Stick with medications under FDA supervision
Q: Congress passed a “Right toTry” bill, which means that people who are terminally ill can try newdrugs without Food and DrugAdministration approval. That’s a good thing, right?— Joseph B., Columbus, Ohio
A: No, it’s not a good thing (except, we say, perhaps in extreme cases). And more than100 medical and consumer organizations say so, too! A doctor’s oath is to do no harm, and this bill turns a particularly vulnerable part of our population into human guinea pigs. Without the oversight of the Food and Drug Administration, experimental drugs and therapies can inflict terrible harm.
The backers of this bill (TrickettWendler, FrankMongiello, JordanMcLinn andMatthew Bellina, Right to Try Act of 2017) claim that it provides a pathway for folks with life-threatening medical issues who have run out of treatment options to access experimental medications and procedures.
But the opponents of this bill— the American Cancer Society, the Cancer ActionNetwork, American Society of Clinical Oncology and many other medical groups— expressed strong opposition in an open letter to theHouse speaker and the minority leader of the House of Representatives. They pointed out that “creating a secondary pathway for accessing investigational therapies outside of clinical trials ... removes FDA approval and consultation, and would not increase access to promising therapies for our patients ...” They also said:
The FDA approves more than 99 percent of requests for access to investigational therapies for over a thousand patients each year who face life-threatening conditions.
Because all clinical trials have well-maintained records, researchers are able to develop important dosing and safety improvements as the trials progress. Remove that info froma patient, and you threaten his or herwellbeing, instead of improving it. The Right to Try bill removes FDA safeguards thatwould protect patients fromthe potential harm of unproven and unsafe therapies.
So what to do? To find a clinical trial that pertains to a specific condition go to clinicaltrials.gov. To apply for access to an investigational therapy, Google “expanded access FDA” and read all the materials.
As for the “right to try”? It may be a benefit if you or a loved one is in the 1 percent who do get turned down for access to an investigational therapy and have no hope of survival.
Q: Why, when Iam outside for a summer barbeque, do I attract 10 times more mosquitoes than everybody else?— JohnnyD., Nashville, Tenn.
A: Lots of folks ask that question, andwe have a few possible answers. But first, put on some insect repellant! According to Sharecare.com spokesman Dr. Clifford Bassett, 40 percent of you don’t even use it! That’s a big mistake. Not only does insect repellantward off skeeters, it also repels ticks, jiggers and black flies (no-see-ums). The most effective insect repellants are the ones with 30 percent or more DEET or picaridin. If you don’twant to use DEET (no studies have shown adverse effects), natural repellants such as lemon, eucalyptus and geranium oils also are effective.
That said, about 20 percent of youmay be amember of that quick-to-itch subgroup for several reasons.
You’re a big target. Larger people, whether obese or pregnant, exhale more CO2, which is oneway mosquitoes target you.
You use alcohol. Any alcohol you have at the BBQcan make you more of a target, perhaps because of increased body temperature or sweat.
You eat specific cheeses. Eating cheeses like Limburger can attract mosquitos to you.
You sweat. Mosquitoes are attracted to the chemicals found in perspiration.
You have typeOblood. One study revealed that Aedes albopictus (one strain of mosquitoes) are 83.3 percent more likely to land on peoplewith typeOthan peoplewith type A, B or AB blood.
Solutions? Stick with sprayingDEET on long pants, sleeves and any areas where your skin is exposed. Consumer Reports tested clothes treated with the insecticide permethrin and found that none of themwas foolproof, plus the EPA classifies permethrin as a likely human carcinogen.
Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” andMike Roizen, M.D. is ChiefWellness Officer and Chair ofWellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen at youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.