The national whistleblower law firm of Nolan & Auerbach, P.A. announces today the unsealing of a whistleblower case filed nearly a decade ago on behalf of its client Constance Conrad. Until today, the public has been unaware that dozens of small and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies have sidestepped (and a few continue to sidestep) the FDA drug approval process to manufacture and distribute unapproved drugs, which ultimately have been prescribed to Medicaid patients.

Putting a product in a medicine bottle with a prescription label on it is a representation that the product is safe, effective, and FDA approved. But some companies have skipped the approval requirement, creating serious health risks for the unwitting consumers that ingest these unapproved drugs. Taking unapproved drugs is risky because there is no adequate proof of the products safety or efficacy. This risk is particularly acute for the elderly and disabled, a medically vulnerable group that makes up 80% of Medicaid drug spending.

As a result of this lawsuit, the federal government has recovered nearly $100 million to date. Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done. Nolan & Auerbach, on behalf of its courageous client, is continuing to pursue the claims against nearly two dozen drug companies that have allegedly turned a blind eye to the law and illegally sold unapproved drugs. Nolan & Auerbach has allied with the Boston law firms of Roddy Klein & Ryan and Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, to pursue this second, public phase of this case against the remaining defendants.

The firms qui tam complaint alleges that numerous drug companies repeatedly deceived the Government by falsely certifying that their unapproved drugs had passed the requisite FDA tests for safety and effectiveness, or otherwise met Medicaid drug approval standards. The Complaint maintains that these false certifications allowed the drug companies to peddle their unapproved products to physicians of Medicaid patients and to wrongfully receive payments from Government Health Care Programs.

Several companies have already settled this lawsuit and have been dismissed from it. For example, in 2010, there were three settlements involving unapproved drugs originally exposed in this multi-defendant qui tam lawsuit. In the first settlement, Eon Laboratories, Inc. paid more than $3.48 million to resolve allegations concerning the sale of its unapproved Nitroglycerin extended release product. In the second settlement, Schwarz Pharma and its subsidiary Kremers Urban, LLC paid $22 million to resolve allegations concerning the sale of two drugs, Deponit and Hyoscyamine Sulfate Extended Release. In the most recent settlement, Forest Laboratories, Inc., and its subsidiary Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., agreed to pay $42.5 million to resolve allegations that they illegally sold the drug Levothroid, even though the FDA had never proven the drug to be safe or effective. Today, it was revealed that the Government has decided to intervene in the action against Healthpoint, Ltd., which manufactured and promoted its drug Xenaderm.

Even though both the FDA and CMS have publicly announced that they have taken remedial steps, there are still hundreds of drugs illegally on the market, being paid for by taxpayer funds into 2010, and being ingested by consumers unaware of this circumstance. The following list contains a sampling of unapproved drugs still on the market:

Hyoscyamine Sulfate; Brompheniramine Tannate; Combination Product: Methenamine Mandelate, Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic; Combination Product: Phenylephrine Hydrochloride; Combination Product: Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, Phenylephrine; Combination Product: Lidocaine, Hydrocortisone Acetate; Combination Product: Hydrocortisone, Pramoxine, Chloroxylenol; Combination Product: Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, Methscopolamine Nitrate, Dexchlorpheniramine Maleate; Combination Product: Chloroxylenol, Pramoxine; Combination Product: Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride; Combination Product: Hyoscyamine Sulfate, Methenamine, Phenyl Salicylate, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Methylene Blue; Combination Product: Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin; Combination Product: Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Phenylephrine Hydrocholoride, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Methscopolamine; Combination Product: Hydrocortisone Acetate, Pramoxine; Combination Product: Pyrilamine Maleate, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride; Acetominophen, Phenyltoloxamine Citrate; Combination Product: Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride; Combination Product: Dexchlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine; Combination Product: Guaifenesin Pseudoephedrine; Combination Product: Tyrosine, Choline Bitartrate; Combination Product: Temazepam and choline bitartrate; Combination Product: Fluoxetine and Choline Bitartrate,; Combination Product: Trazedone and choline bitartrate; Combination Product: Theophylline and choline bitartrate; Combination Product: Carisoprodol and Choline Bitartrate; Combination Product: Ranitidine and choline bitartrate; Combination Product: Piroxicam and Choline Bitartrate.

Some unapproved drugs are manufactured as pediatric drops, specifically targeted for use by children. Virtually all of the drugs have National Drug Code numbers in their labeling, although these NDC numbers were never given or approved by the FDA.

The lawyers prosecuting this case welcome the opportunity to talk with any former employees of the listed defendant companies, who have firsthand knowledge or experience with these alleged practices. Please contact Attorney Marcella Auerbach at (800) 372-8304.

1.Abbott Laboratories, Inc.
2.Actavis Mid-Atlantic, LLC (formerly Alpharma, Inc.)
3.Biovail Pharmaceuticals, LLC
4.Blansett Pharmacal Company, Inc.
5.Cypress Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
6.Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
7.Ethex Corporation
8.Ferndale Laboratories, Inc.
9.Goldline Laboratories, Inc.
10.Hawthorn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
11.Hi-Tech Pharmacal Company, Inc.
12.Medpointe, Inc. (formerly Carter Wallace, Inc.)
13.Mylan Inc. (formerly Mylan Laboratories, Inc.)
14.Pamlab, LLC (formerly Pan American Laboratories, Inc.)
15.Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
16.Rugby Laboratories, Inc.
17.Sciele Pharma, Inc. (formerly First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corp.)
18.Shire US, Inc.
19.Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (formerly Copley Pharmaceutical, Inc.)
20.The Harvard Drug Group, LLC (formerly Major Pharmaceuticals)
21.United Research Laboratories, Inc.
22.Warner Chilcott Corporation
23.Watson Laboratories, Inc.-Florida (Formerly Andrx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)

The whistleblower laws allow private citizens with detailed knowledge of fraud to bring an action on behalf of the Government and to assist in the recovery of the Governments stolen money. Successful whistleblowers can receive between 15 and 30 percent of the Governments recovery.

This case is United States et al., ex rel. Conrad v. Abbott Laboratories, Inc., et al., No. 02-cv-11738-NG (D. Mass.).

Whistleblower Case Exposes Illegal Marketing of Thousands of Unapproved Drugs in U.S. Market is a post from: Health and Remedies

History of Homeopathy

Homoeopathy was discovered in Germany 200 years back by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.

He was a M.D physician. However, he was getting disenchanted with the kind of treatment doctors gave patients in his days. Most of it involved purging, one way or another. Patients were given laxatives, emetics or were made to bleed by applying leeches, in an attempt to cure diseases. Hahnemann gave up his practice of medicine and worked as a chemist.

He was also a scholar fluent in 14 languages. So he started translating the original medical work while he was translating one of the work of a doctor he came across the detail that the bark of the Cinchona tree could cure malaria.

Having a scientific mind, he decided to experiment. He ate a little of Cinchona bark and noted it produced symptoms similar to malaria. He gave the same bark to few of his friends and relatives and they produced malaria like symptoms. But he went one step further whenever a patient came with malaria; administration of this bark cured the disease condition

He continued experimenting with different medicinal substances. He noticed that those that produced symptoms similar to a disease were capable of treating the disease. He formulated the law: SIMILIA SIMILIBUS CURENTUR. (LIKE Cures LIKE).

Homoeopathy was born

What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a specialized system of medicine developed by “Dr.Samuel Christian Frederic Hahnemann” based on the natural law of healing “Similia Similibus Curentar” which means likes are cured by likes.

“Homois” means like (Or similar) and “pathos” means suffering.Thus Homeopathy is a system of treating diseases by the administration of remedies which possess power of producing similar sufferings in a healthy being.

This law of Similars for curing has been in use since the time of Hippocrates, Father of medicine. But it was Dr.Samuel Hahnemann who developed it into a complete system of medicine enunciating the law and its application in 1810.

Why Homeopathy?

The above question comes to our mind when we are trying to switch off from one stream of medicine to another. We all know that every science has its positive aspects and its limitations.

Let’s see what Homeopathy has to offer to the suffering humanity. It is based on the principle of “Similia similibus curenter” i.e. “like cures like”.

Homeopathy is a Holistic method of treatment where the whole body and mind is taken into consideration not just the diseased part or organ or just a few symptoms. Every minute shift of health is noted down in the minutest details in the form of causation, sensation experienced. This is known as case taking.

After careful analysis and evaluation the medicine that suits the constitution is selected. The treatment is based on individualization depending upon constitution of each individual.

Homeopathic medicine helps the system to bring back the lost balance when it is in a diseased state. When the right homeopathic medicine is administered it stimulates the body and produces an action, which is known as the primary action, and then the body will take care of the disease this is known as the secondary action.

Homeopathic medicine acts at the level Psycho neuro endocrinal axis and brings back the imbalanced disease state to a balanced state of health.

The best effect is seen when children are put on homeopathy. It allows the child to blossom like a flower. They will lead a healthier life and even the hereditary tendencies which are carried can be minimized.

The homeopathic medicines can be administered in a very simple way and because of its sweet taste kids take the medicines without any fuss.

In chronic diseases after the remedy is administered it will act at a very deep level and will help the individual to fight the disease. We can get good results if the case is properly managed and if the patient reports at the beginning of the sickness and gives the original unmodified picture of the illness.

In acute conditions after the medicine is administered it will bring back the lost harmony in a rapid gentle way without producing any complications.

Homeopathic medicine can be very useful during epidemics. The remedy that is selected on the symptoms that are characteristic during the epidemic is known as the “Genus Epidemicus”.

This genus epidemicus when given to the people where there is an outbreak it will help the people in not contracting the epidemic disease. For e.g. Cholera, Influenza, Plague etc.

Homeopathy is the only system of medicine which works as a preventive and helps the patient to remain healthy and not get affected by the environment. In homeopathy there are medicines, which can be given as a prophylactic medicine that will help the individual to prevent the disease when there is an outbreak of certain diseases.

For e.g. If there are 2 children in a house and one is suffering from say Chicken pox in order to prevent the other child from getting the infection if he is given the indicated remedy he will not contract that disease or even if he contracts the disease it will be in a very mild form..

Homeopathy is a system of medicine where the remedies are prepared from the natural substances that are obtained from the Plant Kingdom, Mineral kingdom and Animal kingdom. These substances undergo a process of potentisation and serial dilutions. This process releases the latent power of the medicine. The more the substance is diluted the more is the power of that drug. The power is known as the “Potency”.

The homeopathic medicines do not have side effects when they are used judicially. As the action is at the dynamic level and drug substance is minimum. Homeopathy can be used for a wide range of diseases with success if practiced in the right way.

Let us make a healthy harmonious living possible through Homeopathy.

Homeopathy – A Holistic System of Medicine is a post from: Health and Remedies

The public has obtained access to health education and promotion through various media, and as a result, there is a rapid transformation on how we have looked at health and wellness these last 30-40 years. A few decades ago, the house-call doctor who had a strong educational background but an equally strong intuitive knowledge went the way of the dodo, to be replaced by institutionalized “Big Health” that has proven over the years to be faceless, uncompassionate, and ridiculously expensive.

In the meantime, we as a people have been exposed to theories of health and wellness from the Far East and our own ancient times, and we’ve come to recognize that perhaps there’s more to staying healthy than popping pills and getting broken bones set.

Health and wellness products have indeed been in demand over the last few years, and this is due in part to the exposure they have received through the media. We see health issues addressed in internet websites, magazines, books, newsletters and even on television, where Oprah’s ‘Doctor Oz’ now has his own show, and ‘The Doctors’ is a common daytime panel show about health and wellness.

Health journals are cropping up, even major news magazines such as Time, Newsweek and Focus have contributed a lot of articles, editorials and special issues to nutrition and wellness.

Economists in the United States suggest that in the years to come, the wellness business will be one of the leading contributors of economic growth. In fact, in this country, the sales of this industry have already reached $200 million and will soon match the sales of the ‘traditional’ health care sector

The health and wellness industry is all about selling wellness products and services which improve the health of their customers. Since there is a wide range of products and services included in this scope, we can divide them into a variety following types of health and wellness businesses. Here’s a partial list:

• Voluntary medicine – examples under this type are lifestyle drugs and plastic cosmetic surgery.
• Wellness resources – these are the information segment of the society, or media informing the people regarding wellness products and services.
• Wellness insurance – financial resources for a large number of wellness services and preventative medicines, including chiropractic care and even acupuncture.
• Nutritional services and products – including vitamin supplements, nutritionist, local organic food stores, etc.
• Fitness services and products – including massage therapists, spas, chiropractor, etc.
• Preventative health care – treating, modifying or controlling health risk factors
• Alternative health care – this includes meditation, yoga, herbalism, homeopathy, hypnosis, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy, etc.
• Health and wellness tourism – characterized by customers who would use traveling expenses to look for medical tourism hubs across the globe, offering products and services for these health and wellness seekers.

As you can see, the health and wellness industry has grown significantly, thanks to the huge support it has obtained from several other sectors. New opportunities have opened for health and wellness initiatives, whether it be on the side of selling products and services or in the dissemination of valuable health and wellness information.

The industry is indeed a huge network of products and services, all together with a common theme of being the answer to the sicknesses and diseases that are growing rampant in our society today. Many of these are caused by industries that sell unhealthy goods and commodities. All the types of health and wellness businesses have blossomed in order to come to our rescue.

Because of all of this blooming and blossoming, if you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a business, a health and wellness business is an excellent choice — the competition might look stiff, but it’s an industry where the consumer is trained to be suspicious of success and look for the local, ‘little guy’.which is exactly where you could fit in

Types of Health and Wellness Businesses and Their Contribution to Society is a post from: Health and Remedies

Is Nut.Suppliment “Centra Silver”(by The Vitamin Company) good for adult health? (www.TheVitaminCompany.net) is a post from: Health and Remedies

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cited technicalities in both decisions and did not rule on the constitutional issues raised by the lawsuits.

Two of the judges on the Virginia panel were appointed by Obama, the other by Bill Clinton.

The Richmond-based appeals court is the third appellate court to rule in lawsuits challenging the health care reform law, which requires individuals to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. A federal appeals court in Cincinnati upheld the law, while an appeals court in Atlanta struck down the insurance mandate.

More than 30 lawsuits have been filed across the country.

The judges ruled 3-0 that Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli did not have legal standing to file his lawsuit. Cuccinelli had argued that the federal law conflicts with a state law that says no Virginian can be forced to buy insurance.

Judge Diana Gribbon Motz wrote that the only apparent function of the state law was “to declare Virginia’s opposition to a federal insurance mandate.”

Motz wrote that under Virginia’s theory, a state could acquire standing to challenge any federal law just by enacting a state law. For example, a state could pass a law essentially opting out of Social Security.

“Thus, if we were to adopt Virginia’s standing theory, each state could become a roving constitutional watchdog of sorts; no issue, no matter how generalized or quintessentially political, would fall beyond a state’s power to litigate in federal court,” she wrote.

Cuccinelli said in a written statement that he would appeal the ruling.

“Our disappointment not only stems from the fact that the court ruled against us, but also that the court did not even reach the merits on the key question of Virginia’s lawsuit whether Congress has a power never before recognized in American history: the power to force one citizen to purchase a good or service from another citizen,” Cuccinelli said.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

In the Liberty case, the court ruled 2-1 that the appeals court did not have jurisdiction to rule on the case because federal law prohibits challenging a tax before it is collected.

Judge Andre Davis dissented in the Liberty case, writing that he believed the court did have jurisdiction. Furthermore, Davis wrote that if the court had ruled on the constitutional issue, he would hold that the health care reform law is a constitutional exercise of congressional power under the Commerce Clause.

“We believe that this decision is clearly wrong,” said Liberty attorney Mat Staver. “It goes against every other court decision in the country and it goes against even the interpretation of the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the law.”

___

Associated Press Writer Michael Felberbaum contributed to this report.

Federal court tosses lawsuits over health reform is a post from: Health and Remedies

For instance, one point of difference for a holistic dentist may be their treatment of toxic silver mercury fillings. Mercury is known to have long term negative effects on our body. So if someone needs work on a filling, even having it removed and replaced with a safer alternative, a holistic dentist would take precautions to ensure that you are not exposed to any gases emitted during and procedure an that you don’t end up swallowing any either. A holistic dentist makes sure the water from his office is filtered of these hazardous waste products before they reach the municipal water system.

Material compatibility testing helps those patients concerned with a reaction to certain dental materials. A holistic dentist will do extensive tests to determine what materials are the most biocompatible.

This is a particular concern for people who have any potential sensitivities and are planning cosmetic dentistry work. Cosmetic dentists make porcelain, veneers, inlays, crowns and other restorations to give you that perfect smile

Obviously finding someone trained in both cosmetic dentistry and holistic dentistry can offer you the best of both worlds.

Holistic Dentistry Comes of Age is a post from: Health and Remedies

What are the good bachelor (in science) that can lead you easily in dentistry or medicine or pharmacy in USA? is a post from: Health and Remedies