New Oral Appliance for OSA (Only Needs Heat to Fit)

A new sleep apnea oral appliance can be fitted and used at home without going to a dentist called ApneaRx!

Oral appliances to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have an upper and lower component that fit into the upper and lower jaws. A mechanism within the device than allows for the lower jaw to be thrust forward to some degree which pulls the tongue and anterior airway forward thereby enlarging the airway and preventing obstructive apneas during sleep. It can also help with snoring.

Typically, such OSA oral appliances must be fit by a dentist and cost upwards of $300 or more.

Most patients or loathe to spend that kind of money if they are not sure if:

1) It will actually help
2) It will be something they can actually tolerate or use

That's where this new OSA oral appliance called ApneaRx comes in which is considered a "transition" device to try and see if oral appliances will work for a given patient before going with an expensive dentist-fit customized oral appliance.

In essence, the device is heated and bitten into for fitting. The device can than be adjusted in 1mm increments by squeezing from the sides.

If this device "works" for a patient, they can either continue to use this device, or now take the time and expense of getting a customized device from a dentist.

Best of all, you can get it on Amazon!

However, please be aware that there's only one size currently available which may be too large for 20% of patients, especially women. There will soon be a smaller version for those with a smaller mouth by the end of 2012.

Read brochure.

Cheap Quality Prescriptions Thru Costco Pharmacy Mail Order

A patient recently brought this to my attention... but Costco Pharmacy offers very good prices on drugs, especially generics, even if a patient has no health insurance. Furthermore, you do NOT have to be a member to purchase these drugs! Even more importantly, the medications can be considered "good" unlike medications purchased from other online sources from Canada or Mexico.

For example, I searched for these drugs on 11/27/09 and these are the prices that came up:

Allegra 180mg
$79.19 for 30 (Brand Name)
$36.18 for 30 (generic)

Prilosec 20mg
$158.13 for 30 (Brand Name)
$15.18 for 30 (generic)

Flonase
$87.36 for 1 (Brand Name)
$15.28 for 1 (generic)

Of course, with insurance, these prices may be even cheaper!

Check it out here. Click on pharmacy at the top and than look for the "Prescription Price Checker" link.