Latest news with #Coumadin
Boston Globe
17-03-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
We should stop acting as if Big Pharma is the big villain in American health care
tPA is a regular staple of medicine, given to people within hours of suffering a stroke. Scientists discovered tPA's existence in animals in 1947. Over the course of four decades, through continued research, the pharmaceutical industry turned tPA into a life-saving drug for stroke victims. Advertisement In 2016, after a massive influx of blood clots into my lungs, doctors gave me tPA. The results were rapid and life saving. Having been given 24 hours to live, I am still here, now taking Xarelto, a pill that daily thins my blood without the bruising associated with Coumadin, the most common blood-thinning medication. Tagrisso received expedited approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2015, just months before doctors confirmed my wife had epidermal growth factor receptor mutations that caused her to have a genetic form of lung cancer. Her doctor, who also helped develop Tagrisso, fought to get my wife on the medicine. At the time, he concluded, backed by research, that my wife would have two years before the cancer started growing again. She is still here, one of the longest surviving patients on Tagrisso. Researchers have used her case as evidence to expand the drug's availability. It is easy to vilify the industry. Americans get expensive medical bills and regularly battle insurance companies for drug approvals. Sometimes drugs are approved, then declined. Some have embraced the conspiracy that doctors and drug makers collude to put people on medicines. In reality, virtually every doctor wants patients to make lifestyle changes, but many patients just want the pill. This is not the fault of drug makers. We are the problem when we would rather take the injection or the pill than make the lifestyle change. Advertisement I am fortunate that I have really good insurance. But even with good insurance, my wife and I experience the frustrations so many Americans share. When the new year turns over, the headaches return. This year, my Xarelto went from $10 to $580 per month for 30 pills. It will be that much the next few months until I have met a deductible. My wife's Tagrisso is roughly $22,000 a month. With her quarterly cancer scans, just recently adjusted to every four months, we meet her and our family deductible quickly, and insurance has never charged us more than $100 in a month for her Tagrisso. Normally, we pay $20 a month. But every year, as soon as January rolls around, my wife struggles to renew her prescription with the specialist pharmacy that has a contract with our insurance company. Every year, my wife's anxiety builds as she gets denied the medicine she needs to live and then has someone find an error in her claim, before she finally receives the medicine. For eight years, she has fought this battle annually. Health insurance likewise causes me anxiety. We need it and, as a result, my job is important. As a conservative talk radio host known to openly criticize the president, I have faced organized mobs of online activists that have tried to get me fired, at the cost of my health insurance. The mobs have not deterred me, but I do understand the anxiety others have over losing their insurance. Every few years, as my job contract is up for renewal, my family's anxiety goes up. I am, to a degree, deprived of negotiating flexibility with my job because without it, our access to life-saving drugs would become vastly more costly. Advertisement Americans tend to pay more for prescription drugs than people in other countries. Those countries often subsidize drug costs. To Americans this is unfair. Big Pharma gets blamed. Newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has, in part, gained traction among many Americans for capitalizing on and advancing attacks against the industry, building on American distrust of the health care system. The problem, however, is not really Big Pharma but the convoluted mess of American public and private insurance systems. Many Americans cheered for A free-market system could and should provide a saner, more streamlined, and affordable system. But the public, like the political parties, is divided over more or less government control and fewer or more mandates. The government cannot provide clarity or direction for private insurance and medical and pharmaceutical costs because Americans themselves cannot agree. Government should at least be willing to provide multiple avenues that could, through each path, provide simplicity and more humanity to a system that is too often needlessly faceless and Byzantine. Advertisement
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tariff trade war could raise medical costs — but not quite yet
(NewsNation) — A majority of medical experts foresee at least a 10% increase in drug prices as a result of President Donald Trump's tariff standoff, a new Black Book Market Research survey found. A brewing trade war between the U.S., China, Canada and Mexico could increase the cost of medical supplies, intensify drug shortages and limit device makers' ability to import critical supplies. The full scope of tariff impacts will take some time to completely take shape, and Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs founder and CEO William Soliman tells NewsNation that prices and future drug availability are difficult to predict. Ontario premier: Trump tariffs 'backfired,' inflation to hit US 'A lot of the common drugs that Americans take — your cholesterol lowering drugs, your blood thinners, your antibiotics — a lot of these drugs, a lot of their active pharmaceutical ingredients, are made in China. They're made in Canada,' Soliman said. 'You are going to see, potentially, price issues in terms of price increases and maybe potentially shortages of those generic drugs in the U.S.,' he added. About 90% of the drugs Americans consume are generic — of that percentage, a vast majority are at least partly manufactured overseas. What is causing your spring allergies and what can you do to prevent them? That includes common drugs like antibiotic Z-Pak, anticoagulant Coumadin and cancer-fighting drugs. But Soliman said patients shouldn't panic just yet. There's likely a 12- to 18-month stockpile for many drugs, he said, so there should be no immediate issue with supply chain shortages when it comes to generic medications. Name-brand drugs, however, could see significant problems when it comes to availability in the future, Soliman said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nutritionists And Dietitians Reveal The One "Healthy" Food That Could Be Harming You As You Age
As we age, our dietary needs (and needs overall) start to change. We need more of some nutrients and less of others, we may need to scale back on intense exercise routines, and we often start to introduce new medications to manage specific health conditions. But back to food: With the ever-changing state of our bodies and health, it can be hard to know how to properly nourish ourselves at different life stages. But there's one food registered dietitians say you should be extra careful about eating as you get older — and we're going to guess you didn't see this one coming. According to three different registered dietitians we spoke with, there's one food people need to be cautious about consuming as they get older: grapefruit. If your jaw is on the floor, we don't blame you. Grapefruit is packed with vitamin C and is great for you, right? Normally, yes. But for anyone taking medication to manage a health issue, grapefruit may interact negatively with it. 'Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are known to interfere with statins, which are used to reduce cholesterol,' said Sarah Hormachea, a registered dietitian at Nourish. 'A compound in grapefruit called furanocoumarins competes with the enzyme in our liver that is used to metabolize statin medications.' The exact amount of grapefruit that's dangerous to ingest will vary based on a handful of factors, and you should always talk to your doctor about the amount that's safe for you (if any). But in general, one whole grapefruit or glass of grapefruit juice is enough to negatively interact with certain types of medication. Maria Emerick, another registered dietitian, adds that grapefruit can also interact negatively with blood thinners like warfarin, which is often known by the brand name Coumadin. 'This can lead to higher levels of the medication in the body, increasing the risk of side effects or toxicity,' she said. Statins and blood thinners aren't the only types of medications that grapefruit might interact negatively with. Research shows grapefruit could have an impact on certain blood pressure medications, heart rhythm medications, certain mood medications (although it's worth noting that it's safe to consume grapefruit with most common antidepressants) and more. Be careful of foods high in vitamin K, too. But it's not just grapefruit you need to be wary of. Foods high in vitamin K that you probably think of as good for you — like kale, spinach and collard greens — can be dangerous when you consume too much of them while taking certain medications. 'Foods rich in vitamin K can interfere with the effectiveness of blood thinners like warfarin. Vitamin K helps blood clot, which counteracts the blood-thinning effects of warfarin. Individuals on warfarin need to maintain consistent vitamin K intake daily and monitor their diet accordingly,' Emerick said. Most doctors won't encourage you to avoid vitamin K altogether (although you should always check with them!). The most important thing to keep in mind with vitamin K and certain medications is consistency in dosage. For example, the daily recommendation for men and women over 19 is 120 mcg and 90 mcg respectively, and a cup of raw spinach has 145 mcg and a cup of cooked broccoli has roughly 220 mcg. So if you have a cup of raw spinach one day (mixed into a salad, for example), make sure to try to keep that level consistent with whatever vitamin K-rich greens you consume the next day. Shelley Balls, a registered dietitian and nutritionist for Consumer Health Digest, adds a few additional drugs to the list. 'These can include antacids, antibiotics, aspirin and drugs for cancer, seizures and high cholesterol,' she said. 'If you are taking any of those drugs you may want to limit or avoid vitamin K-rich foods [under the guidance of a doctor]. Sometimes you can still include foods high in vitamin K in your diet but focus on getting approximately the same amount each day so you can stabilize your medication dosage required to manage your condition, while still enjoying dark greens in your diet.' What if you're not on any medication? If you're on little or no medication, you may be wondering what foods you should try to eat less of. The answer to that probably isn't as surprising — and by the way, these foods (and drinks) are on the list for people who are on medication, too. 'You'll definitely want to try to drink less alcohol,' Hormachea said. 'As we age, our body's ability to digest alcohol can change dramatically. Liver function declines, leading to a slower metabolism of alcohol.' This can result in alcohol staying in the system for longer, she added, with a more pronounced and prolonged effect. 'Decreased production of enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism (like ADH and ALDH) can put older adults at a higher risk of alcohol-related toxicity. Many medications used by older adults are also contraindicated for alcohol consumption.' You should also work to limit your consumption of processed foods, such as fast food, ready-made meals, packaged snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages, Emerick said. 'These products are manufactured from chemically altered ingredients derived from foods and supplemented with additives to improve taste, texture, appearance, and shelf life, with minimal to no inclusion of whole foods,' she said. 'Research indicates a direct link between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and increased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, obesity, poor sleep quality, and overall mortality.' Moreover, Emerick added, UPFs often replace more nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds in diets, leading to lower consumption of beneficial vitamins, minerals, fiber, probiotics, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. 'As it is typical for appetite to diminish with age, every mouthful becomes increasingly important,' she said. While the advice to limit alcohol and UPFs is pretty standard, it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor about what foods any medications you're taking may interact with. They'll have the most information on this topic, and may also have suggestions for how to meet nutritional needs while steering clear of certain nutrient-dense foods like grapefruit or spinach. In the meantime, you should probably skip that second glass of wine tonight! This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Buzz Feed
16-02-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Nutritionists And Dietitians Reveal The One "Healthy" Food That Could Be Harming You As You Age
As we age, our dietary needs (and needs overall) start to change. We need more of some nutrients and less of others, we may need to scale back on intense exercise routines, and we often start to introduce new medications to manage specific health conditions. But back to food: With the ever-changing state of our bodies and health, it can be hard to know how to properly nourish ourselves at different life stages. But there's one food registered dietitians say you should be extra careful about eating as you get older — and we're going to guess you didn't see this one coming. According to three different registered dietitians we spoke with, there's one food people need to be cautious about consuming as they get older: grapefruit. If your jaw is on the floor, we don't blame you. Grapefruit is packed with vitamin C and is great for you, right? Normally, yes. But for anyone taking medication to manage a health issue, grapefruit may interact negatively with it. 'Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are known to interfere with statins, which are used to reduce cholesterol,' said Sarah Hormachea, a registered dietitian at Nourish. 'A compound in grapefruit called furanocoumarins competes with the enzyme in our liver that is used to metabolize statin medications.' The exact amount of grapefruit that's dangerous to ingest will vary based on a handful of factors, and you should always talk to your doctor about the amount that's safe for you (if any). But in general, one whole grapefruit or glass of grapefruit juice is enough to negatively interact with certain types of medication. Maria Emerick, another registered dietitian, adds that grapefruit can also interact negatively with blood thinners like warfarin, which is often known by the brand name Coumadin. 'This can lead to higher levels of the medication in the body, increasing the risk of side effects or toxicity,' she said. Statins and blood thinners aren't the only types of medications that grapefruit might interact negatively with. Research shows grapefruit could have an impact on certain blood pressure medications, heart rhythm medications, certain mood medications (although it's worth noting that it's safe to consume grapefruit with most common antidepressants) and more. Be careful of foods high in vitamin K, too. But it's not just grapefruit you need to be wary of. Foods high in vitamin K that you probably think of as good for you — like kale, spinach and collard greens — can be dangerous when you consume too much of them while taking certain medications. 'Foods rich in vitamin K can interfere with the effectiveness of blood thinners like warfarin. Vitamin K helps blood clot, which counteracts the blood-thinning effects of warfarin. Individuals on warfarin need to maintain consistent vitamin K intake daily and monitor their diet accordingly,' Emerick said. Most doctors won't encourage you to avoid vitamin K altogether (although you should always check with them!). The most important thing to keep in mind with vitamin K and certain medications is consistency in dosage. For example, the daily recommendation for men and women over 19 is 120 mcg and 90 mcg respectively, and a cup of raw spinach has 145 mcg and a cup of cooked broccoli has roughly 220 mcg. So if you have a cup of raw spinach one day (mixed into a salad, for example), make sure to try to keep that level consistent with whatever vitamin K-rich greens you consume the next day. Shelley Balls, a registered dietitian and nutritionist for Consumer Health Digest, adds a few additional drugs to the list. 'These can include antacids, antibiotics, aspirin and drugs for cancer, seizures and high cholesterol,' she said. 'If you are taking any of those drugs you may want to limit or avoid vitamin K-rich foods [under the guidance of a doctor]. Sometimes you can still include foods high in vitamin K in your diet but focus on getting approximately the same amount each day so you can stabilize your medication dosage required to manage your condition, while still enjoying dark greens in your diet.' If you're on little or no medication, you may be wondering what foods you should try to eat less of. The answer to that probably isn't as surprising — and by the way, these foods (and drinks) are on the list for people who are on medication, too. 'You'll definitely want to try to drink less alcohol,' Hormachea said. 'As we age, our body's ability to digest alcohol can change dramatically. Liver function declines, leading to a slower metabolism of alcohol.' This can result in alcohol staying in the system for longer, she added, with a more pronounced and prolonged effect. 'Decreased production of enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism (like ADH and ALDH) can put older adults at a higher risk of alcohol-related toxicity. Many medications used by older adults are also contraindicated for alcohol consumption.' You should also work to limit your consumption of processed foods, such as fast food, ready-made meals, packaged snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages, Emerick said. 'These products are manufactured from chemically altered ingredients derived from foods and supplemented with additives to improve taste, texture, appearance, and shelf life, with minimal to no inclusion of whole foods,' she said. 'Research indicates a direct link between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and increased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, obesity, poor sleep quality, and overall mortality.' Moreover, Emerick added, UPFs often replace more nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds in diets, leading to lower consumption of beneficial vitamins, minerals, fiber, probiotics, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. 'As it is typical for appetite to diminish with age, every mouthful becomes increasingly important,' she said. While the advice to limit alcohol and UPFs is pretty standard, it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor about what foods any medications you're taking may interact with. They'll have the most information on this topic, and may also have suggestions for how to meet nutritional needs while steering clear of certain nutrient-dense foods like grapefruit or spinach. In the meantime, you should probably skip that second glass of wine tonight!
