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New Delhi: The Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in India has approved Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, an active ingredient in the popular drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound. Last year, the US FDA approved Zepbound for treating obesity in adults.

All About Tirzepatide

The drug ,developed by Eli Lilly and Company, is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. It’s sold under the brand names Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss. In India, it will be imported and marketed for diabetes treatment, with the obesity indication still under review. Tirzepatide is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics these hormones to help regulate blood sugar levels.

How Does Work?

Tirzepatide stimulates insulin release from the pancreas after meals, lowering blood sugar levels. It also reduces the release of glucagon, a hormone that increases blood sugar, thereby decreasing glucose production by the liver. Additionally, it slows stomach emptying, reducing the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream after a meal. This helps control post-meal blood sugar spikes. Tirzepatide also acts on the brain’s appetite centers, reducing hunger and food intake, potentially aiding in weight loss.

Are There Any Side Effects?

While effective in managing type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide can have side effects. Common ones include nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Serious side effects might include pancreatitis, low blood sugar if used with other medications, allergic reactions, severe stomach problems, vision changes, and gallbladder issues. It’s crucial to inform your healthcare provider if any side effects occur.

Precautions

• Usage: Your healthcare provider should demonstrate how to use Mounjaro before the first time.
• Low Blood Sugar: Discuss low blood sugar management with your provider.
• Birth Control: Oral birth control pills may be less effective with Mounjaro. Consult your provider.
• Regulatory Review: Eli Lilly’s CEO, David Ricks, mentioned that Mounjaro might launch in India by 2025 after regulatory review.

Tirzepatide represents a promising advancement in diabetes and weight loss management, offering significant benefits alongside manageable side effects.

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The primary focus of the meeting was to resolve staffing issues at the clinics. Following the meeting, the minister took to social media to emphasize that steps would be taken immediately to ensure that all staffing shortages are resolved quickly.

The first Mohalla Clinic under the Aam Aadmi Party Government’s flagship scheme was inaugurated in July 2015 at Rajiv Gandhi JJ Punjabi Colony, a relief camp in the Peeragarhi area of West Delhi. The clinics are part of a broader initiative to provide accessible and affordable healthcare to the residents of Delhi.

Bhardwaj’s commitment to addressing staffing shortages underscores the government’s dedication to improving healthcare services in the city. The Mohalla Clinics have been a critical component of Delhi’s healthcare system, offering free primary healthcare services, including consultations, medicines, and diagnostic tests, to millions of residents.

As the government continues to expand this initiative, ensuring adequate staffing levels at these clinics remains a top priority. The swift action promised by the health minister is expected to enhance the clinics’ efficiency and effectiveness, thereby better serving the healthcare needs of Delhi’s population.

By addressing these issues, the Delhi government aims to reinforce the success of the Mohalla Clinic model and continue to provide high-quality healthcare services to all citizens.

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Named the Guru Harkishan Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Kidney Dialysis Hospital, this facility commenced its services on March 7 and is committed to offering free-of-cost treatment to patients, as stated by the DSGMC.

During the launch event, prominent farmer leader Rakesh Tikait commended the Sikh community for initiating a project that extends free services to everyone. Tikait expressed his surprise at the project’s prolonged timeline, emphasizing the Sikh community’s reputation for completing projects efficiently.

DSGMC President Manjinder Singh Sirsa, addressing the gathering, highlighted that all services in this highly advanced hospital are provided entirely free of charge, with no billing or payment counter. The DSGMC plans to leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions from corporate entities and individuals willing to support such initiatives, along with various government schemes, to sustain the facility.

Sirsa shared the news on Twitter, along with several images of the facility, stating, “Now there will be no need to spend a lot of money on dialysis! The country’s most modern and largest kidney dialysis hospital, built by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, has been dedicated to humanity today.”

Sukhbir Singh Badal, President of Shiromani Akali Dal and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, congratulated the DSGMC on this “noble venture” via social media. He praised the Sikh tradition of service, expressing humility and acknowledging the significant contribution of the DSGMC in opening India’s largest kidney dialysis hospital, which provides free services to all patients—a commendable service to humanity.

Another example is Eliglustat capsules, an imported drug for Gaucher’s disease, which incurs an annual cost ranging from Rs 1.8 to 3.6 crore. In contrast, the domestically manufactured version of this medicine will be priced between three to six lakh rupees. Trientine capsules, used in the treatment of Wilson’s disease, cost Rs 2.2 crore annually through imports, but the domestically produced medication will be available at only Rs 2.2 lakh per year.

For the drug Cannabidiol, utilized in treating Gravel-Lennox Gastaut syndrome, the import cost ranges from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 34 lakh annually. However, the domestically manufactured version is expected to be available in the range of one to five lakh rupees. Additionally, Hydroxyurea Syrup, a medication for sickle cell Anemia, is anticipated to be commercially available starting March 2024, with a potential price of Rs 405 per vial. Presently, the 100 ml vial of this drug costs $840, approximately Rs 70,000.

These medications were not previously manufactured in India. The government’s decision aims to encourage domestic companies to produce generic medicines used in the treatment of rare diseases. The initiative, launched in July 2022, involved discussions with various stakeholders, including the pharmaceutical industry, CDSCO, and the department of pharmaceuticals. Among the 13 prioritized rare diseases, sickle cell Anemia was included in the talks between pharmaceutical companies and the Drugs Controller General of India, culminating in the recent approval of these drugs.

New Delhi : China, grappling with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, is now confronting a new and mysterious pneumonia outbreak spreading among school children. This concerning situation, reminiscent of the initial stages of the COVID crisis, has resulted in a significant rise in hospital admissions, posing a serious threat to the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

Hospitals in Beijing and Liaoning, situated 500 miles northeast, are under immense strain as they struggle to manage a surge in cases among sick children. Reports from local media indicate that school closures may be imminent due to the escalating outbreak. The affected children exhibit unusual symptoms, including lung inflammation and high fever, but notably lack the typical cough and other indicators associated with flu, RSV, and other respiratory conditions.

On Tuesday evening, ProMed, an open-access surveillance platform monitoring global disease outbreaks in humans and animals, issued an alert regarding the emergence of an epidemic involving “undiagnosed pneumonia,” particularly affecting children. It is worth noting that a ProMed alert issued in late December 2019 played a crucial role in providing an early warning about a novel virus, later identified as SARS-CoV-2. This alert played a pivotal role in informing medical professionals, scientists, and officials at the World Health Organization about the emerging threat.

In an editor’s note, ProMed stated, “This report suggests a widespread outbreak of an undiagnosed respiratory illness… It is not at all clear when this outbreak started, as it would be unusual for so many children to be affected so quickly. The report does not say that any adults were affected, suggesting some exposure at the schools.”

While it is too early to predict whether this situation could escalate into another pandemic, the uncertainties surrounding the outbreak echo a sentiment expressed by a seasoned influenza virologist who once remarked, “The pandemic clock is ticking; we just do not know what time it is.” This development raises concerns about the potential implications for public health and demands a vigilant and proactive response to contain and understand the nature of the outbreak.

The health benefits of drinking water are well documented, but more isn’t always better.

A Vanity Fair article sharing details of Chris Pratt’s intense fitness and nutrition routine sparked concern recently due to the alarming amount of water the actor was said to drink daily.

The publication originally reported that Chris Pratt drinks 200 cups of water a day. However, they later amended the article, explaining that Pratt actually drinks around an ounce of water per pound of his body weight – and was advised to do so by a nutritionist.

Given that Pratt weighs over 200lbs, that’s more than 5.6 liters of water a day. Some experts say this is a dangerous amount and could result in water poisoning.

Water poisoning, or water intoxication as it’s also known, became a talking point over the summer when many people ended up with the unpleasant condition after trying the 75 Hard TikTok challenge.

As well as encouraging people to develop other somewhat extreme health and fitness habits, the trend involves drinking 3.7 liters a day – an amount that could make you sick.

What are the health risks of drinking too much water?

Drinking water is shown to aid weight loss, increase physical energy levels, and enhance brain function, but it turns out you can be too hydrated.

Bari Stricoff, a registered dietitian at WellEasy, says she’s “taken aback” by the claims that Pratt is chugging more than 5.6 liters of water a day.

“It’s a significant amount of water, even for someone who is active and weighs over 200 pounds,” she says. “Drinking based on the ‘one ounce per pound’ formula might work for some but it’s not typically advisable and can be quite dangerous.”

Drinking too much water can lead to a dangerous condition known as hyponatremia. Essentially, hyponatremia is an imbalance where there’s an abnormally low concentration of sodium in the blood.

Stricoff says this is dangerous because sodium is an essential electrolyte that plays a pivotal role in maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions.

“Sodium helps to regulate the amount of fluid inside and outside of our cells, and when sodium levels in the blood become dangerously low, water moves from the blood into our cells to try and balance out the concentration. This influx causes cells to swell,” she explains.

When your cells swell, you can experience many unpleasant – and in some cases – life-threatening side effects. These include:

• nausea and vomiting
• headache
• fatigue
• lethargy
• muscle cramps
• muscle spasms

On the more extreme end of the spectrum, you could have a seizure or even end up in a coma.

If you were to continue drinking excessive amounts of water in the long term, chronic hyponatremia is a risk.

“Over time, consistently low sodium levels can have detrimental effects,” Stricoff warns. “These include neurological issues such as persistent headaches, cognitive disturbances, and in severe cases, neurological damage.”

According to Jane Hutton, nutritionist at The Functional Foodie, making a habit of drinking too much water can also put a strain on your kidneys and accelerate a decline in kidney function over time.

“Excessive fluid intake can go beyond needing the bathroom, impacting fluid concentrations within the body and cells and electrolyte ratios and placing extra pressure on the kidneys,” she notes.

“If we are drinking more than our kidneys can deal with, the excess has to go somewhere and it will be distributed into the tissues and intracellular fluids, and into cells, diluting the electrolytes and throwing off how we function.”

How much water should you drink per day?

You’ve likely heard that you should drink eight glasses or two liters of water a day. In reality, there is no hard and fast rule as to how much water you should drink every day. It’s actually highly individual and depends, in part, on your lifestyle.

Looking at Pratt’s water drinking habits specifically, Stricoff says when deciding how much fluid you need a day, you must consider the broader context of your life.

“The intensity and duration of Pratt’s workouts, his possible use of recovery methods like saunas, and even environmental factors like heat can all impact hydration needs. For example, if he was residing in a hot environment or it was summertime, higher water intake would be more justifiable,” she notes.

Still, 5.6 liters or more a day is an excessive amount for most people. Given the variability in individual needs, Stricoff says a more tailored approach is best.

You’ll need to consider factors like your body composition. “Larger individuals or those with more muscle mass typically require more fluids than smaller individuals or those with a higher fat percentage,” Stricoff points out.

Being physically active and living in hot, humid conditions may also mean you need to drink more to feel hydrated, while certain health conditions, like diabetes, can also increase thirst.

One of the biggest factors influencing your level of hydration is your diet.

“Diet and other general habits tend to govern what we drink. For example, if you eat fresh fruit and veg, water is a component of those which counts towards your intake,” Hutton explains.

On the flip side, if you eat a lot of spicy or salty foods you might find you’re more thirsty.

How to gauge your hydration levels

Deciding how much water you need to drink a day involves some trial and error and it’s not always easy to tell if you’ve had too much or too little.

“The color of your urine is the best indicator,” says Hutton. “A straw-like color is about right. Too pale, and you’re drinking too much. Too dark, and you probably need to drink a little more.”

“Remember, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated, so it’s best to try to have a drink with each meal or snack, and maybe a medium bottle of water to sip throughout the day,” she adds.

How often you need to urinate can also tell you a lot about how hydrated you really are.

“On average, a well-hydrated individual might urinate every 3-4 hours. If it’s less frequent and in smaller amounts, it could signal dehydration,” Stricoff says.

Conversely, if one finds themselves urinating every hour or even more frequently this could be a sign that you’ve taken things to the extreme.

Takeaway

Ultimately, hydration is a key factor in staying healthy, but it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.

One of the best indicators of your hydration levels lies in how you feel.

“You should feel calm, energetic, and clear-headed, not constantly rushing to the loo,” Hutton surmises.

So, the age-old adage of everything in moderation still rings true — even for something seemingly as harmless as drinking water.