http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/alcoholism_pill.html
Summary
This news talks about a new pill, Topamax which might help alcoholics to reduce their desire of liquor. However, promoting the medicine would face some difficulties. For example, it would cause some aftereffects and we would not know something will happen after stopping taking it. In addition, the researchers did an experiment to observe the result,
and one man had succeeded to quit alcohol. But Topamax still has a few defects that other experts do not agree on.
Words
taper off: to become gradually smaller or less frequent
migraine: severe continuous pain in the head, often with vomiting and difficulty in seeing
detox: medical treatment in a special hospital to stop someone drinking too much alcohol or taking harmful drugs:
rehab: the process of helping someone to stop taking drugs or alcohol
dizziness: feeling as if everything is spinning round and being unable to balance and about to fall down
manuscript: the original copy of a book or article before it is printed
placebo: a substance given to someone who is told that it is a particular medicine, either to make them feel as if they are getting better or to compare the effect of the particular medicine when given to others:
relapse: to become ill or start behaving badly again, after making an improvement
sober: not drunk or affected by alcohol
stigma: when people disapprove of something, especially when this is unfair
patent: the official legal right to make or sell an invention for a particular number of years
Question and Answers
1. Q:How much money of Topamax?
A: The drug costs at least $350 a month, plus the price of doctor's visits.
2. Q:What might happen if you take the drug, Topamax?
A :Trouble concentrating, tingling ,itching, drowsiness and dizziness.
3. Q: What symptom did Tom Wolfe have when he took the medicine first?
A: He felt a little lightheaded but recovered when he got used to Topamax.
4. Q: What obstacles does Topamax have?
A: Its maker’s paten will become overdue next year, so they have no extra money to advertise it.
5. Q: Does the Ortho-McNeil cultivate some new use of Topamax?
A: NO, but it keeps supporting other studies.
