nifedipine angina

NC wins $3.5 million from 4 drug makers

Four pharmaceutical companies will pay a total of $124 million nationally including $3.5 million to North Carolina as part of a major Medicaid fraud case, Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today.

Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., UDL Laboratories, Inc., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, and Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. agreed to the settlements to resolve claims that they underpaid rebates owed to Medicaid.

“Running up profits by underpaying Medicaid hurts patients and taxpayers,” Cooper said. “We’ll keep working to uncover fraud and make Medicaid abusers pay what they owe.”

Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides health insurance for the poor.

Mylan, UDL, AstraZeneca and Ortho McNeil had agreed to pay quarterly rebates to Medicaid based upon the amount of money that Medicaid paid for each company’s drugs. The precise amount of rebate owed is determined in part by whether a particular drug is considered an innovator drug or a non-innovator drug, with drug companies required to pay a higher rebate amount for innovator drugs.

North Carolina, several other states and the federal government alleged that these drug companies misclassified drugs so that they could pay less in rebates to the Medicaid Program.

Mylan and UDL agreed to pay $118 million to resolve allegations that they underpaid Medicaid rebates for several drugs, including nifedipine extended release tablets, which are used to treat angina and high blood pressure, and Bumetanide, which is used to treat adema. North Carolina will receive more than $3.3 million, nearly $3 million of which will go to fund federal and state Medicaid efforts. Approximately $414,000 of North Carolina’s total will go to the public schools.

AstraZeneca agreed to pay $2.6 million to resolve allegations that it underpaid rebates for Albuterol, a medication used to treat asthma and other breathing disorders. Of North Carolina’s share of $43,590, approximately $37,000 will go to fund federal and state Medicaid efforts in the state, and approximately $6,600 will go to the public schools.

Ortho McNeil agreed to pay $3.4 million to resolve allegations that it underpaid its rebates for Dermatop, which is used to treat skin conditions. North Carolina will receive approximately $216,000, $178,000 of which will go to federal and state Medicaid efforts and $38,000 of which will go to the public schools.

A National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units team negotiated with all four pharmaceutical companies on behalf of the 49 settling states and the District of Columbia. Cooper’s Medicaid Investigations Unit and the NC Division of Medical Assistance reached settlement agreements with the four companies on behalf of North Carolina’s Medicaid program.

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My sister has Systemic Lupus and the doctors are trying to give her a new drug?

The drug is called NIFEDIPINE (nye-FED-i-peen)

common uses: this medicine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure.some brands are also used to control angina (chest pain) it may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by the doctor .

Now should she take this drug if she does not have high blood pressure i have never heard of this drug before so any info would be great thanks

This medication is commonly used for Raynauld’s Syndrome associated with SLE. It can also have other benefits as many people with SLE have high blood pressure and angina either because of kidney damage or because of heart involvement with the Lupus.

To answer your question as to whether or not she should take it she should definately discuss this with her doctor. If she has Raynauld’s Syndrome (extreme numbness and tingling in the extremities, espeically the hands and feet when exposed to cold…they become very white…and painful) and this is a bothersome symptom then Nifedipine could be very beneficial. The question she needs to ask herself is…does the benefit of the drug outweigh the side effects and the mental depression that can often occur when having to take so many medications like many Lupus patients do. But in either case, she should talk with her doctor to tell him/her why she’s not going to take it or have any questions cleared up.

Good for you for helping in her care!

nifedipine angina

Filed under: Angina Pectoris

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