Posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 4:42:41
....Was a headline in the newspaper I read yesterday! (Dailymail)
Its Alprazolam. The experiemental gel code-named AP-1002, gradually seeps through the skin and into the system over several hours.
They've taken (Antares Pharma) alprazolam and turned it into a gel that uses a lower dose of the drug, but could be just as effective as the tablets.
The gel is applied once a day using a device called a metered dose pump. This hand held gadget delievers a precise amount of the gel every single time, so that the dosage will not vary.
Once the colourless gel is applied to the arms, shoulders or abdomen, it takes two mintues for the surface to dry.....over 24 hours it gradually releases small quantities of alprazplam through to the blood stream.
So far the gel has been tested on animal studies and clinical trials will be needed..
It could be available in the next couple of years.
Professor Heather Ashton (psychiatrist) said the gel was an interesting develepment but questioned if it was really needed.
"Alprazolam is a very potent drug which you need to take 3 times a day and can be dependent on"
"You can prescribe it privitely in the UK but not on the NHS. In the US they use it to excess."
"We already have long acting drugs such as diazepam, which are really just as effective."
Ashton is clearly a benzo phobic.
I think it shows some extreams though which are not right...The UK are very afraid of prescribing drugs...but across the water in the US there widely available.
Kind regards
Nick
poster:Nickengland
thread:542839
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050816/msgs/542839.html