Practical Luxury What to do with herbal marc and a Discount Code for you!

Greetings plant lovers!

Today through January 26, I'm offering a thank you discount code for 10% off anything in my shop. 

Enjoy this week's newsletter to find the code! 

~~ How to use herbal marc, a sexy poem, and lovely photos from my hearth to yours ~~

Neuropathy a Growing Market

Today's post comes from thefreelibrary.com (see link below) and is a report by WWMR, (a world wide marketing research company) first published in 2004. It predicts that by 2012, the market for treatment drugs for neuropathy will top $1 billion in the US, Japan and five major markets in Western Europe. As it's now 2012, I'm curious how accurate the prediction proved to be. Unfortunately, however much money is being earned from the medication of neuropathy, there's still no effective, universal treatment!

Peripheral Neuropathy Market Approaches $1B by 2012; Diabetics, HIV/AIDS and Cancer Patients Drive Growth.

The term peripheral neuropathy encompasses a wide range of disorders in which the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord—peripheral nerves—have been damaged. World wide peripheral neuropathy, is a recently released report from EP Publications, a service of WWMR (Worldwide Marketing Research), Inc.

This report forecasts the value of the peripheral neuropathy market by drug class, by condition and by country. It describes the commercial potential for current and upcoming drug classes in seven individual countries, the US, Japan and five leading Western European markets. Patient sub- populations associated with diabetes, HIV/AIDS and chemotherapy treatment are estimated through 2012.

More than One Billion Are Affected Patients in the U.S., Europe, and Japan currently suffer the symptoms of this frequently under-diagnosed and irreversible condition each year. This population is projected to surpass 1.5 billion patients through 2012, growing more than 2.5% in these countries each year.

New Agents Hold Promise
-- Until now, hope for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy has relied solely -- and ineffectively -- on ameliorating the symptoms of pain and numbness, and addressing the root cause of the nerve damage. A promising pipeline of therapeutics -- including Eli Lilly's phase IIINoun 1. phase III -inhibitor, ruboxistaurin has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of those affected.

Pipeline Products Reflect Various Mechanisms of Action

Worldwide, at least 18 agents are in development for treating peripheral neuropathy; these drugs utilize molecular approaches ranging from the reduction of oxidative stress, to stimulate nerve growth

Clinical success of these products would transform the treatment of peripheral neuropathy into a key emerging pharmaceutical market by 2012 in the top seven pharmaceutical country-markets.

Promising new treatments include:

-- Aldose reductase inhibitors epalrestat (Ono Pharmaceutical), fidarestat
(N.K. Curex / Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho / Sankyo), zenarestat (Fujisawa /
Pfizer);
-- Carnitine acetyltransferase stimulant levacecarnine / carnitine (Sigma
Tau / GlaxoSmithKline);
-- Cannabinoid receptor antagonist THC:CBD (GW Pharmaceuticals / Bayer
AG); chemoprotectants dimesna (BioNumerik Pharmaceuticals / Baxter
Oncology) and amifostine (MedImmune Oncology);
-- Dopamine receptor agonist uridine (Polifarma / AMINO GmbH);
-- Interleukin-6 (Serono);
-- Nerve growth factor agonist TAK 428 (Takeda);
-- Prosaposin-derived peptide prosaptide TX14 A (Savient Pharmaceuticals);
prostacyclin agonist beraprost (Toray Industries / Kaken);
-- Prostaglandin E agonist liposomal alprostadil (Endovasc Ltd.);

-- Vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF (Caritas St. Elizabeth's
Medical Center of Boston);
-- Copolymer surfactant poloxamer 188 NF (CytRx);
-- Ion channel modulator ABT 202 (Abbott Laboratories / Neurosearch);
-- Protein kinase C inhibitor ruboxistaurin (Eli Lilly); and
-- Drugs including QR 333 (Quigley Corporation), with undefined mechanisms
of action.

About WWMR, Inc.

WWMR, Inc., http://www.wwmr.com/, is an established marketing research and strategic consulting firm
Since 1994, WWMR, Inc., has provided over 1000 insightful, proprietary studies to pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and diagnostics companies worldwide. Using primary and secondary research methodologies, WWMR, Inc., provides market and product assessments, competitive intelligence, forecast modeling, patient population projections, product launch monitoring (pre- and post-), primary marketing research and medical economic analyses.
WWMR's other recent reports include:

-- U.S. Neuropathic Pain
-- European Neuropathic Pain
-- Brand Erosion by Generics
-- Rx Brand Erosion by OTC Switches
-- European Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement
-- Patient Compliance

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Peripheral+Neuropathy+Market+Approaches+$1B+by+2012%3B+Diabetics,...-a0115037127

Addiction too high a price to pay

Before I begin, it's important to realise that both Tramadol and Oxycontin are widely prescribed for serious neuropathic pain.
The following extracts are from an American detox centre's website.I don't want to promote a commercial organisation but am using text from their webpage, so the least I can do is publish their web address (see below). What is important is the problem they are highlighting and that is the worldwide problem of addiction to medication that is given for another purpose. I came across this because I was on 300mg Tramadol a day , plus Diclofenac for arthritic pain. I was forced to stop because of damage to the kidneys but then having nothing to control either the arthritis or the neuropathic pain, the doctor put me on Oxycontin twice a day. Thanks to 'wrong' prescriptions in the past I check every single medication I'm given, for potential side effects, or conflicts with other drugs, especially those for HIV so Oxycontin was no different. When I came across this page and this text, I was shocked to say the least, not so much at the strength of certain drugs but at the ease in which they are given in combination with each other. Fortunately, Tramadol is not part of my arthritis treatment any more but I could have so easily been taking both Tramadol and Oxycontin.
I remember years ago when diazepam (Valium), amongst others, was issued like candy to the desperate housewives of the time and the consequent row when half the western world became addicted and this sounds alarmingly similar ('Valley of the Dolls' was a big hit for a reason!
In a time when doctors are under more pressure from time,numbers and cost constraint than ever and drug companies are aggressively pushing their products to the exclusion of their rivals, plus the fact that drugs are easily available via the internet I believe it's up to us, the patients, to share responsibility for what's given to us. Always check and double check and if necessary, pose the questions to your medical professionals and don't be brushed off with the "trust me, I'm a doctor" approach. It's your body after all but you can't leave the responsibility for what happens to it, solely up to the doctors - it's in everybody's interest that you're given the right treatment for the right condition.
Read this and I'm sure you'll agree with me. Neuropathy is difficult enough to live with, without given another 'condition' by your own medicine.

The widely-prescribed prescription painkiller tramadol has tricked doctors, and in turn their patients, into thinking it is a safer alternative to what are considered stronger narcotic painkillers, such as OxyContin.

The truth is, tramadol can produce a morphine- or heroin-like high, and according to public health officials, it’s in the running to compete with OxyContin addiction.

Thousands of tramadol overdose cases arrive at emergency medical centers every year, and hundreds more are seeking treatment for tramadol addiction. And just like the rising death toll from OxyContin abuse, a significant number of people are dying from tramadol overdoses.

So far, tramadol hasn’t equaled the destruction caused by OxyContin addiction and abuse, but there are indications that it could. OxyContin addiction has skyrocketed across the country, and has killed so many innocent people there is even a public grass-roots movement to ban OxyContin.
.....
Could tramadol abuse possibly equal
OxyContin abuse?
OxyContin is a time release formulation of the opioid oxycodone which is a favorite with serious opioid abusers because they can crush the pill to defeat the time release mechanism. Once it is crushed, they can snort it or shoot it up, and get the instant euphoria of heroin.

Don’t forget that OxyContin is essentially legal heroin, and in the Appalachians it is nicknamed “hillbilly heroin”.

Tramadol tablets (brand names Ultram® and Ultracet®) are known as "chill pills" or "ultras" on the streets, where they are sold as an alternative narcotic—sort of an “OxyContin lite”.

Although it’s not a traditional street opioid like heroin or morphine, tramadol can produce a euphoria comparable to heroin, even at a single dose of 75 mg. And many recreational users claim it doesn’t come with the cognitive impairment of OxyContin and other opioids.

But there’s another, more dangerous aspect to tramadol: it also comes in a time-release version, called Ultram ER® (Extended Release) 100mg-300mg, which abusers are now defeating and ingesting all at once—the best formula for rapid addiction and sudden death.

Ten reasons why tramadol may eclipse OxyContin addiction
Here are ten reasons why tramadol could become as deadly as OxyContin addiction:

1.Tramadol is not scheduled as a controlled narcotic substance, which makes it easier to get than OxyContin or any other controlled narcotic—and it’s a lot cheaper.

2.In the US, more than 26 million tramadol prescriptions were dispensed in 2008, according to government statistics, and those numbers continue to rise.

3.Doctors and patients still think—quite incorrectly—that tramadol is less harmful and addictive than OxyContin and other opioid painkillers.

4.Until doctors and the public are made aware of its real dangers, tramadol will continue to be prescribed until the number of tramadol addicts equals those suffering from OxyContin addiction.

5.Anyone, including teenagers and even children, can get the drug from hundreds of internet sites which advertise “no prescription needed” and charge as little as 18 cents a pill.

6.Police across the country say teens can get tramadol more easily than alcohol, and no one is saying how many millions of tramadol pills are being diverted to illicit sales. Of course, no one knows how much OxyContin is being diverted to support OxyContin addiction either.

7.Here is the big one: Serious tramadol abusers defeat the time-release capsules and ingest it all at once to get the same instant euphoric effects as heroin and, guess what? OxyContin!

8.Crushing and mainlining tramadol, or OxyContin for that matter, is not required to become addicted or even to die. For some people, just following doctor’s orders can lead to tramadol or OxyContin addiction, and even death.

9.Tramadol abusers compare the high favorably to heroin, morphine, and OxyContin. There’s nothing like good customer reviews to ensure brisk sales.

10.They also say tramadol effects can last for eight, ten or even twelve hours—far longer than the four to six hours common to other opioids = more customer satisfaction.

http://www.novusdetox.com/oxycontin-tramadol-addiction-abuse.php

Cymbalta a treatment for pain or the psychological effects of pain

(...Treatments 3)
Using antidepressants to treat neuropathic pain is becoming a more common treatment method maybe because it's a no-brainer for the doctors. If your pain is chronic, it stands to reason that you will become depressed, to whatever degree and many doctors subscribe to the theory that pain is partially psychosomatic anyway. The problem is that coming off these drugs, whenever that is appropriate, is not always easy, thus creating another problem on top of the neuropathy. Cymbalta is an example of that and many HIV patients have clutched at the offered straw, believing that if it helps with the pain and with the psyche, it's a win-win situation, until they try to stop taking it. If you've been advised to use Cymbalta or another of the antidepressants, ask your doctor two things: will I be able to come off it gradually and will you monitor that and does it clash with anything else that I am taking?

Cymbalta (duloxetine)
An Antidepressant That Also Relieves Nerve Pain
From Mark Cichocki, R.N., former About.com Guide

What is Cymbalta?
Cymbalta (duloxetine) is an antidepressant recently approved by the FDA that has also been approved to treat peripheral neuropathy. People who suffer from depression will often experience pain; people with depression are more sensitive to pain, and treating depression improves one’s threshold for pain. Cymbalta not only treats the emotional effects of depression, but the physical pain of depression as well.

How Does Cymbalta Work?
To understand how Cymbalta works, you must first understand the physiology or cause of depression. There are two naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that are responsible for mood and mood stability. Under normal circumstances, these two chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine, are in a specific balance. However, these chemicals can become out of balance, causing changes in mood, specifically depression. Cymbalta works by re-establishing the balance of these two chemicals, and in turn relieving the symptoms of depression.
The same two chemicals responsible for mood also have an influence on pain perception. Just as an imbalance causes depression, an imbalance of these chemicals causes pain. When Cymbalta re-establish chemical balance, the symptoms of pain are relieved.

Important Note! - While Cymbalta relieves nerve pain, keep in mind it is not a narcotic.

How is Cymbalta Prescribed and Taken?
Cymbalta is available in 20mg, 30mg, and 60mg capsules. The preferred dose is 60mg once daily. Some people may require less than 60mg each day. As is the case in any medication, the prescribed dose should be the lowest does that has therapeutic effect.
One benefit of Cymbalta is the fact it can be taken as one capsule once per day. Adherence to HIV medications is an ongoing problem in the treatment of HIV. Two factors that impact adherence is the number of pills that must be taken each day and how often medicine needs to be taken in a day. Most antidepressants can be taken once per day, however, current peripheral neuropathy medications often have to be taken several times each day. Cymbalta's one capsule, once-a-day treatment does not add significantly to a daily pill burden.

What Should I Expect When Taking Cymbalta?
Like most antidepressants, it will take some time before you feel the effects of Cymbalta. It takes some time to re-establish a chemical balance in the brain. Some people will feel better after about a week on the drug and most will feel better by four to five weeks after starting. You should not stop the drug until speaking with your physician.
Important Note! - Unlike narcotic pain medications that work an hour after taking a dose, Cymbalta will take a little time to relieve your pain. If you need pain control while serotonin and norepinephrine balance is restored, speak to your doctor for suggestions.


Are There Any Side Effects I Should Be Aware Of?
Like most medications, there are some side effects associated with Cymbalta. Most side effects - if they do occur - will resolve after the body becomes adjusted to the medication, usually in a couple of weeks. In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects include:•nausea
•dry mouth
•constipation
•decreased appetite
•fatigue
•drowsiness or feeling sleepy
•increased sweating
•sexual side-effects
•possible withdrawal symptoms if abruptly discontinued
While not common, there have been reported cases of elevated blood pressure when taking Cymbalta. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure while taking the drug.

Drug Interactions and Precautions
While Cymbalta has been deemed safe by the FDA, there are people who should not take the drug because of certain drug interactions. Some drugs, when taken together can cause unpredictable and potentially dangerous side effects. For that reason, you should not take Cymbalta if:•you have had an allergic reaction to Cymbalta in the past
•you have taken drugs known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) - consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking an MAOI drug
•you have glaucoma
•you are taking the drug Mellaril (thioridazine).

Just a thought

Being in nature makes me perfectly happy, this kind of happiness that exists in unity and contentment. It is the place where the less I do, the more impact I have. The most effective, profound actions I can possibly take, are to listen, to watch, to feel, smell and be open. I don't have to prove anything to her. She doesn't care what achievements I have, how much or little I know, or what kind of jeans I have on. She doesn't know my sorrows or my joys, for they all melt together into the thin air of existence. It all is what it is. The duck floats. The Goose sits on her nest. The frog hops. The tree grows. The matrix is self sufficient.