Bob Harper is pushing obscenely expensive Brilinta blood thinner

[Capnbob]

Bob Harper, the host of the Biggest Loser, who had a heart attack last year

Bob Harper host of Biggest Loser had a heart attack

Not really sure what kind of life he really leads, just goes to show you can seem healthy and not be at all! https://www.google.com/amp/s/kcra.relaymedia.com/amp/article/biggest-loser-host-bob-harper-recovering-after-heart-attack/8985805

is now the official celebrity face of Brilinta, a blood thinner that costs 40x what the standard treatment (clopidogrel/plavix) costs for a 1% ARR (Absolute Risk Reduction) in CV death events. The tag line is something like ‘My heart deserves Brilinta’ - the L’Oreal of anti-platelet drugs?

Just another example of how the Pharma-industrial complex works and one of the many reasons why healthcare costs are rising. Thanks Bob! Give people the wrong advice in terms of prevention, then push super expensive drugs for after avoidable CV events.

[ILoveBacon]

I just saw his commercial. I wasn’t aware that the cost was so high! This disgusts me.

[atomicspacebunny]

Question:
I’m considering taking vitamin K for my bones, but I take blood thinner (anti-coagulant) medication. Is there a problem taking both? …More

Something more to say about calcium homeostasis: the role of vitamin K2 in vascular calcification and osteoporosis.
CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin K2 deficiency has recently been recognized as a protagonist in the development of vascular calcification and osteoporosis. Data reported so far are promising and, dietary supplementation seems a useful tool to contrast these diseases. However, large studies or solid clinical correlations regarding vitamin K2 deficiency and its pathologic consequences are needed to confirm these preliminary experiences.

Effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on functional vitamin K deficiency in hemodialysis patients: a randomized trial. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that most hemodialysis patients have a functional vitamin K deficiency. More importantly, it is the first study showing that inactive MGP levels can be decreased markedly by daily vitamin K(2) supplementation. Our study provides the rationale for intervention trials aimed at decreasing vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients by vitamin K supplementation.

It’s Not Just About Calcium! Vitamins K2 & D3: Key Players in Bone & Cardiovascular Health

Real-time cell analysis of the inhibitory effect of vitamin K2 on adhesion and proliferation of breast cancer cells.

The Surprising Longevity Benefits of Vitamin K
“…Vitamin K is capable of opposing many of the leading causes of death in modern-day Americans—including atherosclerosis,3 osteoporosis,4 diabetes,5,6 and cancer2,7—because it has the unique ability to activate proteins involved in these conditions. …” NOTE: The statement above MAY apply to non-Ketosis lifestyle people and benefits MAY be multiplied in the absence of excessive sugar\glucose i.e. low sugar diet…?

Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc NOTE: hypothesis: …if Vitamin K does not get absorbed because of constant High Levels of Glucose then Chromium and Vanadium do not get absorbed (in proper ratios) ==> Insulin Resistance ==> Diabetes Mellitus?

3 Major Benefits of Vitamin K2

Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women: double-blind, randomised clinical trial (Knapen MHJ, et al.)

On the Trail of the Elusive X-Factor: A Sixty-Two-Year-Old Mystery Finally Solved

Top 10 Vitamin K Foods & Benefits of Foods High in Vitamin K

[Lueloff]

I’d ask your pharmacist about that- they are the experts.

[Gregg_Fischer]

Capnbob: You would 100% incorrect on cost as The manufacturer offers a program in which I’m paying just $5.00 for a 30 day supply. I need to be on it for one year and I’m five months into taking this drug. My total cost for the year is $60.00 and I can prove it.

[Capnbob]

Your particular insurance or other discount scheme is great for you but it costs about $200+ a month (maintenance dose) if you don’t get the $5 scheme (which is all part of the AstraZeneca trying-not-to-look-evil plan) but is far from the regular price. Given its marginal (if any) benefit over vastly cheaper drugs like Clopidogrel and even aspirin just be grateful for your discount but don’t imagine that’s what people/insurers/health services are really (over)paying for this drug.