There’s a Shortage of Viagra in Italy
Apparently, it’s all about a row between pharmacists and the Government. Read the full uncensored story in the Daily Mail here. For a shortened version of the story, Rod Liddle in The Sunday Times has the bare details.
I wonder if I know a retired pharmacist with access to supplies. We could fly them to Rome and sell them on the street outside Berlusconi’s residence.
Some of the comments by readers in the Mail article give a reasoned insight into the problems. It would appear that some things we buy for a pound or to in Boots, are several times more expensive in Italy.
Own Up! Which Of You Is Responsible?
I am now taking four extra drugs.
My Four Extra Pills
But my diarrhoea has all but stopped! So which one has caused that? Clockwise from the top left, they are furosemide, spironolactone, Cardicor and Ramipril.
But still I’m glad to get rid of it after two years. Does it show what a chancy business taking drugs is?
I’m Now on Lasix
Or a generic form of furosemide, which is the drug known as Lasix. As it helps stop racehorses from nose-bleeding, I wonder if it will affect my nose-bleeds. But then I haven’t had any in the last week or so.
Lasix is banned for racehorses in the UK, but it is allowed freely in a lot of states in the US.
Let’s hope it helps me go a bit faster and further.
The Priory
The Priory Clinic is well-thought of for sorting addiction and other mental problems.
However, I was surprised to see that it was advertising in a local glossy magazine at my dentist’s in Notting Hill yesterday.
Perhaps they’ve found it’s an area, where many of their past clients live.
Graeme Obree’s Idea to Stop Drug Cheats
Graeme Obree has just said on BBC Radio 5, that the best way to stop drugs cheats in cycling is not to give them their prize money until several years after the event.
But why not add swimming, athletics, and of course, weight-lifting?
How do We get Drugs out of the Music Business?
Yesterday we had the tragic death of Whitney Houston. Not necessarily from drugs, as we don’t know yet. But it does seem that every star in the music business seems to have fought addiction at some time. And in many cases, it’s killed them or assisted them on their way!
They set a very bad example to young people! And to everyone in fact!
But last night at the Grammys did anybody speak up against drugs? Not that I have seen in any report! They gave Whitney Houston a tribute, but didn’t say how stupid she was to get involved in drugs and alcohol.
A Disappointing Trip to Eastfield
The Waitrose at Westfield Stratford City is the only place I’ve found the delicious Genius gluten-free fruit bread.
As I needed one or two other things and also a prescription dispensed, I took the train to Stratford and walked to the centre.
But I didn’t get anything I wanted, except for the drugs.
- Waitrose were out of the gluten-free fruit bread and also the normal Genius bread as well.
- Marks didn’t have any gluten-free bread either, but they did have three gluten-free ham sandwiches. So at least they must be stocking them now!
So I left a few minutes after I got there and returned home.
I think though, I can recommend the Boots pharmacy there. I got everything I wanted without waiting, as obviously, the store isn’t the place where people would normally go for their prescriptions. It’s lovely to shop without queues.
One thing that annoys me about the centre, is that to get between the main entrance and Marks at the front and Waitrose and John Lewis at the back, means that I have to run the gauntlet of a crowded corridor and lot of shops with the exception of Starbucks and PC World, I never have visited and never will. It would be much better if the two end escalators were round the other way and I could walk across at first floor level, descending as required. There is also no direct link between John Lewis and Waitrose inside the store, which puts me off visiting both on the same visit. I should say I don’t buy much in Waitrose on most days, as I’m only getting my supper. For a big shop I go to Waitrose in Islington and get them to do the carrying.
Prostate Cancer Drug Trial Stopped Early
The headline was the bad news. But it was stopped because it would have been unethical to continue according to this report from the BBC, as the tests were so succssful.
So it was really good news!
Sunday Times On Strokes
They have a series of articles on strokes today. One in particular talks about the new drugs to replace Warfarin. Information for the article was provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.
So who makes one of the new drugs?
You got it in one!
Am I changing?
No! All the doctors I’ve seen from the stars that appear on TV, to the newly qualified have advised me against them.
The reason is that it took us many years to know all the Warfarin problems. The biggest is actually people getting rather mixed up, as to what is the dose.
Solving that is a managememt problem and doesn’t require a new drug with unknown side-effects.
In the article, it says that with the new drugs, the great advantage is that you take one a day. I have taken the same dose of Warfarin for over a year now and the dose is 5 mg (pink) most days and 4 mg (1 blue and 1 brown) on Saturday and Monday.
What could be simpler?
Ecstasy Can Be Good For You!
Who’d have believed it. But it’s here on the BBC.
But it doesn’t mean we should all take it.
The Anonymous Widower 