Levitra

For Navy Cmdr.

Mark A.

Richerson, director of the Defense Department's Pharmacoeconomic Center, patient behavior with this and other drug classes moved on the formulary show the powerful effect of raising co-pays.

What we learned, he said, is co-pays do change "market share.

Patients will switch." That confirmation is important, Richerson suggested during the Tricare conference, because getting 6.6 million current users of the military pharmacy benefit to make more cost-effective choices is critical to department plans to lower soaring pharmacy costs.

In fiscal 2005, defense spending on outpatient pharmacy services hit $5.4 billion, up 80 percent in three years.

But at least the rate is trending down, Richerson noted.

In fiscal 2003, outpatient drugs costs rose by 27.5 percent.

The increase was 21.8 percent in 2004 and 15.5 percent last year.

And for the first time in recent memory, outpatient drug costs in military treatment facilities actually fell last year, by 5.2 percent or $89 million....

"They've gone soft.

Super Bowl XL sure don't stand for 'extra large' in my book." According to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, the league has had "growing concerns" for some time over the thrust of ads for ED drugs.

"Their focus has shifted from a men's health perspective to a lifestyle-performance agenda," said Mr.

McCarthy.

"We felt the competition belonged on the field, not in some hot tub overlooking Laurel Canyon." NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue reinforced that sentiment.

"The Super Bowl is huge," said Mr.

Tagliabue.

"It's way big enough to sustain itself without the help of ED drugs or their advertisements." Although many men complained of a let down following the NFL's announcement, several women’s advocacy groups were pleased with the league's decision.

Men get Viagra, The popularity of erectile dysfunction ads during football games leads to what Ms.

Nomer calls "the postgame syndrome." "A lot of men take Cialis at halftime," Ms.

Nomer explained, "and by the time the game's over and their wives want to watch something else, the husbands...