FDA Updates

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy issued a report last week that called for international collaboration among regulators and other public agencies to help combat the ongoing problem of the online counterfeit drug supply.

What’s different in your drug stores this month? A battery-powered toothbrush for sensitive teeth and gums. A pivoting shower and bath safety grip bar. The smallest size (to date) fish oil softgels. Insoles for multiple shoe styles to help take care of various foot comfort problems. A yeast-based probiotic supplement. A “fishless†omega-3 product for vegetarians. And there are even more new over-the-counter items featured in the print edition of Drug Topics.

A round-up of OTC products to treat eye and ear problems

A survey of new Rx, new generic, and new OTC products

Patients treated with olmesartan may be at risk of a severe form of spruelike enteropathy, which improves when the drug is discontinued, according to a case series study published online June 25 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Older women with acute pyelonephritis can be successfully and safely treated with oral ciprofloxacin for 7 days, according to a study published online June 21 in The Lancet.

Vitamin D plus calcium supplementation consistently reduced mortality among elderly patients compared with vitamin D supplementation alone, according to a study published online May 17 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Brightly colored prescription warning labels applied by pharmacies fail to adequately capture the attention of older patients, suggesting that current labeling standards should be reconsidered to make them more effective, according to a study published online June 14 in PLoS ONE.

What's different in your drug stores this month? An omega-3 product for vegetarians. A no-mess scar-diminishing serum. New, more affordable toothpastes that are gentle on sensitive teeth. An omega-3 that also contains vitamin D3. A portable grip bar for shower and bath safety. An appetite suppressant that is enhanced with antioxidants. And there are even more new over-the-counter items featured in the print edition of Drug Topics.

A survey of new Rx, new generic, and new OTC products

A round-up of OTC products to help manage skin problems

U.S. Marshals recently seized misbranded Global Biotechnologies dietary supplements at the request of the FDA, and per a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, according to an FDA statement.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may prevent the development of skin cancer, according to a new study, published online first in the journal Cancer on May 29.

A survey of new Rx, new generic, and new OTC products

A round-up of OTC products to manage allergies

What's different in your drug stores this month? A new source of iron in a prenatal multivitamin supplement drink. Healing lotion that contains aloe and vitamin E to protect skin from dryness. A topical pain reliever that is applied like a deodorant and stored in the freezer. For those year-round coughs and colds, a soothing, non-drowsy liquid formula. An omega-3, 6, 9 vitamin to support the body's natural anti-inflammatory response. Yogurt-based products that help quench the skin's "moisture-thirsty" cells. And there are even more new over-the-counter items featured in the print edition of Drug Topics.

California pharmacists would be able to better assist patients with increasingly more complicated over-the-counter assessment tests if the state?s Senate approves new legislation, according to Jon Roth, CEO, California Pharmacists Association.

Help is at the ready for the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic and acute pain.

A survey of new Rx, new generic, and new OTC products

Daily supplementation with antioxidants, vitamins E and C, and alpha acid, did not improve memory function in patients with Alzheimer?s disease, according to a new study.

Aspirin can reduce the risk for cancer-related mortality and can reduce or prevent the risk for distant metastasis, according to 3 new studies published online by The Lancet and The Lancet Oncology.

The American Pharmacists Association and the National Community Pharmacists Association supported a new nonprescription class of drugs at FDA?s public hearing last week.

What’s different in your drug stores this month? Your customers who are allergic to antibiotic ointments and creams will find a new first aid gel that’s antibiotic-free. There’s a prenatal dietary supplement with 450 mg of DHA. Men can check their sperm count at home with a new 10-minute tes,t and women will find a laxative that’s made just for them. A familiar brand of mouthwash has been made even stronger. And a new dipeptide product supports healthy aging.

Postmenopausal women with higher intake of trans fat were associated with a higher incidence of ischemic stroke but aspirin may reduce the adverse effects of trans fat, according to a new study

Feet were the No. 1 body part to experience pain, even more so than the teeth or skin, survey responders admitted. Help is on the way.

Experts caution that many unregulated over-the-counter fish oil products have little benefit, with some having no benefit at all.

A survey of new Rx, new generic, and new OTC products

There are no beneficial effects of supplementation with relatively low doses of B vitamins and/or omega-3 fatty acids on cancer outcomes in individuals with prior cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online February 13 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.