Finally A New Drug- How Does Your Doctor Know?
Last month the FDA approved forty medications and 6 new medications obtained tentative approval.
With so numerous medications being produced and approved it is mind boggling to consider how physicians, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, can keep up with the data.
At last Auidiolearn.net is helping to bridge the gap. They provide audios with over five hundred commonly prescribed medications. The public and medical professionals can also subscribe to the monthly updates at no charge. Audio learning? This is a welcome resource. The audio includes interactions, side effects, indications, and mechanism of action. When else will these busy professionals have a chance to keep abreast the newest medications?
It is easy to know of a doctor who has not heard of a newly approved drug that may have fewer adverse side effects or treat an illness more efficiently. When was the last time a physician ordered a less effective mediation than one that physician prescribe the most current drug? Who knows? It is going to take which is inferior to alternative available. Some patients suffer painful side effects, such as, muscle aches, stomach pain, nausea, cramping, bloating and rapid heart beat or worse.
Many insurance companies will not pay for brand name medications, when there is a generic alternative. What happens if the pharmacy fills a prescription as ordered and there is a generic available? A pharmacy that is aware of the generics available may cal the physician to find out if they will the generic. A pharmacist when they try to charge the insurance company and it comes back. Sometimes no one notices until the order is filled and the customer goes to get their order.
Customers ask the pharmacy tech why the bill is so high and the pharmacist checks on it. This of course takes up the pharmacist’s valuable. They come back and say that there is a generic available and the insurance company will not pay for brand name medications! Some customers may requests that the pharmacist contact the doctor.
Alternatively, most consumers aren’t aware of the problem with the price. They won’t talk to the pharmacist and will either pay the more money or not purchase the medications regardless of how badly it is needed. The higher price without insurance is out of the price range for numerous people.
This may seem outrageous, but there are millions of aged consumers who have to choose between eating and medications. They don’t have funds for both. Notably, this is an unacceptable circumstance, but it takes time and energy to stay current.
If you are a physician, nurse, pharmacist, pharmaceutical technician I implore you to take an active part in providing your patients with the most up to date information.
- CF Thompson
