A nonprofit patient advocacy group, Psoriasis Cure Now, has urged a joint hearing of two Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committees to approve OTC use of certain topical steroids that presently require a prescription.

Topical corticosteroids are instrumental to treat as many as 6.5 million American afflicted with psoriasis and over-the-counter status of these steroids could result in reduced cost and enhanced convenience.

From Medicalnewstoday.com:

Topical steroids come in dozens of variations in drug type and strength. One common classification system lists seven steroid potencies from mild to ultra high, with each of the seven classes offering numerous choices. For about 15 years, the strongest steroid available without a prescription has been hydrocortisone 1%, a very mild formulation.

In its statement to the FDA, the group called for better labeling and other education efforts both for patients and physicians about topical steroids and their potential side effects, and recommended particularly close attention to topical steroid use by pediatric psoriasis patients.

“While we believe additional steroids should be available OTC, we urge the FDA to weight carefully how best to educate parents who face difficult choices about how, and how aggressively, to treat psoriasis in their children,” Paranzino added. “Topical steroids play a role in treating many children with psoriasis, but there are non-steroid alternatives that should also be considered.”

Specific topical steroids that presently require a prescription could be safely and effectively used by psoriasis patients in an over-the-counter setting, according to Michael Paranzino, President of Psoriasis Cure Now.

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A recent study has disclosed that patients afflicted with psoriasis could find it difficult for managing daily chores along with the disease symptoms after a link between the disease and two potentially serious medical conditions, atherosclerosis and diabetes, was identified.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by scaly, thick, and red plaque and leads to bleeding and itching and could bring considerable discomfort and emotional stress for patients.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Specifically, the researchers noted that the association between diabetes and psoriasis was more prominent in women compared to men and in patients between the ages of 35 and 55. Similarly, the association between atherosclerosis and psoriasis was highest among women as compared with men and in patients between the ages of 35 and 55, and 65 and 75.

In addition, in patients with psoriasis, data analysis showed an association between diabetes and the overuse of extremely potent topical steroids or certain systemic medications for psoriasis. The researchers suggested that these observations could indicate that the prevalence of diabetes among psoriasis patients increases with the severity of psoriasis.

An association also was observed between the prevalence of atherosclerosis and the use of phototherapy, the medical light treatment administered by dermatologists for psoriasis. The researchers noted that it is possible that phototherapy is a marker for psoriasis severity rather than being the cause of atherosclerosis. Another possible explanation they offered is that phototherapy may be chosen as the treatment of choice for severe psoriasis patients who suffer from atherosclerosis rather than treating these patients with systemic medications.

Dermatologist Michael David, MD, Dermatology Department at Rabin Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, and his colleagues were able to find a high occurrence of atherosclerosis and diabetes in patients with psoriasis when compared to patients without psoriasis.

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Patients with intertriginous psoriasis (IP) can expect relief coming their way when they are treated with an application of topical corticosteroids in the short term and maintenance with a less topical agent, as per a study conducted by Alexander Kreuter, M.D, from Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany, and colleagues.

The study also nullified all myths of side effects associated with use of topical steroids in the long run and the findings are considered to have major implications for treating intertriginous psoriasis patients who regularly complain of intense itching, soreness, and irritation from sweating.

From Bio-Medicine.Org:

In this study, Alexander Kreuter, M.D, from Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany, and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial that compared 1 percent pimecrolimus (a new anti-inflammatory drug), 0.005 percent calcipotriol, 0.1 percent betamethasone and the vehicle (a similarly appearing cream with no active drug) in the treatment of IP with a four-week treatment period and a six-week follow-up without therapy. A total of 80 adult patients with the clinical diagnosis of IP were included, 20 patients in each of the four treatment groups.

“After four weeks of treatment, the three active compounds and the vehicle resulted in a significant decrease in mean (average) M-PASI score [Modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index] (86.4 percent for 0.1 percent betamethasone, 62.4 percent for 0.005 percent calcipotriol, 39.7 percent for 1 percent pimecrolimus and 21.1 percent for vehicle),” the researchers found. “The 0.1 percent betamethasone was significantly more effective than 1 percent pimecrolimus during the study period.”

The study suggested that application of corticosteroids for acute disease in the short run followed by maintenance treatment with any of the less potent agents can be classified as a reasonable approach for treating IP patients.

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A nonprofit patient advocacy group, Psoriasis Cure Now, urged the Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committees to approve the OTC (over the counter) use of some topical steroids that presently need a prescription.

It is worth noting here that topical corticosteroids are prescribed to provide relief to as many as 6.5 million people in the United States alone and grant of OTC status to these steroids can help in reducing costs and enhancing convenience.

From Medicalnewstoday.com:

Topical steroids come in dozens of variations in drug type and strength. One common classification system lists seven steroid potencies from mild to ultra high, with each of the seven classes offering numerous choices. For about 15 years, the strongest steroid available without a prescription has been hydrocortisone 1%, a very mild formulation.

In its statement to the FDA, the group called for better labeling and other education efforts both for patients and physicians about topical steroids and their potential side effects, and recommended particularly close attention to topical steroid use by pediatric psoriasis patients.

“While we believe additional steroids should be available OTC, we urge the FDA to weight carefully how best to educate parents who face difficult choices about how, and how aggressively, to treat psoriasis in their children,” Paranzino added. “Topical steroids play a role in treating many children with psoriasis, but there are non-steroid alternatives that should also be considered.”

Some topical steroids that presently require a prescription could be safely used by patients affected by psoriasis in an over-the-counter setting, as per Michael Paranzino, President of Psoriasis Cure Now.

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In order to avoid unnecessary secondary referral and expensive surgery in context of otitis media with effusion (OME), non-surgical options are recommended these days be medical practitioners.

The effectiveness of topical intranasal steroids to treat otitis media with effusion (OME) in primary care from the perspective of the UK National Health Service was recently evaluated by a recent study.

From MedicalNewsToday.com:

Epidemiological studies of OME reveal that it affects 50-80% of children by the age of five. Without effective intervention, severe OME can cause significant hearing loss, which may result in linguistic, developmental, behavioural, motor and social impairment. Although many OME cases resolve spontaneously, referral rates from primary care remain high, with approximately 1-5 per 1000 children in the general population undergoing surgery (grommets) each year.

The study was led by Dr. Stavros Petrou from the University of Oxford.

Says Dr. Petrou: “This study demonstrates that the current use of topical steroids for OME is unlikely to represent an efficient use of scare public resources.”

This will be discussed in detail in Value in Health, the official journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and outcomes Research.

Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 5,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.

The study was led by Dr. Stavros Petrou from the University of Oxford and highlighted that topical steroids are unlikely to be a cost-efficient option for treating OME in general practice.

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A recent study has revealed that there is a link between psoriasis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes. This means that the affected patients could find it difficult to handle the daily chores of dealing with physical symptoms of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by scaly, thick, and red plaques and leads to emotional stress and discomfort.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Specifically, the researchers noted that the association between diabetes and psoriasis was more prominent in women compared to men and in patients between the ages of 35 and 55. Similarly, the association between atherosclerosis and psoriasis was highest among women as compared with men and in patients between the ages of 35 and 55, and 65 and 75.

In addition, in patients with psoriasis, data analysis showed an association between diabetes and the overuse of extremely potent topical steroids or certain systemic medications for psoriasis. The researchers suggested that these observations could indicate that the prevalence of diabetes among psoriasis patients increases with the severity of psoriasis.

An association also was observed between the prevalence of atherosclerosis and the use of phototherapy, the medical light treatment administered by dermatologists for psoriasis. The researchers noted that it is possible that phototherapy is a marker for psoriasis severity rather than being the cause of atherosclerosis. Another possible explanation they offered is that phototherapy may be chosen as the treatment of choice for severe psoriasis patients who suffer from atherosclerosis rather than treating these patients with systemic medications.

Dermatologist Michael David, MD, Dermatology Department at Rabin Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, and his colleagues, observed a higher occurrence of diabetes and atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients compared to patients without psoriasis.

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The use of Traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) could prove to be an effective option for treating patients with persistent post- viral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD), as per a new research in the April 2010 issue of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture is a method wherein very thin needles are used to stimulate certain points in the body for eliciting advantageous therapeutic responses.

From Sciencedaily.com:

To date, there is no validated pharmacotherapy for PVOD, but attempts have been made to establish a standardized treatment. In the literature, systemic and topical steroids as well as vitamin B supplements, caroverine, alpha lipoic acid, and other drugs were used to treat patients. The researchers point out that in addition to these treatments, complementary and alternative medicines are currently being employed by many patients on their own, and that exploration into their usefulness by traditional Western medicine should be validated.

In the current study, 15 patients presenting to an outpatient clinic with PVOD were treated by TCA in 10 weekly 30-minute sessions. Subjective olfactometry was performed using the Sniffin’ Sticks test set. Treatment success was defined as an increase of at least six points in the sticks test scores. The effects of TCA were compared to matched pairs of people suffering from PVOD who had been treated with vitamin B complex. Eight patients treated with TCA improved olfactory function, compared with two treated with vitamin B complex.

The authors acknowledged that their study was limited by size and further studies must be conducted in a larger population environment.

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Psoriasis Cure Now, a nonprofit patient advocacy group, urged a joint hearing of two Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committees for approving over-the-counter use of specific topical steroids that presently require a prescription.

It is believed that topical corticosteroids play a critical role in treating psoriasis for as many as 6.5 million Americans and the OTC status of these steroids can lead to improved convenience and low cost.

From Medicalnewstoday.com:

Topical steroids come in dozens of variations in drug type and strength. One common classification system lists seven steroid potencies from mild to ultra high, with each of the seven classes offering numerous choices. For about 15 years, the strongest steroid available without a prescription has been hydrocortisone 1%, a very mild formulation.

In its statement to the FDA, the group called for better labeling and other education efforts both for patients and physicians about topical steroids and their potential side effects, and recommended particularly close attention to topical steroid use by pediatric psoriasis patients.

“While we believe additional steroids should be available OTC, we urge the FDA to weight carefully how best to educate parents who face difficult choices about how, and how aggressively, to treat psoriasis in their children,” Paranzino added. “Topical steroids play a role in treating many children with psoriasis, but there are non-steroid alternatives that should also be considered.”

Michael Paranzino, President of Psoriasis Cure Now, said some topical steroids that are believed to presently require a prescription can be safely and effectively used by patients affected by psoriasis in an over-the-counter setting.

Bookmark It

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Tags: corticosteroids, OTC, psoriasis, steroid use, steroids, topical steroids

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According to a new research in the April 2010 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Traditional Chinese acupuncture or TCA, in which very thin needles are used for stimulating certain body points to elicit beneficial therapeutic responses, could be considered as an effective treatment form for patients suffering from persistent post- viral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD).

From News-Medical.Net:

In the current study, 15 patients presenting to an outpatient clinic with PVOD were treated by TCA in 10 weekly 30-minute sessions. Subjective olfactometry was performed using the Sniffin’ Sticks test set. Treatment success was defined as an increase of at least six points in the sticks test scores. The effects of TCA were compared to matched pairs of people suffering from PVOD who had been treated with vitamin B complex. Eight patients treated with TCA improved olfactory function, compared with two treated with vitamin B complex.

The authors acknowledge that their study is limited by its size, and that further studies should be conducted in a larger population. However, the authors write “-the observed high response rate of about 50 percent under TCA was superior to that of vitamin B complex or that of spontaneous remission, and offers a possible new therapeutic regimen in postviral dysosmia.”

It is important to note here that there is no validated pharmacotherapy for PVOD even though efforts have been made to establish a standardized treatment. Systemic and topical steroids in addition to vitamin B supplements have been used for treating patients as per the literature.

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Patients suffering from psoriasis may find it difficult to the daily chores of dealing with the physical symptoms of this condition after a recent study disclosed that there is an association between psoriasis and two potentially serious medical conditions, atherosclerosis and diabetes.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is characterized by thick, scaly, and red plaques and resulting in itching and bleeding & leading to considerable discomfort and emotional stress for patients.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Specifically, the researchers noted that the association between diabetes and psoriasis was more prominent in women compared to men and in patients between the ages of 35 and 55. Similarly, the association between atherosclerosis and psoriasis was highest among women as compared with men and in patients between the ages of 35 and 55, and 65 and 75.

In addition, in patients with psoriasis, data analysis showed an association between diabetes and the overuse of extremely potent topical steroids or certain systemic medications for psoriasis. The researchers suggested that these observations could indicate that the prevalence of diabetes among psoriasis patients increases with the severity of psoriasis.

An association also was observed between the prevalence of atherosclerosis and the use of phototherapy, the medical light treatment administered by dermatologists for psoriasis. The researchers noted that it is possible that phototherapy is a marker for psoriasis severity rather than being the cause of atherosclerosis. Another possible explanation they offered is that phototherapy may be chosen as the treatment of choice for severe psoriasis patients who suffer from atherosclerosis rather than treating these patients with systemic medications.

A higher occurrence of diabetes and atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients compared to patients without psoriasis was noticed by dermatologist Michael David, MD, Dermatology Department at Rabin Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, and his colleagues.

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