HEPATITIS C VIRUS MAY HAVE A CURE SOON

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the drug manufacturer, Merck & Co., Breakthrough Status for its Grazoprevir/Elbasvir combination medication for treatment of the Hepatitis C Virus in Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients. Results are in from the third trial phase and the Large Drug Company released results showing a 99% success rate of its combination "medication cocktail. SOURCE: KIDNEYBUZZ

 TAKING ACETAMINOPHEN MORE THAN 325mg PER DOSE DOES NOT SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE PAIN RELIEF EFFECT

Well, an article published  by the Standard-Examiner suggests that prescriptions on pain reliever be getting "tighter." According to the article, tighter controls on how doctors can prescribe some of the most commonly used ESRD painkillers will take place. Also, manufacturers of pain relievers such as Benadryl,  Percocet, Hydrocodone Bitartrate, Vicodin and more (including generics) will be required to discontinue all prescription pain combination products that contain more than 325 mg. of acetaminophen (fever reducer and pain reliever). Typically these medications contain anywhere from 500mg. to 750mg. of acetaminophen. Hence, "if you're taking a pill that contains a greater amount, you won't be getting a refill after that date," suggests the Standard-Examiner.

The reason for the drastic change, is to hopefully decrease the number of inadvertent acetaminophen overdoses that occur due to patients taking multiple products with acetaminophen in them, said Dustin Waters, McKay-Dee Hospital Pharmacist. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) website notes that there is no data supporting substantially increased pain relief from taking more than 325mg of acetaminophen per dosage. "Under the new dosage limit, healthcare professionals can direct patients to take 1 or 2 tablets, capsules or other dosage units of a prescription product containing 325 mg of acetaminophen up to 6 times a day and still not exceed the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen," stated FDA.com.

ESRD patients should be reassured by the fact that Nephrologists still will abide by the same Pain Management Guidelines which requires both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches. The decision to prescribe a pain reliever will be based upon duration, cause, type and intensity of your pain.  Source: KidneyBuzz