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Dr. Nadya Swedan on who is being affected by the outbreak and how long it is expected to last
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With medication that was made that was tainted in some way and has led them to come down with a very rare form of meningitis.
Caught fumble.
Meningitis -- talk about this.
What it means what you need to know as we move forward.
Doctor Nadia so -- as if -- -- here in New York City and private practice and we're glad you're here you specialize in helping people.
With pain and those -- the very people who receive these bad medicines is that right tank.
Yes I think a lot of back pain and neck pain both of those are treated with buy -- at the Tehran injections that cause the problem that you don't.
Give epidural injections I personally don't but I prescribe them are teaming or not routinely I definitely work.
My way through the hopefully trying to avoid them with patients that have pain that when they have severe pain they can be -- very effective.
Remedy for back pain.
Talk to us about these medicines and about these pharmacies.
I mean I've been in this business for a long time and I never really paid much attention.
To something called compound pharmacies.
These are sort of specialty pharmacies that create these sort of custom.
Cocktails of medicine -- then shipped all over the country right.
That's right -- they can be very helpful they can produce very helpful products for certain combinations of mixtures and a lot of topical things I actually use -- topical product that is produced by pharmacy and that's how the old ways of pharmacy where the mortar -- mix up each.
That's her patient.
And the intention and -- this -- -- company the New England company company was supposed to do was state regulated not FDA regulated for.
Was for individual patient prescription.
And that was not what they were doing they were actually mass producing drugs and pretending to be a pharmaceutical company.
I've read a quote from a pharmacist to the game and -- the USA today.
This morning who said that this has been a concern in the in the industry for twenty years and he said it's only gonna get worse do you agree with that I.
I hope it doesn't get -- I hope that this is so big loud alarm.
To -- physicians.
Pharmacists and these senators and even the FDA.
I understand that the FDA tried to regulate compounding -- and they were shut down by.
Some state regulatory boards are not sure exactly what happened right well.
But we have what we want to show mappings eleven different states that I -- that is that where people have come down with.
Cases of fungal meningitis not all of these people who have gotten -- and in these cases have.
Oh these are the people who have died but there have been illnesses many more so than this people who have not succumb to it to the -- to the meningitis.
But you see that this is a pharmacy in Massachusetts and and yet these are people who've gotten sick and who have died.
In many different parts of the country.
It's it's really a tragedy it's just because it could have been prevented it was a contaminants.
So what is this what we know you talked about the state -- -- do we need more government oversight that we need the FDA.
To get in there and to regulate these -- -- I.
-- -- this is really believe that we do I mean we.
Trust and know the FDA to be -- it's not her best drive down they know how to regulate companies and makes things are being done.
Cleanly.
So that contaminants don't -- So for your patients.
Who come to you with back pain and neck pain and I'm sure that mean this is going to be one of the most common.
Things that you treat it's actually an opportunity come -- -- for -- people go to the doctor and so what -- in light of of this scare.
And in light of what we now know about these compound and pharmacies.
What are you what are your what are you advising your patients how are you changing your protocol how you treat people with these kinds of conditions.
Swells up fortunately for my patients I don't have to change anything because I -- use only deductibles from FDA approved companies.
And I'm I'm very particular about what I choose but I will tell you that.
You know I've worked in hospitals I've worked for orthopedic clinics prior to going out on my own.
And I never really questioned where the trucks came from now I am very particular about it.
And I did double check to make sure everything was Kosher -- FDA approved after that and I also.
Have been developed a new program for double checking the lot numbers of each product because you never know so it's nice to record that.
So I I'm hoping that all doctors will consider that -- at least keep a record you know it's -- to -- there's a lot number.
Each but I think -- -- patient he should ask your doctor what exactly medication is being used where it's coming from.
And you know there's been any histories from a supplier with problems.
Are there are other ways to treat these that this kind of thing you know there are other things -- union.
You hear a lot about eastern medicines and acupuncture and stuff like that do you think do you see people now gravitating perhaps as a result of this so you know what.
I'm not going down the -- we've checked the lot number we checked at all I don't care I don't want -- -- to do with these -- the bulls anymore.
Let me check out some alternative.
Treatments perhaps.
I love to discuss that -- my patients and I think that every doctor should and I think that that is a growing trend that patients are trying to avoid.
Procedures but you know the unfortunate thing is that these procedures actually are done to prevent surgery is surgery hasn't as a whole other host of complications to -- as well.
So you know they aren't very useful procedure I mean I don't think this is shut down the -- -- procedure I personally have had to.
And they've been tremendously helpful to me.
So.
I guess I think that had a patient needs to develop an awareness and be.
More preventive.
You know by taking care of themselves exercising and eating well all the good stuff and if you have pain.
See your doctor early and don't let it go too far because very often -- people just they just let go so far that then they're forced you know have to go for more serious procedure and it.
And if you could talk to he lawmakers in Washington.
You know what what is the role of of congress and and you know in something like this is there is there a role for.
For for lawmakers to play here to try to better protect.
The American people.
-- that is an extensive conversation I felt very strongly about.
Insurance companies.
Being these large corporations that are making a lot of money and now they -- even.
Regulating centers that they -- to limit what we do and how many tests we do and how many procedures we do.
Very often have to call them not even the insurance company to ask for -- approval and authorization for testing such as summarized and even some procedures and it's just become this terrible bureaucracy and money wasted instead of paying the doctors.
For their time.
-- you know not.
Charging patients an extraordinary amount.
You know doctors -- force if they're taking insurance they're forced to see more and more patients for shorter and shorter times that leaves a lot less time to double check where your medicine's coming from -- -- -- that number.
You know -- talk with the patient and explain to them how they can avoid.
Procedures or discuss the procedure and help them to understand their -- -- conversation you hate to see something like this happen.
But perhaps in some way there is a a good outcome and that it it forces folks to take a look at these issues in a way that we -- in the past in the meantime now once again the death tolls at fourteen.
And -- -- officials are racing track down.
About thirteen thousand people around the country who may have been exposed.
To these tainted medications.
