You may already be aware of this but as folks tend to get older they also tend to have problems with their back, and you may find that there are many different reasons for this back pain. There are many reasons that your back will begin to hurt, but plenty of it is with age you lose the elasticity you once had. You may be surprised to discover that by stretching every single day you can improve the elasticity in your back and help lower your back pain. I should also point out that the lives that men and women live can also be a significant contributor to back pain. Something you should keep in mind is that when men and women play plenty of sports throughout their lives, these are the individuals who wind up having some of the worst back pain. Men and women that are in car accidents do not have a lot of control over their pain unless of course their careless driving caused the accident. Most folks prefer to treat their back pain with medication, which can be helpful, but simultaneously very detrimental. With really bad pain, you could need pain medication or a muscle relaxer, but in either case they only mask the pain, without experiencing the root cause of the problem. You ought to also be aware that if nothing is addressing the cause of the pain you are going to be taking this medication the rest of your life. One of the ways to deal with the actual pain in your back is by doing various stretches every day. Needless to say many individuals would rather take a pill to get rid of the pain than actually devote the time and energy needed in order to do their stretches every day which could actually cure their issue. One thing you’ll soon recognize is that stretching is a natural technique to deal with your back pain and unlike the harmful medications it will not have the dangerous side effects. Of course another benefit of stretching is that you’ll actually be strengthening both your stomach and you’re back which can help prevent future injuries to your back. One of the dangers of actually taking drugs to deal with your pain, is that your back may feel fine which could end up causing you to cause more damage to your back. Any exercise that makes your body stronger by strengthening core muscles, is equipping your system to deal with whatever comes on it. The more flexibility you have in your back the less likely you’re to get lower back pain. Doing exercises to keep your back muscles limber and also flexible, will keep your body from tightening up as a result of the stress you put on it each day. One more thing to bear in mind when it comes to stretching and doing core exercises is that these two things can have positive effects on your overall health and well being. Not only are you going to be strengthening other muscles within your body but because of the exercising your cardiovascular system will in addition be greatly benefited. Instead of taking pills every single day to be able to cope with your back pain, try and remain active and get in as much stretching as possible as this will be your best bet. Jonas Varig is a well-known author, He used to write the articles and blogs on different topics like health, nutrition, supplements,diet, exercise etc . Checkout his article on wealth masters international success and Family IQ leaders Tagged as: diet, Exercise, Health, Health Issues, healthy living, Male Health, mens health, miscellaneous, Nutrition, staying fit, Supplements and Vitamins, Uncategorized, wellness, women’s health
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For People With Back Pain You Might Find That Stretching Is …
March 19, 2012 · Posted in Health One of the unfortunate benefits of aging is lower back pain and it can be mainly because of an injury, or just the result of years of lifting children, groceries, or bending over consistently cleaning the house, or doing dishes. While there can be a number of different causes you are going to see that one of the main causes of back pain is the fact that individuals lose their elasticity over the years. The simplest solution is the one most individuals do not want to do, and that is to do stretching exercises for the pain within their lower back. The way loads of individuals live their life, it is inevitable they will wind up with back pain. Something you need to remember is that when individuals play loads of sports throughout their lives, these are the people who end up having some of the worst back pain. Of course you will find other reasons for back pain that are not avoidable and that’s that folks can wind up in a vehicle accident can have back pain. Nearly all doctors will wind up prescribing medication to help alleviate the pain in people’s backs, but you ought to be aware that a lot of medications have unwanted side effects on the body. With really bad pain, you may need pain medication or even a muscle relaxer, but in either case they just mask the pain, without dealing with the root cause of the problem. If you never get the issue fixed, but only contend with symptoms, the issue will never go away. One of the techniques to contend with the actual pain in your back is by doing various stretches every single day. The only issue with stretching is that it takes dedication and work and although it is going to work better and save individuals from being on dangerous drugs, most individuals would rather take a pill. The greatest benefit of stretching is that it is a natural solution and you won’t become addicted to pain medication and its damaging side-effects. You are in addition going to see that you can actually prevent injuries to your back by stretching as you
FDA commissioner talks counterfeit drugs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries Drug shortages: A ‘serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem’ A drug shortage creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets (CNN) — Few Americans think twice about whether their medicine bottle really contains what it says on the label. But that sense of security was shaken last month, when the Food and Drug Administration announced that a counterfeit version of Avastin, an expensive and commonly used cancer drug, had been purchased by 19 hospitals and medical centers. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg spoke to CNN about medical counterfeits, as well as another crucial problem — the ongoing shortage of many lifesaving cancer drugs. The following is an edited version of that interview: CNN: Where does the investigation stand? Hamburg: It’s an ongoing investigation, but we’re working hard, and from what we can tell, patients have not been harmed from this. But it’s a wake-up call that we need to be working with the patient community and law enforcement to make sure our drug supply stays as safe as possible. CNN: Did any patients actually receive the medication, or was it caught before that? Hamburg: We were able to get an early warning from colleagues in other countries that had noted the problem with substandard Avastin, and to move quickly to identify distributors in this country that had purchased and were using this counterfeit product. And our sense is that patients were not harmed. CNN: The hospitals and providers — do you think they should have noticed this problem sooner? Hamburg: It’s very hard for a health care provider to know when a drug is faked. And believe me, some of the fakes are very, very good. CNN: Has this case helped to put more attention on the problem? Hamburg: It’s focused new attention and concern on counterfeit drugs. We feel at the FDA that we’re doing a very good job working with companies, with law enforcement and the health care community, but there’s more that still needs to be done. I’m very eager to work with Congress. They’re considering some legislation that would give the FDA stronger authority and stiffen the rules around counterfeit drugs, and make it easier for us to really track drugs in the system, and enable us to quickly pull inadequate drugs. CNN: Right now, if you find a package of counterfeits, you sometimes have to send it back to the counterfeiter. Hamburg: At the present time, the FDA actually doesn’t have the authority when we find counterfeit drugs coming into the country, to just seize and destroy them. We can go to the courts, we can get an order and then take action, but that takes time. We need new authority. We also need stronger systems in place, to work with other countries and the international community to trace drugs as they move through the system. CNN: How would tracking work? Hamburg: It’s important to recognize that drugs taken in this country come from sites all over the world. Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries, and 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients taken here come from other countries. We are responsible for overseeing drugs in 300,000 facilities around the world, coming in from 150 or so different countries. So it’s a huge task. CNN: Do we know how widespread counterfeits might be in the U.S? Hamburg: We are constantly vigilant, and we do see on a regular basis isolated problems with counterfeit and substandard drugs. What we’re concerned about is putting in place systems to prevent greater and more widespread problems in the future. Also, penalties for counterfeiting drugs need to be stiffened. Right now, in terms of criminal activity, the penalties are less than if you counterfeit a Gucci purse. I think we can do better. CNN: There has been an ongoing shortage of cancer drugs. Does that create a greater incentive to counterfeit? Hamburg: Right now, the problems are separate and discreet, but we need to recognize that there’s a huge potential for overlap. As drugs are in shortage, it creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets to fill
FDA commissioner talks counterfeit drugs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries Drug shortages: A ‘serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem’ A drug shortage creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets (CNN) — Few Americans think twice about whether their medicine bottle really contains what it says on the label. But that sense of security was shaken last month, when the Food and Drug Administration announced that a counterfeit version of Avastin, an expensive and commonly used cancer drug, had been purchased by 19 hospitals and medical centers. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg spoke to CNN about medical counterfeits, as well as another crucial problem — the ongoing shortage of many lifesaving cancer drugs. The following is an edited version of that interview: CNN: Where does the investigation stand? Hamburg: It’s an ongoing investigation, but we’re working hard, and from what we can tell, patients have not been harmed from this. But it’s a wake-up call that we need to be working with the patient community and law enforcement to make sure our drug supply stays as safe as possible. CNN: Did any patients actually receive the medication, or was it caught before that? Hamburg: We were able to get an early warning from colleagues in other countries that had noted the problem with substandard Avastin, and to move quickly to identify distributors in this country that had purchased and were using this counterfeit product. And our sense is that patients were not harmed. CNN: The hospitals and providers — do you think they should have noticed this problem sooner? Hamburg: It’s very hard for a health care provider to know when a drug is faked. And believe me, some of the fakes are very, very good. CNN: Has this case helped to put more attention on the problem? Hamburg: It’s focused new attention and concern on counterfeit drugs. We feel at the FDA that we’re doing a very good job working with companies, with law enforcement and the health care community, but there’s more that still needs to be done. I’m very eager to work with Congress. They’re considering some legislation that would give the FDA stronger authority and stiffen the rules around counterfeit drugs, and make it easier for us to really track drugs in the system, and enable us to quickly pull inadequate drugs. CNN: Right now, if you find a package of counterfeits, you sometimes have to send it back to the counterfeiter. Hamburg: At the present time, the FDA actually doesn’t have the authority when we find counterfeit drugs coming into the country, to just seize and destroy them. We can go to the courts, we can get an order and then take action, but that takes time. We need new authority. We also need stronger systems in place, to work with other countries and the international community to trace drugs as they move through the system. CNN: How would tracking work? Hamburg: It’s important to recognize that drugs taken in this country come from sites all over the world. Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries, and 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients taken here come from other countries. We are responsible for overseeing drugs in 300,000 facilities around the world, coming in from 150 or so different countries. So it’s a huge task. CNN: Do we know how widespread counterfeits might be in the U.S? Hamburg: We are constantly vigilant, and we do see on a regular basis isolated problems with counterfeit and substandard drugs. What we’re concerned about is putting in place systems to prevent greater and more widespread problems in the future. Also, penalties for counterfeiting drugs need to be stiffened. Right now, in terms of criminal activity, the penalties are less than if you counterfeit a Gucci purse. I think we can do better. CNN: There has been an ongoing shortage of cancer drugs. Does that create a greater incentive to counterfeit? Hamburg: Right now, the problems are separate and discreet, but we need to recognize that there’s a huge potential for overlap. As drugs are in shortage, it creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets to fill in those gaps. We need to make sure that does not happen. CNN: Do you think the problem of shortages will get better or worse? Hamburg: It’s a serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem. It arises from an array of different factors. Some economic factors, incentives and reimbursement issues, and some that have to do with manufacturing issues and quality concerns. I think we are really deepening our understanding of how problems arise, and we’ve strengthened the network of reporting so we’re getting early indications of when shortages may occur. CNN: What’s an example of that? Hamburg: It’s very striking. After the president made an announcement about the importance of drug shortages, and issued an executive order basically asking FDA to call on companies to voluntarily expand their reporting when they think they might have a shortage or a disruption in the drug supply, we’ve seen an increase of about six times as many reports. In that time frame — November, to here we are in the middle of March — we’ve been able to prevent about 115 drug shortages.
FDA commissioner talks counterfeit drugs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries Drug shortages: A ‘serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem’ A drug shortage creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets (CNN) — Few Americans think twice about whether their medicine bottle really contains what it says on the label. But that sense of security was shaken last month, when the Food and Drug Administration announced that a counterfeit version of Avastin, an expensive and commonly used cancer drug, had been purchased by 19 hospitals and medical centers. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg spoke to CNN about medical counterfeits, as well as another crucial problem — the ongoing shortage of many lifesaving cancer drugs. The following is an edited version of that interview: CNN: Where does the investigation stand? Hamburg: It’s an ongoing investigation, but we’re working hard, and from what we can tell, patients have not been harmed from this. But it’s a wake-up call that we need to be working with the patient community and law enforcement to make sure our drug supply stays as safe as possible. CNN: Did any patients actually receive the medication, or was it caught before that? Hamburg: We were able to get an early warning from colleagues in other countries that had noted the problem with substandard Avastin, and to move quickly to identify distributors in this country that had purchased and were using this counterfeit product. And our sense is that patients were not harmed. CNN: The hospitals and providers — do you think they should have noticed this problem sooner? Hamburg: It’s very hard for a health care provider to know when a drug is faked. And believe me, some of the fakes are very, very good. CNN: Has this case helped to put more attention on the problem? Hamburg: It’s focused new attention and concern on counterfeit drugs. We feel at the FDA that we’re doing a very good job working with companies, with law enforcement and the health care community, but there’s more that still needs to be done. I’m very eager to work with Congress. They’re considering some legislation that would give the FDA stronger authority and stiffen the rules around counterfeit drugs, and make it easier for us to really track drugs in the system, and enable us to quickly pull inadequate drugs. CNN: Right now, if you find a package of counterfeits, you sometimes have to send it back to the counterfeiter. Hamburg: At the present time, the FDA actually doesn’t have the authority when we find counterfeit drugs coming into the country, to just seize and destroy them. We can go to the courts, we can get an order and then take action, but that takes time. We need new authority. We also need stronger systems in place, to work with other countries and the international community to trace drugs as they move through the system. CNN: How would tracking work? Hamburg: It’s important to recognize that drugs taken in this country come from sites all over the world. Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries, and 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients taken here come from other countries. We are responsible for overseeing drugs in 300,000 facilities around the world, coming in from 150 or so different countries. So it’s a huge task. CNN: Do we know how widespread counterfeits might be in the U.S? Hamburg: We are constantly vigilant, and we do see on a regular basis isolated problems with counterfeit and substandard drugs. What we’re concerned about is putting in place systems to prevent greater and more widespread problems in the future. Also, penalties for counterfeiting drugs need to be stiffened. Right now, in terms of criminal activity, the penalties are less than if you counterfeit a Gucci purse. I think we can do better. CNN: There has been an ongoing shortage of cancer drugs. Does that create a greater incentive to counterfeit? Hamburg: Right now, the problems are separate and discreet, but we need to recognize that there’s a huge potential for overlap. As drugs are in shortage, it creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets to fill in those gaps. We need to make sure that does not happen. CNN: Do you think the problem of shortages will get better or worse? Hamburg: It’s a serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem. It arises from an array of different factors. Some economic factors, incentives and reimbursement issues, and some that have to do with manufacturing issues and quality concerns. I think we are really deepening our understanding of how problems arise, and we’ve strengthened the network of reporting so we’re getting early indications of when shortages may occur. CNN: What’s an example of that? Hamburg: It’s very striking. After the president made an announcement about the importance of drug shortages, and issued an executive order basically asking FDA to call on companies to voluntarily expand their reporting when they think they might have a shortage or a disruption in the drug supply, we’ve seen an increase of about six times as many reports. In that time frame — November, to here we are in the middle of March — we’ve been able to prevent about 115 drug shortages.
FDA leader talks counterfeit drugs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries Drug shortages: A ‘serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem’ A drug shortage creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets (CNN) — Few Americans think twice about whether their medicine bottle really contains what it says on the label. But that sense of security was shaken last month, when the Food and Drug Administration announced that a counterfeit version of Avastin, an expensive and commonly used cancer drug, had been purchased by 19 hospitals and medical centers. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg spoke to CNN about medical counterfeits, as well as another crucial problem — the ongoing shortage of many lifesaving cancer drugs. The following is an edited version of that interview: CNN: Where does the investigation stand? Hamburg: It’s an ongoing investigation, but we’re working hard, and from what we can tell, patients have not been harmed from this. But it’s a wake-up call that we need to be working with the patient community and law enforcement to make sure our drug supply stays as safe as possible. CNN: Did any patients actually receive the medication, or was it caught before that? Hamburg: We were able to get an early warning from colleagues in other countries that had noted the problem with substandard Avastin, and to move quickly to identify distributors in this country that had purchased and were using this counterfeit product. And our sense is that patients were not harmed. CNN: The hospitals and providers — do you think they should have noticed this problem sooner? Hamburg: It’s very hard for a health care provider to know when a drug is faked. And believe me, some of the fakes are very, very good. CNN: Has this case helped to put more attention on the problem? Hamburg: It’s focused new attention and concern on counterfeit drugs. We feel at the FDA that we’re doing a very good job working with companies, with law enforcement and the health care community, but there’s more that still needs to be done. I’m very eager to work with Congress. They’re considering some legislation that would give the FDA stronger authority and stiffen the rules around counterfeit drugs, and make it easier for us to really track drugs in the system, and enable us to quickly pull inadequate drugs. CNN: Right now, if you find a package of counterfeits, you sometimes have to send it back to the counterfeiter. Hamburg: At the present time, the FDA actually doesn’t have the authority when we find counterfeit drugs coming into the country, to just seize and destroy them. We can go to the courts, we can get an order and then take action, but that takes time. We need new authority. We also need stronger systems in place, to work with other countries and the international community to trace drugs as they move through the system. CNN: How would tracking work? Hamburg: It’s important to recognize that drugs taken in this country come from sites all over the world. Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries, and 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients taken here come from other countries. We are responsible for overseeing drugs in 300,000 facilities around the world, coming in from 150 or so different countries. So it’s a huge task. CNN: Do we know how widespread counterfeits might be in the U.S? Hamburg: We are constantly vigilant, and we do see on a regular basis isolated problems with counterfeit and substandard drugs. What we’re concerned about is putting in place systems to prevent greater and more widespread problems in the future. Also, penalties for counterfeiting drugs need to be stiffened. Right now, in terms of criminal activity, the penalties are less than if you counterfeit a Gucci purse. I think we can do better. CNN: There has been an ongoing shortage of cancer drugs. Does that create a greater incentive to counterfeit? Hamburg: Right now, the problems are separate and discreet, but we need to recognize that there’s a huge potential for overlap. As drugs are in shortage, it creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets to fill in those gaps. We need to make sure that does not happen. CNN: Do you think the problem of shortages will get better or worse? Hamburg: It’s a serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem. It arises from an array of different factors. Some economic factors, incentives and reimbursement issues, and some that have to do with manufacturing issues and quality concerns. I think we are really deepening our understanding of how problems arise, and we’ve strengthened the network of reporting so we’re getting early indications of when shortages may occur. CNN: What’s an example of that? Hamburg: It’s very striking. After the president made an announcement about the importance of drug shortages, and issued an executive order basically asking FDA to call on companies to voluntarily expand their reporting when they think they might have a shortage or a disruption in the drug supply, we’ve seen an increase of about six times as many reports. In that time frame — November, to here we are in the middle of March — we’ve been able to prevent about 115 drug shortages.
For People With Back Pain You Might Find That Stretching Is …
March 19, 2012 · Posted in Health One of the unfortunate benefits of aging is lower back pain and it can be mainly because of an injury, or just the result of years of lifting children, groceries, or bending over consistently cleaning the house, or doing dishes. While there can be a number of different causes you are going to see that one of the main causes of back pain is the fact that individuals lose their elasticity over the years. The simplest solution is the one most individuals do not want to do, and that is to do stretching exercises for the pain within their lower back. The way loads of individuals live their life, it is inevitable they will wind up with back pain. Something you need to remember is that when individuals play loads of sports throughout their lives, these are the people who end up having some of the worst back pain. Of course you will find other reasons for back pain that are not avoidable and that’s that folks can wind up in a vehicle accident can have back pain. Nearly all doctors will wind up prescribing medication to help alleviate the pain in people’s backs, but you ought to be aware that a lot of medications have unwanted side effects on the body. With really bad pain, you may need pain medication or even a muscle relaxer, but in either case they just mask the pain, without dealing with the root cause of the problem. If you never get the issue fixed, but only contend with symptoms, the issue will never go away. One of the techniques to contend with the actual pain in your back is by doing various stretches every single day. The only issue with stretching is that it takes dedication and work and although it is going to work better and save individuals from being on dangerous drugs, most individuals would rather take a pill. The greatest benefit of stretching is that it is a natural solution and you won’t become addicted to pain medication and its damaging side-effects. You are in addition going to see that you can actually prevent injuries to your back by stretching as you will be strengthening both your stomach as well as back muscles. That is something pain medication can’t do, the fact is taking medication will most likely make your back weaker as well as more prone to injuries. Any exercise which makes your body stronger by strengthening core muscles, is equipping your body to deal with whatever comes on it. When you have the ability to stretch and move your back you are going to find that your pain will minimize. Exercising to keep your back muscles limber as well as flexible, will keep your body from tightening up on account of the stress you put on it every day. When you conduct exercises to benefit your lower back, they also benefit the rest of your body. Your whole cardiovascular system can be helped with these kinds of exercises, which will enhance your immune system, keeping you more healthy. It’s going to always be in your best interest to stay active and do stretching exercises, in order to remain healthy and the next time you’re thinking about taking some pill, do some stretching exercises instead. Vanessa Summer is a freelance writer and has written many articles in online magazines and websites. She writes about various topics including best eye cream and colon cleanse . Tags: diet, Fitness, Health, health and beauty, health and fitness, Men’s Health, men’s issues, supplements, weight loss, wellness, women’s issues, Womens health Comments
Chiropractic Widely Accepted For Back Pain | Houston Chiropractor …
The most common reason people visit a chiropractor is for the treatment of back pain. Many Americans experience back pain for various different reasons. Back injury is common for working Americans. It is one of the most common reasons for loss of work. It is also the second most common reason for a doctor’s visit. It is next only to upper respiratory infections. Most back problems are not the result of wear and tear on the spine that often occurs after a duration of several years. Almost everyone will experience back pain at some time during their life time. There are actually many unique causes and sorts of back pain. People today may well experience upper, mid or lower back pain. Low back pain commonly happens with radiating pain down the legs known as sciatica. Several resort to medication, inlcuding pain killers or muscle relaxers for the therapy of back discomfort. These may reduce the discomfort, but frequently only mask the signs and symptoms. Many people experience negative effects with medication. Back pain can be the result of injury to various structures in the back such as muscles, ligaments, bones, discs or joints. Some problems are more serious depending on what structures are involved. For example a muscle strain is not usually as serious as a ruptured disc. A muscle sprain may completely heal and be temporary while a ruptured disc can result in chronic pain that lasts for years. Even a simple task for example bending over to pick up a pen can result in back discomfort. Car accidents, weight gain, poor posture, sports injuries and anxiety can all lead to back pain. Back discomfort could be referred from troubles with internal organs including heart, kidney or intestinal complications. Chiropractic is becoming more mainstream as an effective way to both prevent and manage back pain. Chiropractic physicians are highly trained to work with the musculoskeletal system and help with back problems. Chiropractors perform specific adjustments to correct problems in the spine which are a common cause of back pain. They help to restore normal function to the nervous system. Chiropractic treatment has been proven to be very cost effective and a safe way to help with back pain. Many people report significant reduction of back pain that lasts with chiropractic care. Chiropractic has shown to decrease the need for medication and is deemed as a natural method of care that supports the body’s ability to heal itself. Dr. Leavitt continues to help numerous people with back pain and various other conditions. Click here to go to his website: chiropractic knoxville To see what other patients have said, go here: chiropractic knoxville
FDA leader talks counterfeit drugs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries Drug shortages: A ‘serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem’ A drug shortage creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets (CNN) — Few Americans think twice about whether their medicine bottle really contains what it says on the label. But that sense of security was shaken last month, when the Food and Drug Administration announced that a counterfeit version of Avastin, an expensive and commonly used cancer drug, had been purchased by 19 hospitals and medical centers. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg spoke to CNN about medical counterfeits, as well as another crucial problem — the ongoing shortage of many lifesaving cancer drugs. The following is an edited version of that interview: CNN: Where does the investigation stand? Hamburg: It’s an ongoing investigation, but we’re working hard, and from what we can tell, patients have not been harmed from this. But it’s a wake-up call that we need to be working with the patient community and law enforcement to make sure our drug supply stays as safe as possible. CNN: Did any patients actually receive the medication, or was it caught before that? Hamburg: We were able to get an early warning from colleagues in other countries that had noted the problem with substandard Avastin, and to move quickly to identify distributors in this country that had purchased and were using this counterfeit product. And our sense is that patients were not harmed. CNN: The hospitals and providers — do you think they should have noticed this problem sooner? Hamburg: It’s very hard for a health care provider to know when a drug is faked. And believe me, some of the fakes are very, very good. CNN: Has this case helped to put more attention on the problem? Hamburg: It’s focused new attention and concern on counterfeit drugs. We feel at the FDA that we’re doing a very good job working with companies, with law enforcement and the health care community, but there’s more that still needs to be done. I’m very eager to work with Congress. They’re considering some legislation that would give the FDA stronger authority and stiffen the rules around counterfeit drugs, and make it easier for us to really track drugs in the system, and enable us to quickly pull inadequate drugs. CNN: Right now, if you find a package of counterfeits, you sometimes have to send it back to the counterfeiter. Hamburg: At the present time, the FDA actually doesn’t have the authority when we find counterfeit drugs coming into the country, to just seize and destroy them. We can go to the courts, we can get an order and then take action, but that takes time. We need new authority. We also need stronger systems in place, to work with other countries and the international community to trace drugs as they move through the system. CNN: How would tracking work? Hamburg: It’s important to recognize that drugs taken in this country come from sites all over the world. Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries, and 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients taken here come from other countries. We are responsible for overseeing drugs in 300,000 facilities around the world, coming in from 150 or so different countries. So it’s a huge task. CNN: Do we know how widespread counterfeits might be in the U.S? Hamburg: We are constantly vigilant, and we do see on a regular basis isolated problems with counterfeit and substandard drugs. What we’re concerned about is putting in place systems to prevent greater and more widespread problems in the future. Also, penalties for counterfeiting drugs need to be stiffened. Right now, in terms of criminal activity, the penalties are less than if you counterfeit a Gucci purse. I think we can do better. CNN: There has been an ongoing shortage of cancer drugs. Does that create a greater incentive to counterfeit? Hamburg: Right now, the problems are separate and discreet, but we need to recognize that there’s a huge potential for overlap. As drugs are in shortage, it creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets to fill in those gaps. We need to make sure that does not happen. CNN: Do you think the problem of shortages will get better or worse? Hamburg: It’s a serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem. It arises from an array of different factors. Some economic factors, incentives and reimbursement issues, and some that have to do with manufacturing issues and quality concerns. I think we are
FDA leader talks counterfeit drugs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries Drug shortages: A ‘serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem’ A drug shortage creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets (CNN) — Few Americans think twice about whether their medicine bottle really contains what it says on the label. But that sense of security was shaken last month, when the Food and Drug Administration announced that a counterfeit version of Avastin, an expensive and commonly used cancer drug, had been purchased by 19 hospitals and medical centers. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg spoke to CNN about medical counterfeits, as well as another crucial problem — the ongoing shortage of many lifesaving cancer drugs. The following is an edited version of that interview: CNN: Where does the investigation stand? Hamburg: It’s an ongoing investigation, but we’re working hard, and from what we can tell, patients have not been harmed from this. But it’s a wake-up call that we need to be working with the patient community and law enforcement to make sure our drug supply stays as safe as possible. CNN: Did any patients actually receive the medication, or was it caught before that? Hamburg: We were able to get an early warning from colleagues in other countries that had noted the problem with substandard Avastin, and to move quickly to identify distributors in this country that had purchased and were using this counterfeit product. And our sense is that patients were not harmed. CNN: The hospitals and providers — do you think they should have noticed this problem sooner? Hamburg: It’s very hard for a health care provider to know when a drug is faked. And believe me, some of the fakes are very, very good. CNN: Has this case helped to put more attention on the problem? Hamburg: It’s focused new attention and concern on counterfeit drugs. We feel at the FDA that we’re doing a very good job working with companies, with law enforcement and the health care community, but there’s more that still needs to be done. I’m very eager to work with Congress. They’re considering some legislation that would give the FDA stronger authority and stiffen the rules around counterfeit drugs, and make it easier for us to really track drugs in the system, and enable us to quickly pull inadequate drugs. CNN: Right now, if you find a package of counterfeits, you sometimes have to send it back to the counterfeiter. Hamburg: At the present time, the FDA actually doesn’t have the authority when we find counterfeit drugs coming into the country, to just seize and destroy them. We can go to the courts, we can get an order and then take action, but that takes time. We need new authority. We also need stronger systems in place, to work with other countries and the international community to trace drugs as they move through the system. CNN: How would tracking work? Hamburg: It’s important to recognize that drugs taken in this country come from sites all over the world. Right now 40% of finished drugs Americans take come from other countries, and 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients taken here come from other countries. We are responsible for overseeing drugs in 300,000 facilities around the world, coming in from 150 or so different countries. So it’s a huge task. CNN: Do we know how widespread counterfeits might be in the U.S? Hamburg: We are constantly vigilant, and we do see on a regular basis isolated problems with counterfeit and substandard drugs. What we’re concerned about is putting in place systems to prevent greater and more widespread problems in the future. Also, penalties for counterfeiting drugs need to be stiffened. Right now, in terms of criminal activity, the penalties are less than if you counterfeit a Gucci purse. I think we can do better. CNN: There has been an ongoing shortage of cancer drugs. Does that create a greater incentive to counterfeit? Hamburg: Right now, the problems are separate and discreet, but we need to recognize that there’s a huge potential for overlap. As drugs are in shortage, it creates the possibility of new gray markets or illegal markets to fill in those gaps. We need to make sure that does not happen. CNN: Do you think the problem of shortages will get better or worse? Hamburg: It’s a serious problem and it’s going to be a continuous problem. It arises from an array of different factors. Some economic factors, incentives and reimbursement issues, and some that have to do with manufacturing issues and quality concerns. I think we are really deepening our understanding of how problems arise, and we’ve strengthened the network of reporting so we’re getting early indications of when shortages may occur. CNN: What’s an example of that? Hamburg: It’s very striking. After the president made an announcement about the importance of drug shortages, and issued an executive order basically asking FDA to call on companies to voluntarily expand their reporting when they think they might have a shortage or a disruption in the drug supply, we’ve seen an increase of about six times as many reports. In that time frame — November, to here we are in the middle of March — we’ve been able to prevent about 115 drug shortages.
