My mother is dependant on 3 different medicines-premarin for menopause, Baclofen for muscle spasms, and Urecholine so she can...how do I say...relieve herself properly. The first two are nice to have, but the third is life threatening. I recently had a physician friend call in a 3 month supply of each to Eckard and write me 3 months so I could fill them over the internet. I figured that way I would have 6 months of meds, and since I had her write the scripts for double dosage, if we cut the pills in half, we would have a good solid years worth.

Last week, I ordered 3 months worth of each from PlanetRX.com, and when they arrived, I noticed that there were only 39 tablets of the Urecholine (as opposed to 290). Well I just got off the phone with them, and they said they would have to refund my credit card as the manufacturer was so backordered, that they couldn't even give me a date when they might be able to get it!

I waited too long and now I am paying the price! If you've been putting off getting meds for yourself or someone you love, DO NOT WAIT ONE MORE SECOND!!

-good luck

p.s.-Eckard was able to get the name brand (very expensive) so she will have about 7 months worth (counting the 39 from PlanetRX) in case any of you were worried :).

-- Orson Wells (wells@whitebulb.com), December 06, 1999

Answers

Y2K problem?

Even if you buy your medications early, you may not be getting what you paid for.

VIZ:

Schering/Key Press Release

SCHERING/KEY ISSUES NATIONWIDE RECALL OF FIVE LOTS OF VANCERIL DOUBLE STRENGTH INHALATION AEROSOL CONVENIENCE PACK

KENILWORTH, N.J., Dec. 2, 1999  Schering/Key Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily conducting a nationwide recall of five lots of VANCERIL 84 mcg DOUBLE STRENGTH (beclomethasone dipropionate, 84 mcg) Inhalation Aerosol Convenience Pack, a prescription medication for the maintenance treatment of asthma. The company is taking this action because it has determined that a number of canisters in the five lots listed below may not contain active drug. Schering/Key is advising that the matter should be considered very serious and one that merits immediate attention. Patients using an affected canister without active drug would be expected to experience a lack of effectiveness which may result in increased asthma symptoms, need for other asthma medications, emergency room visits or hospitalization. Because of the nature of the problem, a patient cannot determine whether they have an affected metered dose inhaler (MDI) just by actuating their MDI. An affected MDI may appear to emit an aerosol even if it does not contain active drug.

The recall affects lots Nos. 9-DMT-157, 9-DMT-158, 9-DMT-160, 9-DMT- 161 and 9-DMT-163, which were distributed by Schering/Key in November 1999. The inhalers have an expiration date of July 2000. The lot number and expiration date appear on either the top or bottom flaps of the package and on the canister label. No other lots of VANCERIL 84 mcg DOUBLE STRENGTH Inhalation Aerosol Convenience Pack are involved. The recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There have been no reported medical adverse events related to the recalled lots.

The recall is being extended to individual patients, pharmacies and direct-account customers such as wholesalers and chain drug stores. Direct-account customers have been asked to return any units from the subject lots on hand and to request that their customers return any units from the subject lots to them. Patients who have had prescriptions for VANCERIL 84 mcg DOUBLE STRENGTH Inhalation Aerosol Convenience Pack filled since November 1999 are advised to check the lot numbers and return any inhalers from the subject lots to the pharmacy for free replacement. Any questions regarding the recall should be directed to the Recall Services Center (toll free) at 1-800- 621-9760.

The cause of the problem has been identified as inadequate batch start-up practices that occurred for a short period during filling of the subject lots. The company has taken corrective actions to prevent a recurrence.

Schering/Key Pharmaceuticals is a business unit of Schering Laboratories, the U.S. pharmaceutical marketing arm of Schering- Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) of Madison, N.J., a research-based company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide.

-- pho (owennos@bigfoot.com), December 06, 1999.

Very revealing. Thanks for an important post.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), December 06, 1999.

Are you readers aware of what Premarin is? It derives its name from PREgnant MAre's urINe. Look it up in the current Physicians Desk Reference! It's distilled by denying the poor horses water when they're dying of thirst for their foal foetus, this builds up the concentration of the estrogens in their urine. They are forced to stand for hours on concrete stalls with troughs to collect the piss for processing. No lying down in a pasture to ease their strained backs. American women have been sold a bill of goods, Menopause symptoms are a "natural" fact of life, not a disease to be "treated" by a pharmacist. Perhaps the PREgnant MAre's urINe has contributed to the complexity of her urinary disorder. Each person must evaluate their own personal situation, choosing carefully which life sustaining meds and prescriptions they MUST have and which they will have to forego. Is there an herbal supplement (which your drug may be derived from) that you can buy from any health food store? Research your parents prescription drugs now. If no alternate is available, consider sending friends/relatives to make a border run to Canada or Mexico for supplies. Stockpile now while you still can and get cranberry/gallons of water for an emergency. Good Luck!

-- Three Penny Bit (blackbeauty@horsesense.com), December 06, 1999.

Response to 8: FYI, there is a synthetic version of Premarin. I believe, however, it is more expensive. These mares are kept unendingly pregnant to produce the estrogen and then most of the foals are sold for slaughter because they are usually too unhealthy for any other purpose.

Thank you, Three Penny Bit, I agree with you. Compassion should not be limited to humans - sometimes they deserve it least. Man's egocentric dominion has created something less than Eden, hasn't it?

-- dakota (none@thistime.com), December 06, 1999.

Let's see what you would say if it was YOUR mother who needed premarin. Be thankful that she doesn't and don't judge others (which is a good philosophy anyway).

-- Orson Wells (wells@whitebulb.com), December 06, 1999.

Confidential to 8 behind the ball. People over humans anyday fool. But we will have to make choices for prescriptions. Was offering some real truth and constructive advice to this poor woman about the scam on HRT Hormone Replacement Therapy that is being foisted onto women and thus complicating our plumbing even further. Kind of like those breast implants, huh? Be sure to stockpile your Viagra to keep your "8" in full form when you gaze at the silicone porn in 2000 and any other "life sustaining medications" you might need in Y2K. The factory PHARMS where the horses are tormented probably won't have the electricity for ventilation, pumps etc. to distill the horsepiss for our mothers. Wake up.

-- ThreePenny Bit (blackbeauty@horsesense.com), December 06, 1999.

I absolutely must weigh in to this discussion on Premarin. I agree wholeheartedly with three penny's observations on the cruelty done to these mares and I certainly agree with her right to express her feelings without having some Fu__ing A__hole use profane language and call her names. What the hell is wrong with you 8 that you feel you have the right to make such a nasty statement? There are many alternatives to Premarin. I am on one of them. I made a concsious decision not to participate in such cruelty. There is no reason for it except for pharmaceutical profits. Shame on you 8.

-- Deborah (idoyga@earthlink.net), December 06, 1999.

Orson, I did NOT say not to stockpile for your mother, I ENCOURAGED you to head to Canada/Mexico for over-the-counter accessibility for Premarin. Consumers need ALL the facts on pharmaceuticals to make informed decisions. Noone should put any horsepill into their mouths without first knowing all sideffects. This thread is supposed to be about the limitation of drugs and the possible ramifications, NOT Orson's mother or beastiality. We are all vulnerable to rationing, shortages, restrictions. 70% of pharms are derived from foreign import ingredients. If suppliers cannot deliver/ships unload in ports, we will all be screwed. Example Foxglove=Digitalis. It's not just menopause kids. It's everything. Get your "life sustaining meds now" Weigh your decisions carefully on what pills to invest in, which to try to wean yourself off if possible. If not, God help you. Good luck Orson and I hope your mother does not suffer from this. As for mine, she's dead from groundwater, nitrate-poisoned wellwater/Leukemia from her own farm's well these 3 years ago. Several neighbors too. They call it "Cancer Road" in our county. Well acquainted with sick moms.

Blackbeauty

-- Three Penny Bit (blackbeauty@horsesense.com), December 06, 1999.

My mother-in-law was on Premarin. She started menstruating. She's 80. I'm all for freeing the horses.

-- (Polly@troll.com), December 06, 1999.

Different Deborah.

;-)

And, while I'm here I don't think the point of this thread has anything to do with the specific arguments we can have about cruelty to animals. To borrow from Orson's original post:

I waited too long and now I am paying the price! If you've been putting off getting meds for yourself or someone you love, DO NOT WAIT ONE MORE SECOND!! "

Thank you Orson.

Have a nice day.

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), December 06, 1999.

Has anyone tried Rejuvex (an over the counter medicine) for menopause? I've heard it works well.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), December 06, 1999.

Consider this: Y2k is here, and its moderately bad, and there is a backlog in med supply or finances prevent lots of people from getting stuff that isnt life sustaining. Now, based on the stress levels inherent in such a situation, do you really want to see millions of women quit their Hormone replacement therapy all at the same time? It might be ugly enough as it is, without adding a plague of PMS>>>>>

It isnt a pretty thought. "I have PMS and an assault rifle" to paraphrase the old bumper sticker. No, thank you! IMHO-refill your rx now and worry about the social and politicaly correct implications later when we have time to prioritize the smaller stuff.

-- LauraA (LaaDeDah@aol.com), December 06, 1999.

You are missing the point. IF you are lucky enough to be able to get a 90 day scrip (my elderly neighbor can't get more than 60 days for her Micardis), then great for you. If not, last time I checked the local health food gurus had at least 8 natural estrogen supplements out there to work on menopause symptoms. Derived from yams etc. Keep an open mind and look into it. As for PMS, which would mean you are still HAVING a period, they have relief formulations for that too. And nearly every other ache and pain known to mankind since ancient herbalists began to gather and wildcraft plants and potions. Millenniums ago... So if you get static from the HMO, the clinic, the pharmacy etc. Get thee hence to the natural foods store pronto. No limits...yet. Stocks won't last. As for Premarin, I'm sorry, pour it back into the poor horse it came from. It's horsepiss sheeple.

-- Three Penny Bit (blackbeauty@horsesense.com), December 06, 1999.

I personally don't believe that going through menopause is THAT big a deal...then again, I am not a woman. If it were up to me, I would have stockpiled baclofen and urecholine only. Actually, my mom is pretty grumpy and irrational as it is (God bless her), and seeing as I'll be stressed to the max for y2k anyway, the last thing I need is for her to be going through menopause! Hmmm....now that I think about it, maybe I need to get more premarin for her...and maybe some Xanax for me :)!

-- Orson Wells (wells@whitebulb.com), December 07, 1999.

Orson, I see now that you are unable to think "outside of the box". You yourself complained in your first post cheekily of your own mother's urinary disorder to the whole world. What a loyal child. Zanaz/Zoloft/Prozac/Ritalin is part of the problem sir. Forget "PlanetRx", and the big chain drugstores. Think alternative. Dissconnect yourself from the illusion of wellness and get into real health. THINK, did the prescriptions she takes perhaps complicate her problems? Are horsepiss tablets good for my mom? Typical Senior is on 8 different meds, often to counterract the effects of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd scrip. Until you have watched your precious mother soil the bed 18 times in a day, after the 12th time we ran out of nightgowns and sheets, had to go to the store. Meanwhile, we wrapped her naked in a towel and she was soiled when I got back. I have lots of experience with this. Get her off the Premarin. Lost youth is lost youth. Focus on her bladder. Last post to you Orson, I can see I'm casting my very hard earned pearls of wisdom before a swine. WAKE UP!

-- Three Penny Bit (blackbeauty@horsesense.com), December 07, 1999.

Three Penny Bit,

I really appreciate your posts and do believe alternative medicine is the answer. Thanks

-- (Polly@troll.com), December 07, 1999.