Emil Andrusko, vice president of marketing for Pfizer’s specialty biologics unit said, “The approval of the pre-filled dual-chamber syringe is an important milestone for hemophilia patients”. The prefilled dual-chamber syringe will offer hemophiliac patients with a convenient and easy way to administer necessary medication. The ‘all-in-one’ package can save time for administration of the drug which could save lives.

The dual chambered syringe will hold a freeze-dried powder of Xyntha that will be reconstituted when used. For the first time the Xyntha powder and the diluents are combined within one dual chambered syringe. The dual syringe will provide, by intravenous (IV) injection, after the freeze dried powder is infused with the diluents of 0.9% sodium chloride a predetermined dose of Xyntha.

Pfizer identified that the first available pre-loaded syringes will provide 3000 IU of xyntha, the highest dose available in a low 4 ml volume. Other dosages will be coming out in prefilled dual chambered syringes in 2011. 

People with hemophilia A have a deficiency in a blood protein which is required for the blood to clot and stop bleeding. Hemophilia A is caused by the absence of or a deficiency of the protein factor VIII. Xyntha is a recombinant factor VIII product and is used for the patients with a congenital factor VIII deficiency or hemophilia A.  Nurse coordinator at the University of Colorado School of Medicine Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Sue Geraghty identified the innovative syringe “as an all-inclusive, travel ready kit, the prefilled dual chamber syringe offers patients with hemophilia A convenience in reconstituting Xyntha, saving them both time and effort”.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) gets Thumbs Up for Pre-Loaded Syringes was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare and the FDA are recalling all available product lots of the Tylenol Arthritis 100-count bottole of caplets with the EZ-OPEN CAP. The start of the recall occured back in November of 2009 because there were consumer complaints lodged about a moldy or mildewy smell  present in the medication. This odor triggered related issues such as stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. Upon initial testing, the odor was found to be caused by the chemical 2,4,6 tribromoanisole, which is believed to have stemmed from the breakdown of a chemical used to treat wooden pallets. These wooden pallets are used to house the medicine bottles during transportation and also as a means of facility storage.

Consumers who purchased or have taken the Tylenol Arthristis caplets are urged to cease taking the medication and contact the company for more information. Refunds and replacements can be discussed by calling the toll-free company number at 888-222-6036 or by visiting the co company website, Tylenol.com.

Any consumer who have concerns related to health problems or medicine related side effects should see the attention of the primary health care provider. Consumers who have suffered reactions from the medication can report these reactions to the Food and Drug Administrations’s MedWatch website.

While all 100-count Tylenol Arthritis caplets are now on the recall list, consumers can still check the lot numbers on their own bottles to ensure their medication is safe. The lot numbers, which can be found on the side of the medication bottle label, include:

Lot numbers in the expanded recall include:

• 07CMC011, 07DMC022, 07DMC024, 07FMC032, 07FMC033, 07GMC038,

• 07GMC039, 07HMC045, 07HMC051, 07HMC053, 07JMC064, 07JMC069,

• 07JMC070, 07JMC071, 07XMC055, 07XMC058, 07XMC062, 08AMC002,

• 08AMC005, 08CMC026, 08DMC029, 08EMC037, 08EMC039, 08FMC044,

• 08FMC045, 08GMC050, 08GMC053, 08GMC063, 08GMC065, 08JMC103,

• 08JMC109, 08JMC110, 08JMC111, 08KMC124, 08KMC127, 08KMC131,

• 08KMC132, 08XMC093, 08XMC094, 08XMC095, 09AMC010, 09CMC041,

• 09EMC075, 09EMC079, 09EMC076, 09GMC096, 09GMC097, 09GMC099,

• 09JMC118, 09JMC126, 09KMC133, 09KMC134, 09XMC114, 09XMC116

The FDA and McNeil Consumer Healthcare have reported that while side effects have been reported, they appeared to be only of a temporary nature and not serious in manner. However, intensive studies have not been completed about the health effects of the found chemical.

Tylenol Arthritis Caplets in Recall List was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Keeping Travel Incidentals Low

One way to cut costs is by bringing your medicine cabinet on the road with you – or at least a miniaturized version of it. Since the weather is unpredictable at this time of year, it is not uncommon, especially for kids, to come down with a cold or worse. Being on vacation with a sick child is not pleasant but it can be even more disastrous of you have a sick child (or adult) and nothing in your suitcase to help them feel better in the middle of the night.

In many places, there is no such thing as an all-night pharmacy and even if there is, you could up spending a lot of money on things you could have just as easily brought from home. Remember as you are packing up your suitcases and make up case, to prepare a first aid and medical travel kit for your family.

Some of the more common items you will want to include are:

• Thermometers
• Acetaminophen such as Tylenol in both adult and child strength
• Ibuprofen
• Cold medicine
• Cough drops/sore throat spray
• Band-aids
• First Aid Cream
• Antibacterial towlettes
• Hydrocortizone for itch relief
• Insect repellent if you are going somewhere warm
• Lip Moisturizer
• Diaper rash cream if your child is in diapers
• Tissues
• Gauze pads
• Motion sickness tablets for car or boat trips
• Gum for chewing during airline flights to help keep ears open

Also remember to pack any prescribed medications that you have access to immediately whether you are traveling by plane or by car. You might want to include a list of medication prescriptions and your physician’s phone number in the event you lose any of your prescribed medications. You should also ensure you have copies of medical insurance cards for each member of your family.

If you leave your house prepared, your trips to the convenience store will be limited and you will be able to keep more cash in your pocket to enjoy your vacation. The kids and adults alike will be able to feel better without extra stress of finding medicines or waiting for a store to open for business.

Update Your Supplies

When you arrive home after vacation, make sure you replenish any items you took from your case during your trip before you forget and then store the case with your suitcases. The next time you travel, the kit will be ready to go when you need it. If there is a significant period of time between trips, remember to use the medications before their expiration date or you will waste your money. Keep a simple list of the contents of your medical kit and the dates of expiration on your refrigerator to remind you what you have if you should need it.

Create A Traveling Medical Kit and Save Money was created by and is property of American Consumer News.