Chantix Linked to Suicide

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking into reports that the anti-smoking drug Chantix may trigger mood swings and thoughts of suicide in patients taking it.
Information provided to the agency by Chantix manufacturer, Pfizer Inc. cited "erratic behavior" in an individual who had used Chantix. The agency is also investigating the death of the person who used the drug, but was also under the influence of alcohol.
The FDA has asked Pfizer for any additional information it has on reports of adverse reactions in people taking the drug. Its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research is analyzing the data and plans to release its findings to the public once the analysis is completed.
In the meantime, the agency recommends that health care providers monitor patients taking Chantix. Patients taking Chantix should contact their doctors if they experience behavior or mood changes, the FDA said.
The FDA also advises that patients taking Chantix use caution when driving or operating machinery due to reports of drowsiness.
From Foxnews
Ultimately, I don't think this is going to pan out. I don't think that Chantix causes suicide. However, in the short term I forsee further declines in Pfizer's stock price. Currently, it's just above its 52 week low. I think Pfizer will be a good buy at around 20, and recommend waiting until then to buy Pfizer.

Doctors in Debt

Cnn.com Business Section presents a case study of 2 residents deeply in debt:

It's all supposed to pay off, of course. Once they become full-fledged doctors (attending physicians, in the trade), they'll have six-figure incomes, more reasonable hours, a respected occupation and work that they love.
But for this generation of doctors, and for Meg and Chris in particular, financial security won't come guaranteed with their medical licenses. As health-care economics squeeze physician salaries, rising college and med school tuitions are putting young doctors ever deeper in the hole.
Chris and Meg live frugally, work hard and are making the kind of investments in their future that would make any parent proud. But they're also on track to finish their medical training in the next few years with a staggering $700,000 in debt.

Drug Company Lunches

I once sneezed all over a fresh pan of Olive Garden lasagna multiple times. The big, fat office hogs never noticed. They sucked it down like there was no tomorrow.
Read this site before you eat any more drug company lunches.
( via Kevin MD)

Getting Spanked

More banks brace for subprime spanking
I saw this headline in the green section of USAToday this morning.

Rather unprofessional language for a major newspaper. Within a few years we'll probably be reading about the Dow being "bitch-slapped" in the pages of USAToday ("bitch-slapped" is probably a good term to describe today's 55 point drop).

The death of sleep medicine

Please see my post on sleepdoctor about portable testing for obstructive sleep apnea.

I wish to thank Kevin, M.D. for linking to it.

Mississippi's Governor

Mississippi's Governor, Haley Barbour, has been ranked as one of the country's most influential conservatives:
About to be comfortably re-elected as Mississippi governor, Barbour is one of the most accomplished Republican executives in the United States. As a successful Southern governor with immense experience, he is a potential future presidential candidate who would be a clever pick for vice-presidential running mate in 2008. Received national plaudits for his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated Mississippi's Gulf coast, while neighbouring Louisiana's Democratic governor floundered.Barbour, 60, has cut his state's budget deficit in half without raising taxes and used the skills he honed as a Washington lobbyist to good effect in winning over a Democratic-led state legislature. A highly successful chair of the Republican National Committee, Barbour helped lay the foundations for the Republican Revolution and the takeover of Congress in 1994.
(via Drudge)