Margot Pisani, country manager, Malta Sanofi-Aventis, Birkirkara
Heart burn drugs
With reference to the article Plavix Heart Burn Drugs Combined Raise Heart Risk (March 5), on behalf of Sanofi-Aventis I would like to state the following.
Sanofi-Aventis/Bristol Myers Squibb are working with the FDA and conducting studies to obtain additional information that will allow us to understand and characterise the factors that may influence this complex issue.
As stated in the FDA press release, health care providers should continue to prescribe and patients should continue to take clopidogrel (Plavix®) as directed, because clopidogrel (Plavix®) has demonstrated benefits in preventing blood clots that could lead to a heart attack or stroke. Health care providers should re-evaluate the need for starting or continuing treatment with a PPI (proton pump inhibitor), in patients taking clopidogrel (Plavix®). Patients taking clopidogrel (Plavix®) should consult with their health care provider if they are currently taking or considering taking a PPI.
Plavix® has been prescribed to more than 90 million patients worldwide during the 11 years it has been on the market and is recommended in national and international guidelines for the treatment of certain cardiovascular conditions.
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Paul Borg
Mar 9th 2009, 11:26
@ C Micallef: You will be happy to know that much cheaper generic equivalents to the medication clopidogrel or Plavix exist and do the job just as well - I should know as I have been using them for some time after my GP prescribed them.
I cannot understand how generics are not more widely used in Malta, especially when I was told by British friends that doctors in the NHS are not allowed to use expensive brand-name medication if there is a cheaper proven-effective equivalent. I was amazed that they can face disciplinary action if they are caught violating this regulation.
Apparently this is because of all the perks that doctors used to receive in order to prescribe the branded stuff. Why is this not happening in Malta where we are repeatedly being told that the public health service is broke and agents are only being paid after 6-9months. After all, Government is boasting about the pharmaceutical companies it is attracting to Malta, why is it not using their products? Why is no one talking about this situation and who is benefiting from it, certainly not the patients!
C Micallef
Mar 9th 2009, 10:20
YES PLAVIX DOES CAUSE HEART BURN!
The heart burn that Plavix causes is in my pockets because of the price it costs!! They are quite expensive for one to buy. Unlike most other drugs, patienst on Plavix have to buy these expensive tablets. Why is this? Doesn't the Sun rise equally for all of us tax payers?! I understand that certain doctors or consultants may straight away prescribe this drug without allowing their patients to start first on Aspirin and Warfarin. However, when one weighs everything at the end of the day, the use of Plavix in our Health System would ultimately lessen the expenses for the bleeding nurses, doctors at ACC clinics and the laboratory work involved in connection with the constant monitoring of patients on Warfarin.