ScoopMed

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved alirocumab, the first of a new class of injected, cholesterol-lowering drugs. Alirocumab cuts levels of LDL cholesterol, and is one of a group of newly developed drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors. The molecule happens to be a monoclonal antibody. Approved indications  The drug is only approved for patients with heart disease and a history of heart attack or stroke "who require additional lowering of LDL cholesterol" in addition to taking a statin drug and adopting a healthy diet.  Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), an inherited illness that causes people to have high levels of LDL in the blood.  The video shows how this new class of drugs reduces LDL levels in blood.  >

Allopathy The modern medicine is wrongly termed as Allopathy by many. The term Allopathy stands for "the other suffering". The term was coined when the likes of James Gregory were doing irrational treatment which consisted of using high doses which created a new suffering which was far worse than the initial suffering. Modern medicine is thoroughly rational and aims at reducing the initial suffering without causing additional suffering. Drug The word "Drug" has its origin from French; drug = drogue; a dry herb. Many of us have a misconception that drugs prescribed are usually synthetic and are non natural products. Many of the drugs and the word drug itself has it's origin in herbs. The difference now is we know the exact active ingredient and it's action. Drugs are now highly specific in action and are introduced based on valid experimentation.

Paul Ehrlich's obsession about using dyes for treating diseases culminated into the creation of product called arsphenamine. Arsphenamine, though too toxic was used to treat Syphilis as no other drug existed then. The product was patented as Salvarsan - touted to be a salvation for all human sufferings. The Salvarsan points at the era of beginning of systematic approach at discovering drugs. Next came an another dye, prontosil, by Gerhard Domagk which essentially began the era of chemotherapy.

The word "diabetes" meaning "excessive urine" in Greek. Both the conditions presents with excessive urine formation. The word "mellitus" meaning "sweetness/honey" in Latin. The term "insipidus" meaning "without taste" in Latin.

Rapidly synthesised in response to a stimuli  Acts quickly in the immediate environment  Degraded in a short period of time 

Widely prescribed anti-diabetes drug pioglitazone and its combinations were banned on June 26 by Governemnt of India. Along with this, painkiller analgin and anti-depressant deanxit(Flupenthixol+ Melitracen) were also banned under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act(1940) by ministry of health and family welfare, India. Pioglitazone's safety : Always a concern   Pioglitazone is an anti-diabetic drug, which has unique action on improving insulin resistance by acting on PPAR receptors. Studies have reported pioglitazone causes congestive heart failure due to fluid retention and also bladder cancer. It also causes   muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in the abdomen etc. Three years ago another drug from this family, rosiglitazone was banned in India following a decision taken in European Union.   Following the reports of adverse effects, France has discontinued Pioglitazone, but USA and UK allowed restricted use of Pioglitaz...