Comments on: Does jet lag really need to be cured? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Eric, AKA The Pragmatic Caregiverhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html#comment-90847 Eric, AKA The Pragmatic Caregiver Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:52:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html#comment-90847 I hate the shamelessness with which Cephalon is ratcheting up the price of Provigil to "encourage" the switch to Nuvigil. They've also made slimy deals with potential generic marketers, and let us not forget that Provigil is nothing but a sleazy patent dodge from Olmifon, which is the prodrug of modafinil.<br /><br />That said, clarity is worth $8/tablet. Think of it like two lattes without the fat and sugar. I hate the shamelessness with which Cephalon is ratcheting up the price of Provigil to “encourage” the switch to Nuvigil. They’ve also made slimy deals with potential generic marketers, and let us not forget that Provigil is nothing but a sleazy patent dodge from Olmifon, which is the prodrug of modafinil.

That said, clarity is worth $8/tablet. Think of it like two lattes without the fat and sugar.

]]> By: M. Studenthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html#comment-90841 M. Student Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:46:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html#comment-90841 Dr. Tucker,<br /><br />The jet lag indication is a small piece of the slimy business that is Provigil/Nuvigil. The Provigil price increase mentioned by KMD is Cephalon's attempt to foist patients onto their blatant patent extender. KMD also didn't mention that they're pursuing other questionable indications including bipolar disorder and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. The least-bad thing I can say about this business is that Cephalon certainly isn't the only company doing it for a cheap and easy 10 years of patent protection - see venlafaxine/desvenlafaxine, cetirizine/levocetirizine, risperidone/paliperidone just to name a few. As far as I know they've been the only organization with the gall to actually increase the price of their old drug, though.<br /><br />I don't know about you guys but I've had enough with the trivial patent extenders, "me too" drugs, and scattershot indication farming. Dr. Tucker,

The jet lag indication is a small piece of the slimy business that is Provigil/Nuvigil. The Provigil price increase mentioned by KMD is Cephalon’s attempt to foist patients onto their blatant patent extender. KMD also didn’t mention that they’re pursuing other questionable indications including bipolar disorder and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. The least-bad thing I can say about this business is that Cephalon certainly isn’t the only company doing it for a cheap and easy 10 years of patent protection – see venlafaxine/desvenlafaxine, cetirizine/levocetirizine, risperidone/paliperidone just to name a few. As far as I know they’ve been the only organization with the gall to actually increase the price of their old drug, though.

I don’t know about you guys but I’ve had enough with the trivial patent extenders, “me too” drugs, and scattershot indication farming.

]]> By: drsteventuckerhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html#comment-90839 drsteventucker Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:46:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html#comment-90839 I often prescribe provigil for patients receiving cancer care. It can alleviate cancer-related fatigue in many patients. But I draw the line at marketing or aiming for a new indication such as 'jet-lag'. Off label use, yes. Formal medical indication, no. At least with the current indication there are DSM codes that are being treated. Is jet-lag a disease or condition? And if it is I have the cure...don't fly. Seriously though this is pushing it and overall it does not reflect well upon the Pharma Industry. I often prescribe provigil for patients receiving cancer care. It can alleviate cancer-related fatigue in many patients. But I draw the line at marketing or aiming for a new indication such as ‘jet-lag’. Off label use, yes. Formal medical indication, no. At least with the current indication there are DSM codes that are being treated. Is jet-lag a disease or condition? And if it is I have the cure…don’t fly. Seriously though this is pushing it and overall it does not reflect well upon the Pharma Industry.

]]> By: Eric, AKA The Pragmatic Caregiverhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html#comment-90836 Eric, AKA The Pragmatic Caregiver Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/does-jet-lag-really-need-to-be-cured.html#comment-90836 Not everyone has the luxury of being able to pad travel schedules with acclimation days; as someone who has had grievous cognitive lapses due to disrupted sleep schedules when traveling, I welcome this indication. The $8 for a Provigil/Nuvigil tablet is a fraction of the damage I can cause if I'm off my game and trying to think through that fog. Yes, proper sleep hygiene, less-punishing travel schedules, teleconferences and other techniques can improve jet lag function, but when you're moving through 12 time zones in a week, you're a mess.<br /><br />I make my (real, non-caregiving) living specifically through being able to think clearly and confidently in stressful situations - these agents are a godsend. From a social perspective, being in-phase with friends and loved ones when I get back is truly invaluable. <br /><br />E Not everyone has the luxury of being able to pad travel schedules with acclimation days; as someone who has had grievous cognitive lapses due to disrupted sleep schedules when traveling, I welcome this indication. The $8 for a Provigil/Nuvigil tablet is a fraction of the damage I can cause if I’m off my game and trying to think through that fog. Yes, proper sleep hygiene, less-punishing travel schedules, teleconferences and other techniques can improve jet lag function, but when you’re moving through 12 time zones in a week, you’re a mess.

I make my (real, non-caregiving) living specifically through being able to think clearly and confidently in stressful situations – these agents are a godsend. From a social perspective, being in-phase with friends and loved ones when I get back is truly invaluable.

E

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