You are on your way to a sales meeting with the chief of staff at
a major hospital. You have just received an e-mail from the person you are
to meet with.
He wants you to give a presentation on your company's
latest product to the entire medical staff at the hospital. That's 55
doctors and registered nurses!
You decide to use the sales material
your company has provided and come up with a presentation based on that information.
You know that the hospital specializes in treating the elderly.
You
decide to focus on two of your company's products aimed at preventing
and treating strokes. Here's the basic information:
Pravachol
(pravastatin sodium) is prescribed to patients who have high levels of cholesterol
that cannot be controlled through diet and exercise alone.
For patients
with normal cholesterol and a previous heart attack, Pravachol is used to
reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks. It also reduces the risk of stroke.
Heart surgery, such as a bypass or angioplasty, may not be necessary.
For
patients with high cholesterol and evidence of coronary heart disease, Pravachol
is used to slow the progression of atherosclerosis. It also helps to reduce
the risk of recurrent heart attacks.
For patients with high cholesterol
and no previous heart attacks, Pravachol is used to reduce the risk of heart
attacks. Also, it reduces the risk of death from heart disease and the risk
of undergoing heart surgery.
Pravachol is a prescription drug. You
should ask your doctor or health-care professional if Pravachol is right for
you. As with most medications, Pravachol isn't for everyone. People who
should avoid it include women who are pregnant or nursing, or may become pregnant,
people who are allergic to any of its ingredients or anyone with liver disease.
Your
doctor may do simple blood tests to check your liver function before and during
treatment with Pravachol. Some mild side effects, such as a slight rash or
stomach upset, occur in about two to four percent of patients.
Muscle
pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect. It should
be reported to your doctor right away. Be sure your doctor knows about other
medications that you may be taking in order to avoid any possible drug interactions.
(Product
description used by permission from Bristol-Myers Squibb.)