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Americans 65 and older spent nearly $93 billion on prescription drugs in 2010. That’s not surprising. What may be surprising is that nearly 7 out of 10 of those dollars were spent in only a handful of drug classifications.

And the winner is? According to the website ValuePeguin, with its low cost-of-living and plentiful recreation, Gadsden, AL. is the best city for pharmacists.

Walgreens this week announced its Smart90 program, which will allow Express Scripts customers the option of receiving a 90-day supply of some medications either through the mail or in-store.

Rear Admiral Scott F. Giberson, this year’s recipient of the American Pharmacists Association’s Distinguished Federal Pharmacist of the Year Award, recently became Acting Deputy U.S. Surgeon General.

FDA this week advised consumers not to buy or use the vitamin B dietary supplement Healthy Life Chemistry By Purity First B-50 after laboratory analysis found the supplement contains two potentially harmful anabolic steroids.

Nova Diabetes Care voluntarily recalled 21 lots of the Nova Max Glucose Test Strips because they may report a false, abnormally high blood glucose result. Such false results could lead to insulin dosage errors.

The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee called for the Senate to act on its bill to provide clear oversight of compounding manufacturers, following the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak, and to protect the U.S. drug supply chain from counterfeiting and theft, according to a HELP Committee statement on July 25.

FDA approved levomilnacipran extended-release capsules (Fetzima) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults, according to the manufacturers, Forest Laboratories and Pierre Fabre Laboratories.

FDA has decided to limit the use of oral ketoconazole (Nizoral) to life-threatening mycoses because the drug can cause severe liver injuries and adrenal gland problems, according to an FDA statement released at the end of July.

Patients taking the new generation of oral anticoagulants are associated with a significantly higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to a study published in the July 2013 issue of Gastroenterology.

Independent pharmacies enrolled in AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation’s business coaching program, on average, saw a 5% increase in sales-per-employee, the organization announced during its ThoughtSpot 2013 tradeshow in Las Vegas.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) continues to receive reports of dose measurement confusion with Humulin R U-500 concentrated insulin injection, according to a recent safety alert from the agency.

The use of electronic health records saved more than 3% in ambulatory health costs but did not reduce overall inpatient costs, according to a study published in the July 16, 2013 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

Many Muslims in America recently began their annual celebration of Ramadan, which for many includes fasting or long stretches without eating or drinking. This year, Ramadan began on July 9th and will end on August 7th. For Muslims with chronic illnesses, this can present significant risks.

Testifying before a congressional committee weighing options to strengthen oversight of compounding pharmacies, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Executive Director Carmen Catizone supported legislation proposed in the U.S. Senate.

Student pharmacists from the University of Arkansas, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of the Pacific are finalists in 2013 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition.

B. Douglas Hoey, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association, this week testified before a congressional committee considering tightening FDA oversight of compounding pharmacies following last year’s New England Compounding Center’s fungal meningitis tragedy.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation has announced a request-for-proposals to research integrating medication therapy management services into the hospital discharge process.