Online Pharmacy Medicine Blog

No, that headline’s not a joke. It’s true.

Viagra, Lipitor, Celebrex, Lyrica and about 70 other Pfizer-made prescription drugs are now available free of charge to Americans who’ve lost their jobs and health insurance coverage since January 1, 2009, thanks to a new program by the drugmaker.

The one caveat is that you must already be on the medication — and have been taking it for at least three months — to qualify for the free prescriptions.

According to the AP:

The 70-plus drugs covered in the program include several diabetes drugs and some of Pfizer’s top money makers, from cholesterol fighter Lipitor and painkiller Celebrex to fibromyalgia treatment Lyrica and Viagra for impotence. Also included are some antibiotics, antidepressants, heart medications, contraceptives and smoking cessation products…

Applicants will have to sign a statement that they are suffering financial hardship and provide a “pink slip” or similar employer notice. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31, with medication provided for up to 12 months after approval — or until the person becomes insured again.

Patients can call 866-706-2400 to sign up for the program.

If your golf swing isn’t sending the ball as far these days, it could be the Lipitor you’re taking.

Lipitor, along with other statins, can cause weakness in your muscles. While the side effect is not common, it may affect hundreds of thousands of statin drug users worldwide, because the market for these drugs is so large.

According to news reports:

Statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor, Lescol and Mevacor) are the most effective cholesterol-lowering drugs available… (but) they can cause muscle problems.

Myalgia is one of those problems. It is muscle inflammation with tenderness and pain. Myopathy is another problem. It’s muscle achiness and weakness. And the third, and most serious, complication is rhabdomyolysis, muscle disintegration.

This happens very rarely, to about one in 10,000 users. Lowering the dose, switching to another statin or changing to a different medicine is usually all the treatment necessary, except for rhabdomyolysis, or the breakdown of muscle mass.

Statins also cause general fatigue, according to a new study:

People prescribed widely used cholesterol-busting drugs called statins may be more likely to feel fatigued than those who don’t, a new study finds … The research was expected to be presented this week at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Palm Harbor, Fla.

It’s possible that the drugs may cause problems by disrupting the way the body produces energy in cells … Vitamin D supplements may help such patients feel better.

Talk with your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms while using Lipitor or another statin.

Lipitor is the best-selling drug in the United States, and is generally considered safe and effective in treating high cholesterol.

But if you are one of the millions of Americans — especially seniors — who are taking multiple drugs for chronic conditions, you may be unaware of the interaction risks you face by taking Lipitor in combination with other drugs.

Lipitor interacts with more than 600 drugs, including erythromycin, niacin (vitamin B3), simvastatin, and metronidazole. In some cases, the interactions can produce serious complications and side effects.

As the Gloucester Daily Times reports, physicians should be aware of, and should inform you of, such interactions. But if an individual is being treated by a number of specialists, sometimes these warnings can slip through the cracks.

As the paper reports:

Consumers should know the name of every medication the doctor has prescribed, what each medication looks like, and be sure to look at every medication before ingesting it. Patients should not be afraid to ask questions if a medication looks unfamiliar. Sometimes, it’s just that a generic substitution has been made, but it’s always best to be sure before swallowing.

Keeping a written list of all medications taken, including dietary supplements, herbal preparations and non-prescription drugs can help the doctor prescribe more safely. Ask the doctor, as each prescription is written, what the name of the drug is, the correct strength or dosage, what it is being prescribed for, and if there are any interactions or side effects to watch for. Write the information down, as many drug names sound alike. If you are in the hospital, and unable to do this yourself, pre-arrange to have a family member or friend do this for you, if possible.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, medication errors injure more than one million people per year in America, and while there are still far too many medication errors in hospitals, there has been a recent upsurge in home settings, so being one’s own advocate is important in preventing errors, and saving lives.

By becoming a member of ePharmacies.com, you can gain access to Web tools including a pill identifier — which helps you identify medications based on photographs of the drugs — and a drug interaction checker, which allows you to input your current drug regimen and learn the potential interaction risks.

These tools act as an important safety net should your doctor or pharmacist neglect to catch a potential risk. We encourage you to join ePharmacies.com today!