Rx Note

Introduction Lactose intolerance is usually due to a deficiency of the digestive enzyme in the small bowel mucosa, resulting in lactose malabsorption. Symptoms Incompletely absorbed lactose is subsequently fermented by bacteria in the large bowel causing Abdominal pain Bloating Flatulence Watery diarrhoea Occasionally, nausea and vomiting Symptoms associated with lactose ingestion are not always due to lactose deficiency; they may be due to rapid transit of lactose through the small bowel. Lactase deficiency can be primary with delayed onset (i.e. adult lactase deficiency), secondary or congenital. Delayed-onset primary lactase deficiency may begin from 7 years of age. Differential Diagnosis The diagnosis is suspected based on dietary history. The differential diagnosis includes physiologically incomplete absorption of simple carbohydrates (e.g., sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, fructose, FODMAP) and therapeutic inhibitors of carbohydrate absorption (e.g., acarbose), which can cause sympt...

Introduction When a pharmaceutical company successfully develops a new drug, the drug is initially covered under patent protection , which means that only the pharmaceutical company is allowed to manufacture, market the drug and eventually make profit from it. Once the patent has expired, the drug can only then be manufactured and sold by other companies as generic drug . Have you ever wondered how long more before a drug will finish patent and generic drugs will be available? If yes, where can we find this information? From Medicine to Patent Status There are few FREE websites through which we can find out patent status. Patent Register from Health Canada For patents of drugs registered in Canada Medspal Provides information on the patent and licensing status of selected HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and other patented medicines in low- and middle-income countries Orange Book For patents of approved drug products marketed in US. Click till "Patent and Exclusively Information...