How a drug rep dealt with concerns that Zyprexa (olanzapine) causes obesity and diabetes: A video interview.
As an M.D. and pharmacology instructor I strongly believe that it’s really important that prescribers know the backstage of the pharmaceutical industry. In this video produced by PharmedOut, Shahram Ahari, a former drug rep from Eli Lilly; talks about the tactics he and his colleagues were instructed. The target was clear: to sell olanzapine (Zyprexa) […]
AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Review. Premixed insulin analogues for adults with type 2 diabetes.
From the AHRQ newsletter, December 18, 2008, Issue # 2. Comparative Effectiveness Review. Premixed Insulin Analogues for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Premixed insulin preparations are an alternative that may permit a smaller number of daily insulin injections. Although oral diabetes medicines are used as first-line treatments in patients with type 2 diabetes, insulin is […]
Thiazolidinediones (glitazones) may increase the risk of fracture in women
From the excellent blog “Prescribing Advice for GPs“: “The Journal of the Canadian Medical Association (CMAJ) has published the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis that aimed to quantify the fracture risk associated with glitazone therapy. There is also an accompanying editorial. This study has also reached the general media (BBC). The analysis examined data […]
NPS RADAR: Rosiglitazone is a third-line choice in diabetes type 2 treatment
Summary of the review of the NPS RADAR on rosiglitazone (Avandia) Rosiglitazone improves glycaemic control but there is a lack of evidence that it improves diabetes–related clinical complications and mortality. Prescribers should consider this —along with recently emerging safety information — when assessing the ratio of potential harms and benefits for each patient. Rosiglitazone is […]
Cardiovascular and mortality outcomes differences between rosiglitazone and pioglitazone
Comparison of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Diabetes Who Initiated Rosiglitazone vs Pioglitazone Therapy Wolfgang C. Winkelmayer, MD, ScD; Soko Setoguchi, MD, DrPH; Raisa Levin, MS; Daniel H. Solomon, MD, MPH Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(21):2368-2375. Background Recent meta-analyses have raised the possibility that rosiglitazone maleate may increase the risk of ischemic cardiovascular events, whereas […]
Sulfonylureas: consensus statement published on Diabetes Care
Below is a transcript of the latest statement (December 2008) published on Diabetes Care about the role of sulfonylureas in the medical management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. Sulfonylureas. Sulfonylureas lower glycemia by enhancing insulin secretion (see mechanism of action). In terms of efficacy, they appear to be similar to metformin, lowering A1C levels by 1.5 percentage points (26,49). […]