Prescriber's Letter: September 2008; Vol: 15, No. 9

INTRODUCTION This is an actual Issue article. Click "Detail-Document" to read more on this subject. See "Table of Contents" for all the articles in this issue. SUBSCRIBE TODAY!      A new code of conduct will change how companies market Rx meds.      You'll see fewer pens, mugs, notepads, and other giveaways... and more limits on restaurant meals and promotional events.      The new code is VOLUNTARY...self-imposed by the drug companies' own association, PhRMA. But most big drug companies will comply...to head off MANDATORY regulation.      Expect your reps to follow these new rules:      Gifts. Only educational items...textbooks, subscriptions, patient education materials, etc...worth up to $100...are okay.      Meals. Modest meals along with education in your office or hospital will replace restaurant outings with reps.      Educational talks. Drug companies can still sponsor CME and educational programs at restaurants, but the CME provider or organizer will make the arrangements...not the drug company.      Drug samples. These are still okay. No new restrictions.      Payments to prescribers. The federal gov't may soon require manufacturers to publicly report gifts and payments to physicians... under the pending Physician Payment Sunshine Act.      Literature. Reps still CAN'T legally talk about off-label uses...but they CAN hand you reprints of scientifically valid articles...under certain conditions.      Even some experts who are antimarketing see value in reps distributing good published literature about off-label uses.      But beware.  Literature might be cherry-picked to emphasize desirable outcomes and omit studies that show no benefit or even harm.      Expect to see more direct-to-consumer ads. They work.  About a third of adults ask for an advertised drug...and nearly half get it.      NoFreeLunch.org, PrescriptionProject.org, and others are pushing legislation to rein in drug company influence.      Keep in mind that Prescriber's Letter never takes advertising. If you want an objective analysis of a drug or therapy, ask us.  We'll send you our published analyses...or consider the subject for future research and publication. View Detail-Document #240901 Copyright © 2008 Prescriber's Letter. Illegal to reproduce and/or forward. PrescribersLetter.com

Prescriber's Letter: September 2008; Vol: 15, No. 9

Download This Issue's Handheld File Start reading this issue of the Letter or skip to any topic below. INTRODUCTION A new code of conduct will change how companies market Rx meds read this article INFECTIOUS DISEASES The CDC now recommends giving flu vaccine to ALL children from 6 months to 18 years Is there a clinical difference between Macrodantin and Macrobid? CARDIOLOGY whether they can get their potassium from foods instead of potassium supplements (Micro-K, Klor-Con, etc) ARTHRITIS / RHEUMATOLOGY Corticosteroids are being used more instead of NSAIDs for acute gout DIABETES more emphasis on identifying and treating patients with PRE-diabetes ADHD Stimulants work better than Strattera for treating ADHD in kids RESPIRATORY / ALLERGY new inhaled corticosteroid called Alvesco SUPPLEMENTS whether phytosterols in products such as Centrum Cardio and Bayer with Heart Advantage lower cholesterol WOMEN'S HEALTH Some WOMEN will be asking to try Viagra (sildenafil) for sexual dysfunction due to antidepressants PEDIATRICS recommends NOT treating most children with simple febrile seizures Zingo will compete with other needle-free lidocaine products DRUG REFORMULATIONS launch a "new and improved" formulation just before a drug gets generic competition CME QUESTIONS September 2008 CME Questions Start reading this issue of the Letter or skip to any topic above.

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