Sandra Levy

Medicated skin care products are highlighted in this stockchecker article by the Hamacher Group.

Consultant pharmacists applaud CMS' guidelines on nursing home surveyors one year after State Operations Manual guidelines become effective.

Drug Topics conducted an exclusive OTC survey for cough, cold and flu products.

Pharmacy chains are expecting a bright holiday sales season for 2007.

New over-the-counter formulations

Among the questions asked were what is expected for sales, salaries, and staffing for 2008.

Indepedent pharmacies expect holiday 2007 to be an excellent sales year. This article describes some of the gifts and decorations they will be selling.

A group of researchers at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy recently submitted a citizen's petition asking the Food & Drug Administration to increase the maximum allowable dose of phenylephrine (PE) from 10 mg to 25 mg and to withdraw approval of phenylephrine for children under 12 years of age. The petition also called for additional research to validate the safety and effectiveness of the higher recommended dose.

When Carl Dew was in the seventh grade, his teacher asked the class to practice filling out a job application. "I wrote the application to Lane Drug Co. in Knoxville," said Dew, owner of Corner Drug Store in Lake City, Tenn.

Pharmacists appear pleased with the Food & Drug Administration's recent decision to allow orlistat 60-mg capsules to go over the counter (OTC) in the United States. (See Latebreakers, Feb. 19.) The OTC version, to be marketed by GlaxoSmithKline beginning this summer under the brand name alli, is for use by overweight adults 18 years and older in conjunction with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet.

The House of Representatives recently passed a measure to increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour from its current rate of $5.15 an hour over a 26-month period. The Senate is expected to move swiftly to pass a similar measure. How will the hike affect chain and independent pharmacies?

Congress just passed and President Bush signed the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act (S. 3546), also known as the Adverse Event Reports (AER) bill. The legislation will amend the federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act to require manufacturers to report "serious" adverse events for OTC drugs and dietary supplements to the Food & Drug Administration. The law becomes effective one year after its passage on Dec. 26.

Osteoporosis occurs most commonly in postmenopausal women, and the incidence increases with age. This concern has prompted the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) to issue a new evidence-based position statement on the role of calcium in peri- and postmenopausal women.

Retailers may want to make room for a variety of OTCs that feature unique formulations. Here's a preview of the over-the-counter items manufacturers are releasing:

Picture this scenario: Family medicine residents complete a four-week rotation in a pharmacy, where they learn about the importance of collaborating with pharmacists to improve patient care. They also learn about over-the-counter medicines and how to write prescriptions.

The Transportation Security Administration's recently revised ban on certain health and beauty care and over-the-counter items has baffled, frustrated, and inconvenienced many air travelers. But not Jodi Nass.

Manufacturers are busy churning out a slew of over-the-counter and health and beauty care items infused with flavors, botanicals, nutraceuticals, and other natural ingredients.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently selected 11 national organizations to accredit suppliers of DMEPOS (durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies) under Medicare Part B.

The recent news that CVS and pharmacy benefit manager Caremark Rx are hooking up (Drug Topics, Nov. 20) didn't come as a surprise to pharmacy insiders. What does the industry think of the $21 billion agreement?

Drugstore customers who are rewards program members are more likely to have spent more money in the past six months than those not involved in a rewards program, according to a new on-line survey conducted by Maritz Research for Maritz Loyalty Marketing.

Rising gasoline prices have drained consumers' wallets this year. The housing market is losing steam. The war in Iraq is dragging on. Still, chains and independents are optimistic that consumers will fill Santa's sleigh with gifts plucked from their shelves. The National Retail Federation's (NRF) annual Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey offers plenty of reasons for retailers to celebrate.

Pharmacists hope a new Congress will roll back reimbursement cutbacks that were originally slated

In 2005, over 3.4 billion prescriptions were filled-a jump of 59% since 1995. This good news comes from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation's recently released 2006 Chain Pharmacy Industry Profile.

Manufacturers are churning out yet another barrage of OTCs. Here's a peek.

Pharmacists Planning Service Inc. (PPSI) has submitted a citizen's petition to the Food & Drug Administration to regulate the labeling and packaging of acetaminophen/APAP-containing products so that the label states, "Contains acetaminophen. Do not take with any other acetaminophen/ APAP." PPSI is also asking that no more than 50 tablets be sold in a bottle and that the FDA mandate a MedGuide.

As the pharmacy community complies with the Drug Enforcement Administration's interim final rule on retail sales of pseudoephedrine-related products, pharmacy and retail associations are preparing to send their comments to the agency outlining their members' concerns.

Picture this: A patient who is taking the blood-thinning medication Coumadin (warfarin sodium, Bristol-Myers Squibb) visits his community pharmacy to have his blood checked. The pharmacist makes sure his dosage is correct and that his blood isn't getting too thin or too thick.

Going the extra mile. Bending over backwards to serve. That's what sets some independent pharmacies apart. To learn who these standouts are, Drug Topics once again invited wholesalers across the United States to nominate their independent pharmacy customers that excel in four categories.

With dramatic demographic shifts under way in this country, pharmacies should tailor their marketing to multiethnic groups.

It looks like pharmacies will have to make room for yet another slew of new over-the-counter items. Take a peek at these cutting-edge products