also happen if your insulin is no longer effective. For these reasons, always keep extra insulin injection supplies with you.
Common side effects
The most common side effects of Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, and Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 are:
| – low blood sugar | – allergic reactions |
| – reactions where you have injected insulin | – changes in fat tissue where you have injected insulin |
| – swelling of your hands or feet | – weight gain |
| – itching | – rash |
These are not all of the possible side effects. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Before using
Talk with your doctor about low blood sugar and how to manage it. Also tell your doctor:
- about all of the medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
- about any other prescription medicines you take, especially ones called TZDs.
- about all of your medical conditions, including if you have heart failure or other heart, liver, or kidney problems.
- if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed.
How to take
Read the Instructions for Use that come with your Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, or Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25. Be sure to take your insulin lispro product and check your blood sugar levels exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your doctor may tell you to change your dose because of illness, increased stress, or changes in your weight, diet, or physical activity level. He or she may also tell you to change the amount or time of your dose because of other medicines or different types of insulin you take.
Before injecting your insulin lispro product
You can inject your insulin dose yourself, or you can have a trained caregiver inject it for you. Make sure you or your caregiver:
- Check the insulin label before each injection. This will help you make sure that you are taking the correct insulin.
- Use a new needle for each injection. You can get a serious infection or the wrong dose of insulin if you re-use needles.
- Change (rotate) where you inject your insulin with each dose. This can reduce your chance of getting pits, lumps, or thickened skin where you inject your insulin. Do not inject your insulin into the exact same spot or where the skin has pits or lumps. Avoid injecting into thickened, tender, bruised, scaly, hard, scarred, or damaged skin.
When you are ready to inject
- If you are taking Humalog or Insulin Lispro Injection, inject it under your skin within 15 minutes before or right after you eat a meal.
- If you are taking Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, or Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25, inject it under your skin within 15 minutes before you eat a meal.
Staying safe while taking your insulin lispro product
To stay safe while taking your insulin, be sure to never inject Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, or Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 in your vein, muscle, or with an insulin pump. Also be sure not to:
- mix Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, or Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 with other insulins or liquids.
- drive or use heavy machinery until you know how your insulin lispro product affects you.
- drink alcohol or use other medicines that contain alcohol when taking your insulin lispro product.
Learn more
For more information, call 1-800-545-5979 or go to www.humalog.com or www.lillyinsulinlispro.com.
This summary provides basic information about Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix50/50, Humalog Mix75/25, and Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25. It does not include all information known about these medicines. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Be sure to talk to your doctor or other health care provider about your insulin lispro product and how to take it. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide if these medicines are right for you.
HI BOI SP U100 75/25 CON BS 10JAN2020
For additional information, talk to your healthcare providers and please click to access Humalog Full Prescribing Information, Humalog U-100 Patient Information, Humalog U-200 Patient Information, Humalog Mix75/25 Full Prescribing Information, Humalog Mix75/25 Patient Information, Humalog Mix50/50 Full Prescribing Information, Humalog Mix50/50 Patient Information, Insulin Lispro Injection Full Prescribing Information, Insulin Lispro Injection Patient Information, Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 Full Prescribing Information, and Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 Patient Information.
Please see Instructions for Use included with the product.
PURPOSE and SAFETY SUMMARY
Important Facts About BAQSIMI™ (BAK-see-mee). It is also known as glucagon nasal powder.
BAQSIMI is a prescription medicine used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes ages 4 years and above.
It is not known if BAQSIMI is safe and effective in children under 4 years of age.
Warnings
Do not use BAQSIMI if:
- you have a tumor in the gland on top of your kidneys (adrenal gland) called pheochromocytoma.
- you have a tumor in your pancreas called insulinoma.
- you are allergic to glucagon, or any other ingredient in BAQSIMI.
BAQSIMI may cause serious side effects, including:
High blood pressure. BAQSIMI can cause high blood pressure in certain people with tumors in their adrenal glands.
Low blood sugar. BAQSIMI can cause certain people with tumors in their pancreas to have low blood sugar.
Serious allergic reaction. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have a serious allergic reaction including:
- rash
- difficulty breathing
- low blood pressure
Common side effects
The most common side effects of BAQSIMI include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- runny nose
- discomfort in your nose
- stuffy nose
- redness in your eyes
- itchy nose, throat, and eyes
- watery eyes
These are not all the possible side effects of BAQSIMI. For more information, ask your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before using
Before getting BAQSIMI, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have a tumor in your pancreas.
- have not had food or water for a long time (prolonged fasting or starvation).
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if BAQSIMI passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you can use BAQSIMI while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How to use
- Read the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with BAQSIMI.
- Use BAQSIMI exactly how your doctor tells you to use it.
- Make sure your caregiver knows where you keep your BAQSIMI and how to use BAQSIMI the right way before you need their help.
- Your doctor will tell you how and when to use BAQSIMI.
- BAQSIMI contains only 1 dose of medicine and cannot be reused.
- BAQSIMI should be given in one side of your nose (nostril) but does not need to be inhaled.
- BAQSIMI will work even if you have a cold or are taking cold medicine.
- After giving BAQSIMI, the caregiver should call for emergency medical help right away.
- If the person does not respond after 15 minutes, another dose may be given, if available.
- Tell your doctor each time you use BAQSIMI.
- Store BAQSIMI at temperatures up to 86°F (30°C).
- Keep BAQSIMI in the shrink wrapped tube until you are ready to use it.
Keep BAQSIMI and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Learn more
For more information, call 1-800-545-5979 or go to www.baqsimi.com.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use BAQSIMI for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give BAQSIMI to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
This summary provides basic information about BAQSIMI but does not include all information known about this medicine. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about BAQSIMI that is written for health professionals. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Be sure to talk to your doctor or other health care provider about BAQSIMI and how to take it. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide if BAQSIMI is right for you.
Please click to access the Baqsimi full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.
GN CON BS 24JUL19
PURPOSE and SAFETY SUMMARY
Important Facts About Humulin® (HUE-mu-lin) R U-500. It is also known as insulin human injection (500 units/mL).
Humulin R U-500 is a prescription insulin used in adults and children who need more than 200 units of insulin a day to control high blood sugar for their diabetes mellitus. It is more concentrated than standard insulin. It has 5 times as much insulin in each mL as standard insulin.
It is not known if Humulin R U-500 is safe and effective when used with other insulins, when used in an insulin pump, or in children. There were no studies done in children, so your doctor will give you special instructions for use in children.
Warnings
Humulin R U-500 may cause serious side effects, including:
- Severe low blood sugar, which can lead to seizures, unconsciousness, and death.
- Severe allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you develop a rash over your whole body, have trouble breathing, have a fast heartbeat, or are sweating.
- Swelling of your hands and feet. Tell your doctor if you are short of breath, have swelling in your ankles, or have gained weight suddenly.
- Heart failure when taking a medication from a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones (TZDs) with Humulin R U-500. This may occur in some people even if they have not had heart problems before.
- Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia). This can lead to severe breathing problems, irregular heartbeat, and death.
Do not share your Humulin R U-500 KwikPen® or U-500 syringe with anyone. Even if you have changed the needle, you or the other person can get a serious infection.
When using the Humulin R U-500 KwikPen: The Humulin R U-500 KwikPen is made to dial and deliver the correct dose of Humulin R U-500 insulin. Do not remove Humulin R U-500 from the KwikPen to inject with any syringe. This could cause severe overdose and may lead to death.
When using the Humulin R U-500 vial: There is a special syringe to measure Humulin R U-500 called the “U-500 insulin syringe.” Only use the U-500 insulin syringe to inject Humulin R U-500. If you do not use the right syringe, you may take the wrong dose of Humulin R U-500. This could cause severe overdose and may lead to death.
Do NOT perform dose conversion when using the Humulin R U-500 KwikPen or U-500 insulin syringe.
Do not use Humulin R U-500 in an insulin pump or inject it into your vein or muscle.
Do not take this medicine if you have low blood sugar.
Do not change the insulin you use without talking to your doctor. Changing insulin may lead to low or high blood sugar.
Do not drive or use heavy machinery until you know how Humulin R U-500 affects you. Do not drink alcohol while using Humulin R U-500.
Common side effects
The most common side effects of Humulin R U-500 include:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Talk to your doctor about low blood sugar symptoms and treatment. Symptoms may be different for each person.
- Allergic reactions, such as redness and swelling at the site where you inject.
- Skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy).
- Itching and rash.
These are not all the possible side effects of Humulin R U-500.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Before using
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Also tell your doctor about:
- Any allergies you have. Your doctor can check if the medicine has ingredients that may cause a reaction.
- Any medical conditions, including problems with your liver, kidney, or heart.
- All the medicines you take, especially a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones, or TZDs. Be sure to include the over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take.
How to take
- Read the instructions that come with your Humulin R U-500 carefully. Take it exactly the way your doctor tells you.
- Know how much Humulin R U-500 you are supposed to take. Do not change your dose unless your doctor tells you to.
- Check the label of your insulin each time you use it. This will help you make sure you are using the right one.
- Test your blood sugar before you take Humulin R U-500. Do not take it if your blood sugar is too low.
- Do not mix Humulin R U-500 with any other insulin.
- Always use a new needle when injecting Humulin R U-500. This will help you avoid infection.
- Inject Humulin R U-500 under your skin. Change (rotate) where you inject your insulin with each dose. Do not inject your insulin into the exact same spot. Avoid injecting your insulin into areas where the skin has pits or lumps, or is thickened, tender, bruised, scaly, hard, scarred, or damaged. This will help reduce your chance of getting pits, lumps, or thickened skin where you inject your insulin.
Learn more
For more information, call 1-800-545-5979 or go to humulin.com.
This summary provides basic information about Humulin R U-500 but does not include all information known about this medicine. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Be sure to talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about Humulin R U-500 and how to take it. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide if Humulin R U-500 is right for you.
Please click to access the Humulin R U-500 full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.
Humulin® , Humalog®, Humalog® Mix50/50TM, and Humalog® Mix75/25TM KwikPen® and Baqsimi® are trademarks and registered trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
HM CON BS 15NOV2019
About Diabetes
Approximately 34 million Americans1 (just over 1 in 10) and an estimated 463 million adults worldwide2 have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type internationally, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases in the United States alone1. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body does not properly produce or use the hormone insulin.
About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world’s first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research, collaboration and quality manufacturing we strive to make life better for people affected by diabetes and related conditions. We work to deliver breakthrough outcomes through innovative solutions—from medicines and technologies to support programs and more. For the latest updates, visit http://www.lillydiabetes.com/ or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes and Facebook: LillyDiabetesUS.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly is a global health care leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com and lilly.com/newsroom. P-LLY
This press release contains forward-looking statements about insulin supply, the Lilly Insulin Value Program, and other insulin and glucagon affordability programs, and reflects Lilly’s current beliefs. There is no guarantee that we will be able to continue uninterrupted insulin supply or that our insulin and/or glucagon affordability programs will significantly lower or cap monthly out-of-pocket costs for people who use these medicines. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly’s most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.
Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »
When a COSTCO pharmacist lies to a pt… is it unprofessional conduct ?
Posted on April 7, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
Not all healthcare professionals and first responders are pulling their weight
About one week ago I posted the above on my blog. If you haven’t read that post maybe you should since I am going to make some references what was stated in that post .. in this post.
The last communication that the pharmacist from Costco said that she had was a denial – after TWO APPROVALS and the PCP’s office had called me saying that it was APPROVED FOR THE THIRD TIME..
But the pharmacist said that she no such communication from them.. last was the denial.
Early this morning, I get a text from Costco that this prescription had been filled and ready to be picked up.
I checked the EPIC pt portal and there was no communication about this Rx to Costco since two weeks ago… which was an APPROVAL – which the pharmacist denied receiving that day.
SO… was I lied to that day by that pharmacist ? Where all of sudden did they get the approval ? It is still a WEEK EARLY to refill… I guess that there are distinctly different shades of EARLY ?
Of course now, Indiana is under a shelter in place for another 2 weeks and now there is a NATIONAL QUARANTINE for two weeks, since Trump invoked the Stafford Act. Barb does not have two weeks worth of medication left and this Costco is some 30-35 miles from our home and in ANOTHER STATE.
They have now expanded the “high risk” categories for people and between the two of us… we hit ALL BUT ONE… neither one of us is diabetic.
So I just composed a letter to the Senior VP of Pharmacy service for COSTCO (Victor A. Curtis) … and enclosing our cards – show above… I still did not refer to this female pharmacist as a “nasty woman” ! I kept the letter to just one page… didn’t want it to turn into a diatribe.
I did not demand that she be fired… I just stated that it would seem that the only part of her education that stuck with her decision making process was limit to “by the numbers” and that with the pandemic – putting us in uncharted territory and dealing with a pt with subjective diseases.. “by the numbers” just doesn’t work. As long as she fails to talk to pts – which counseling pts is required by OBRA 90 – probably enacted into law before she was born, but I didn’t reference her failing to counsel, but did mention that she will never develop any clinical skills if she doesn’t change her processes… that she will be one of those pharmacist scratching their heads when they are replaced with AI, IBM’s WATSON, and a robot.
I told him that the only reason I was having that Rx filled at Costco was because of their cash price, hundreds of dollars less than the copay demanded by our Part D, but we survived before we joined Costco and we would do the same going forward without being a member of Costco.
But the local independent that we normally use, will fill it and Humana will cover it and Barb having her necessary medication is more important than the cost.
Filed under: General Problems | 7 Comments »
Could this be the tipping point uncovering how healthcare corporations provide poor treatment of employees & pts ?
Posted on April 5, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
Does this “dust up” by practitioners over inadequate PPE and the threat from their corporate employers of being fired – UNLESS THEY SHUT UP … are these same practitioners getting the same treatment and threats on prescribing controlled substances to pts that have a valid medical necessity for these medications.
We are in the middle of a pandemic and these healthcare corporations are threatening to REDUCE the number of practitioners that are available to treat/save pts that get COVID-19, because they have been outspoken about the lack of personal protection equipment and in some instances their very own health and maybe even life itself.
I have been told that all the major pharmacy chains have “social media policy” in their policies and procedures that basically states: 
We have a very serious and growing pharmacist surplus and it is reported that we are graduating 5,000 more new pharmacists each year than are needed for the available slots from older pharmacists retiring and moving on.
There has been a couple of newspaper articles in a couple of the large major cities about how UNHAPPY the employees of these large chain pharmacies – particularly the Rx dept staff – are. There has been some stories of Rx dept staff that put up some dividers around the Rx dept pharmacy windows, only to have a district manager and/or other “shirts” to come in and take them down.
Could some of these deaths by healthcare providers become the focus of OSHA ( https://www.osha.gov/ ) or could we see a sudden focus of all of these personal injury law firms to start their focus on the policies and procedures of these major healthcare providers and how they are adversely affecting employees and pts health and safety. How many of these policies and procedures are discriminating against many groups that work or seek healthcare services from these corporations.
Medical Societies Issue Bold Statement of Physician Support
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/928159
At least one physician has been fired for speaking out about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in his hospital. Another was informed he couldn’t wear a mask brought from home for fear of scaring the patients. One by one the stories piled up, and as they did, medical societies and organizations have issued statements with unprecedented speed, all in support of healthcare workers.
Finally, the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) had enough: it posted its own statement on behalf of all of its 45 member organizations, representing 800,000 physicians.
“You wouldn’t send a soldier into battle wearing a bathing suit,” said Laurence Wellikson, MD, the CEO of the CMSS member group Society of Hospital Medicine. “We’re asking for the same thing.”
Pre-COVID-19 efforts at coordinating policy statements typically took a month or two, Wellikson said. Different organizations will debate relative importance of policies and weigh in on wordsmithing. This time was different. “Every organization — especially the ones on the frontlines — was hearing awful things from doctors and we all wanted to fast-track this and get something out there.”
“Within two days we were able to reach complete consensus,” said Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, the CEO of CMSS. “If there was ever a time for our societies to come together with one voice to protect physicians, all healthcare workers, and patients, it’s now.”
The coalition’s five-point statement urges the government to ensure adequate supplies of PPE, supports the recent Joint Commission statement that allows healthcare workers to use their own PPE, reminds institutions of their responsibility to provide protection for their workers, and declares that a nationwide reporting system on PPE is needed.
The statement also informs hospitals, quite pointedly, that employees should not face any form of retribution for voicing concerns about health and safety, even to the media.
CMSS issued the statement, in part, because of “all the press we have seen about the threats and retaliation against clinicians if they reported,” Burstin said. “We wanted to say this publicly so that our members know it’s really critical they have this chance to share what they believe endangers their own safety as well as the safety of their patients.”
That echoes some of the individual organizations, said Robert McLean, MD, president of American College of Physicians (ACP), also a CMSS member.
“Our ethics policy is that physicians need to be able to speak out as part of professional and ethical respect on issues that affect public health and safety,” he said.
US doctors have been ringing the alarm bell to decry that hospitals and their employee-contracting companies don’t seem to embrace those ethics. Ming Lin, MD, one of several who have received media attention recently, spoke up on Facebook about inadequate PPE and crowded waiting rooms at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Washington. After doing so, he said, he was fired.
Many of the individual organizations have also posted their own statements. (The ACP’s April 1 statement, for example, is similar to that of CMSS). While some organizations will help counsel individual doctors facing retribution from their hospitals, McLean said their primary motivation “is because we realize the importance of raising public awareness and putting pressure on government and regulatory agencies.”
Sheila Eldred is a freelance health journalist in Minneapolis. Find her on Twitter @MilepostMedia.
Do you have information on how your hospital or health network is responding to PPE shortages, gag orders, or other related issues? Have you or someone you know faced disciplinary measures for speaking out or masking themselves? Write to us: news@medscape.net.
Filed under: General Problems | 1 Comment »
Dr. Birx now warns Americans NOT to go to the grocery store or pharmacy unless it’s essential during the next 14 days
Posted on April 5, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
Dr. Birx now warns Americans NOT to go to the grocery store or pharmacy unless it’s essential during the next 14 days
- Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said the next two weeks are essential to breaking through the outbreak
- Residents in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, D.C. in particular are told that they must stay in place to prevent the outbreak from worsening
- She warned even grocery stores and pharmacies must be avoided if possible
- Dr. Birx said that hotspots may hit their peak in the next six to seven days
- New York, Louisiana, and Detroit are hoped to be reaching the peak of their curve
- Models predict there may be over 850 daily deaths in New York before then
- The national model predicts the peak in daily deaths in 12 days
A top White House health official has warned to avoid going to the grocery store or the pharmacy unless it is essential for the next two weeks to prevent further spread of coronavirus.
The advice was directed mainly at residents of Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, D.C. who are still only on the upside of the outbreak curve, meaning it is essential that people remain at home and practice social distancing now to lessen the virus’ impact.
Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, revealed during Saturday’s press briefing that hotspots of New York, Detroit and Louisiana are predicted to reach the peak of their death tolls in the next six to seven days but that there are other areas of concern emerging around the country.
The data shows that the daily death toll in New York City could reach as high as 855 people before it is predicted to subside in a week’s time.
It came as national deaths reached record highs on Saturday rising by 1,497 to a total of 8,503.
Scroll down for video
Dr. Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, speaks at the coronavirus briefing at the White House on Saturday. She warned that the next two weeks are the crucial times to practice social distancing and remain inside, even avoiding the grocery store
According to the model from The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, if the country continues on track with social distancing and lockdowns as it is, the country will reach the peak of its daily deaths from the outbreak in 12 days, on April 16, when 2,644 are predicted
With the current measures in place, the models predict that there will be a total of 93,531 deaths nationally but that social distancing guidelines will see the daily death totals level off
Video playing bottom right…
Click here to expand to full page
‘The next two weeks are extraordinarily important,’ said Birx.
‘This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe and that means everybody doing the six-feet distancing, washing their hands.’
Birx’ comments came after Trump warned America to brace itself for a ‘lot of deaths’ in the coming week, adding that it will be a ‘very horrendous’ time for the nation, as US virus fatalities top 8,500 with at least 311,632 cases as of Saturday night.
‘This will probably be the toughest week – between this week and next week,’ Trump told reporters.
‘There will be a lot of death, unfortunately. But a lot less death than if this wasn’t done,’ he added of the measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus.
The president was joined Saturday by coronavirus taskforce members including Vice President Mike Pence.
Dr. Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci were also on hand, as was Dr. Stephen Hahn of the Food and Drug Administratio
Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, would not comment on when the worst day would be but suggested the current hotspots should see the maximum number of daily deaths in the next six to seven days is social distancing has worked
Trump let Dr. Birx take the lead when asked by a reporter about when the peak of the country’s outbreak could be expected.
She was hesitant to put a number of when the hotspots will see the most extreme number of deaths but said that it may be in the next six to seven days.
The curve toward this peak will see a dramatic number of deaths as those who were infected two weeks ago begin to suffer the worst of the illness.
‘They are predicting in those three hotspots, all of them hitting together in the next six to seven days,’ she said of New York, Detroit and Louisiana.
She also noted that Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, D.C. are only ‘starting to go on that upside’ of the coronavirus mortality curve as she urged residents there to stay at home if they could, even avoiding grocery stores and pharmacies when possible.
The grim news came as the death toll reached record heights on Saturday with nearly 1,500 deaths in 24 hours.
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States have increased by more than 100,000 in the past three days as the national death toll stretched over 8,500 on Saturday.
Many states are now frantically attempting to provide ventilators for hospitals most in need as federal emergency workers also try to answer desperate pleas for respirators.
New York City remains the epicenter of the national outbreak where hundreds of people are dying a day. As of Saturday night, 2,624 people have lost their lives there.
Dr. Birx explained that the city may start to see a drop in the number of new daily cases in the next week but that the death rate would lag and continue to grow.
‘What we’re seeing today is the people who were infected two to three weeks ago,’ she said.
‘If social distancing and other mitigation efforts worked in New York, and we believe it is working, the cases are going to start to go down, but the mortality will be a lag behind that.’
According to predictions highlighted by the White House coronavirus task force, the U.S. can expect to hit the peak of its deaths per day on April 16, 12 days from now, when there will be a predicted 2,644 new deaths reported nationwide.
If the model tracked by the task force is correct, the curve across the country will then start to move downward with less deaths per day.
There are a total of 93,531 deaths predicted. according to this model.
The data for the models was collected by Dr. Christopher Murray and researchers from The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an independent population health research center at UW Medicine which is part of the University of Washington.
Dr. Birx has in recent days guided questions about what can be expected toward the site established by the institute.
The peak in national deaths per day could see 2,644 new deaths on April 16, based on current data, but daily deaths will then begin to fall as the effects of social distancing are felt
New York, Louisiana and Michigan are all expected to reach their peak before April 16.
The data shows that New York is six days away from its peak, on April 10, when it could suffer 855 deaths a day.
The model predicts there will be 16,261 total deaths in the city.
Louisiana is also six days away from its peak when there are 76 deaths a day expected.
Michigan is predicted to reach its peak in seven days on April 11 when 173 deaths are expected.
New York is predicted to reach its peak in six days when there could be 855 deaths a day. The city is thought to be nearing the top of its outbreak curve if current guidelines stay in place
The states Dr. Birx warned about are still only on the upward trajectory and have a longer line to wait until they reach the predicted peak number of deaths.
Washington D.C. may not reach the peak until April 13 in nine days time.
Colorado has an expected peak in 14 days on April 18 when the model shows there could be 85 new deaths.
Pennsylvania has an even longer wait with the predictions showing 15 days, April 19, before the state reaches peak deaths. It is thought deaths may reach 79 on that day.
The peak in daily deaths in Colorado is predicted to come after the national peak. It will hit on April 18, according to the current model, and Dr. Birx has encouraged residents there to stay inside to ensure that the spread is limited as it starts to rise up the curve of the outbreak
The District of Columbia may reach the peak of its daily deaths in nine days time if social distancing guidelines continue to be maintained and the current spread is limited
Pennsylvania could experience almost 80 deaths a day at its peak of the coronavirus outbreak but Dr. Birx warned that people must continue to social distance to not extend this further
Nearly 1.3 million coronavirus tests have been conducted with one-fifth coming back positive, according to new data.
Across state and local laboratories, 1,290,619 tests for the virus, have been run, according to The COIVD Tracking Project.
And while the majority of swabs have come back negative, at least 270,000 people – including 33,000 who have been hospitalized – been confirmed to have the virus.
However, with health experts say that with millions across the US still awaiting tests, the number of tests that have been performed are far from adequate.
Dr Birx says they 50 percent of the data for tests that have been conducted.
On Thursday, Birx said that all tests were required to be report their results to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the $2 trillion economic stimulus measure signed into law by President Donald Trump.
‘Well, I’m telling you, I’m still missing 50 percent of the data from reporting,’ she told reporters.
‘I have 660 [thousand] tests reported in. We’ve done 1.3 million…So, we do need to see – the bill said you need to report. We are still not receiving 100 percent of the tests.’
Filed under: General Problems | 5 Comments »
Could “opiated related deaths be on a decline” ?
Posted on April 5, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
CDC Tells Hospitals To List COVID as Cause of Death Even if You’re Just Assuming or It Only Contributed
The problem with making informed decisions about coronavirus is that we don’t have a whole lot of data on it at the moment.
The data that we do have, meanwhile, could end up being terminally skewed, particularly the data that’s been coming out of China.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on determining COVID-19 as a cause of death isn’t going to help those numbers.
Issued March 24, the guidance tells hospitals to list COVID-19 as a cause of death regardless of whether or not there’s actual testing to confirm that’s the case.
Instead, even if the coronavirus was just a contributing factor or if it’s “assumed to have caused or contributed to death,” it can be listed as the primary cause.
The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, or ICD, has established the code U07.1 for death by coronavirus infection. There’s a secondary code, U07.2, “for clinical or epidemiological diagnosis of COVID-19 where a laboratory confirmation is inconclusive or not available,” according to the CDC guidance.
“Because laboratory test results are not typically reported on death certificates in the U.S., NCHS is not planning to implement U07.2 for mortality statistics.”
Therein lies the problem.
“The underlying cause depends upon what and where conditions are reported on the death certificate. However, the rules for coding and selection of the underlying cause of death are expected to result in COVID- 19 being the underlying cause more often than not,” the guidelines read.
“COVID-19 should be reported on the death certificate for all decedents where the disease caused or is assumed to have caused or contributed to death. Certifiers should include as much detail as possible based on their knowledge of the case, medical records, laboratory testing, etc.,” the guidance continued.
“If the decedent had other chronic conditions such as COPD or asthma that may have also contributed, these conditions can be reported in Part II.”
Author and former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson, one of the few well-known figures to question some of the statistics on COVID-19, questioned the new CDC guidelines as well:
1/ As you sit home watching #COVID death counts spiral, please know the official @CDCgov guidance for coding COVID-related deaths is as follows: any death where the disease “caused or is *assumed* to have caused or *contributed to* death.” Confirmed lab tests are not required… pic.twitter.com/H4D6mcti3R
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) April 3, 2020
2/ And, btw, other possibly relevant factors, like, oh, COPD, are considered secondary. The rules “are expected to result in COVID-19 being the underlying cause more often than not.” https://t.co/o003zuLQHt
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) April 3, 2020
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump and members of his coronavirus task force announced that they were expecting a death toll of between 100,000 and 240,000 from coronavirus.
In an article on Friday, The Washington Post said some experts didn’t think the White House’s prediction models were accurate. It wasn’t because those experts thought that figure was too high or too low: It’s just because they didn’t think there was enough data to determine a death range yet.
“We don’t have a sense of what’s going on in the here and now, and we don’t know what people will do in the future,” Jeffrey Shaman, a Columbia University epidemiologist whose work was used by the White House to determine the death ranges, said.
“We don’t know if the virus is seasonal, as well.”
It doesn’t help that data when the guidelines for determining who’s actually died of the coronavirus are profoundly vague.
For instance, what happens when an elderly person with numerous underlying conditions comes into the hospital and dies?
What happens when someone suffering from late-stage cancer or liver failure dies in the hospital? If that person was in the final stages of life and no testing is done and no autopsy conducted, what are we to assume?
If no testing is done and a patient’s symptoms are close enough to the seasonal flu, will that person’s death automatically be attributed to COVID-19? And how much of a difference would that make in the numbers, if any?
The Western Journal has emailed the CDC for comment, but did not hear back in time for publication of this article.
There’s no doubt that this guidance will inflate the numbers, the only question is how drastically.
In places like New York City, where medical professionals are painfully overstretched, anyone who dies with an infection that’s vaguely COVID-19-like could potentially have COVID-19 listed as their cause of death.
Consider, for instance, that the CDC is estimating there were between 24,000 and 63,000 deaths in the United States from influenza between October and March.
In NYC, does that mean some of those deaths got lumped under COVID-19? Will this keep on happening?
If so, that could skew the data in a significantly different direction — and it could influence the government’s intervention to stop the spread of the virus.
This is a haphazard way to gather data at a time when that data needs to be more accurate than ever. We can and should do better than this.
Filed under: General Problems | 3 Comments »
COVID-19 projections assuming full social distancing through May 2020
Posted on April 4, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
COVID-19 projections assuming full social distancing through May 2020
As the pandemic progresses, we are working to incorporate new data about the virus in the US.
Please check back on Saturday, April 4 for our next update.
https://covid19.healthdata.org/projections
Use the above hyperlink to find out the projected COVID-19 impact – in days – in your particular state
Filed under: General Problems | 1 Comment »
Kentucky: DEA has relaxed controlled substance laws… BUT…we are business as usual
Posted on April 3, 2020 by Pharmaciststeve
Please contact the Drug Enforcement and Professional Practices Branch of the Kentucky Office of Inspector General in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at 502-564-7985 with any questions.
APPLICABLE KENTUCKY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES LAWS
This information is current as of April 2, 2020.
Although the DEA has relaxed Federal controlled substances laws, Kentucky Drug Enforcement and Professional Practices Branch of the Kentucky Office of Inspector General in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services has not. Therefore, Kentucky laws, since they are more stringent, must be followed. Please reference the attached document for additional guidelines.
So the attorneys within the “Cabinet for Health and Family Services ” have decided that they are not going to made a temporary relaxing of KY’s laws concerning Controlled Substance Acts… to sync with those the DEA has done at the Federal level.
It isn’t as if KY has made so much progress in fighting the war on drugs over the last 50 yrs that relaxing some portions of their Controlled Substance Act would cause them to loose so much grown in fighting the war on drugs in their state.
Of course, this decision appears to have been made by those who are part of our judicial system and may not take into consideration for the health of anyone that has a valid medical necessity for being prescribed controlled substances.
There was nothing mentioned in the information that I have received that there appears to also no change in how those being treated for substance abuse/addicts… if so, at least they are consistent… consistently STUPID !
APPLICABLE KENTUCKY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES LAWS 4.2.2020 V 1
As full disclosure, I have been a licensed Pharmacist in the State of KY since July 1970
Filed under: General Problems | 1 Comment »