All News

FDA has notified healthcare professionals and patients that the antidepressant citalopram hydrobromide (Celexa, Forest Laboratories) should no longer be used at doses greater than 40 mg per day because it can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart.

Last summer FDA announced an action plan for medical countermeasures, such as drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests, to be used in responding to a public health emergency. The part of that effort aimed at regulatory science for medical countermeasures has been getting off the ground in recent months, FDA said in an August 19 presentation, with 85 intramural research projects in different parts of the agency.

An antidote indicated for the treatment of acute cyanide poisoning judged to be life-threatening has launched.

A pharmacist-directed anticoagulation service greatly improved care for warfarin patients, reported a new study published in the July/August issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Medicare Part D beneficiaries who are responsible for 100% of previously subsidized prescription costs are twice as likely to discontinue their medications, according to a new study published in PLoS Medicine.

As the influenza season approaches, Raleigh, N.C.-based Kerr Drug is stepping up its vaccination program.

In this section we showcase products and product news that ran up against space limitations or fell outside the parameters of recently featured categories in the print edition. Look for more OTC Product News in upcoming issues of the Community Pharmacists? Report.

Pharmacy and dental organizations are uniting to promote oral health and raise public awareness of dry mouth, a side effect commonly caused by taking prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Antibacterial drug use in children is associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of acquiring community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Ca-MRSA), according to the results of a population-based, case-control study reported online August 1 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

FDA has approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris, Seattle Genetics) to treat 2 types of lymphoma.

Apricus Biosciences and its wholly owned subsidiary, NexMed USA, have received FDA approval for over-the-counter sales of antifungal drug Tolnaftate-D, containing the company's NexACT technology, which transiently loosens the tight junction between the cells of the sealed skin to allow more permeation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned this week that the antimalarial drug primaquine is not available until September, 2011.

Medication storage was one of the biggest problems that The Joint Commission found in hospitals in 2010, according to its new survey. During a webinar this week, sponsored by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Darryl Rich, PharmD, surveyor in the Joint Commission's Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations, also described some new requirements in the Commission?s National Patient Safety Goals for 2011.

FDA has approved 2 new strengths (11.25 mg and 30 mg) for 3-month administration of leuprolide acetate for depot suspension (Lupron Depot-PED, Abbott) for the treatment of children with central precocious puberty.

FDA has approved vemurafenib (Zelboraf, Daiichi Sankyo and Genentech), the second melanoma drug this year to improve overall survival. Zelboraf is indicated for the treatment of patients with late-stage (metastatic) or unresectable melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

Soon after a report revealed an average 650% markup on "gray-market" drugs, which are used when there is a shortage of other drugs, U.S. senators called for an FDA hearing on drug shortages.

FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of March 27, 2012, for the review of the New Drug Application for the investigational agent peginesatide (formerly known as Hematide). If approved, peginesatide will be the first once-monthly erythropoiesis stimulating agent available for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease in patients on dialysis in the United States.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices is warning pharmacists, physicians, and nurses against misadministration of insulin through inappropriate dosing and treatment of hyperkalemia.

Pharmacy benefit managers should be required to be more transparent in health insurance exchanges, the National Community Pharmacists Association asserted in comments recently submitted to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general, recently recognized the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and other organizations for their participation in the annual National Influenza Vaccine Summit.

Gary Pelletier, director and team leader for Pfizer Helpful Answers, was recently appointed the Chairman of the Board of Managers of the Together Rx Access program. The Together Rx Access card was created by several leading pharmaceutical manufacturers to help hardworking Americans and their families gain access to savings on prescriptions at their community pharmacies.

Retail pharmacy groups criticized a new study suggesting that adherence to oral antidiabetic medications improves when patients use mail-order pharmacies.

FDA has announced changes to the boxed warnings, contraindications, and warnings sections of the labels for 32 products.

On June 15, FDA published an online safety communication informing prescribers and patients that pioglitazone use may be associated with a 20% to 40% increased hazard of new bladder cancer.

Rite Aid Corporation and the Skin Cancer Foundation have launched a new healthy skin-care campaign offering free information online and in all Rite Aid stores to consumers, and increased professional information to the chain's pharmacists.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a serious, potentially fatal autoimmune disease that affects between 300,000 to 1.5 million Americans of all races. Restless legs syndrome is a disruptive neurologic disorder that affects up to 10% of all Americans.

On May 11, U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin and National Consumers League launched "Script your Future," a 3-year national campaign to improve medication adherence. It is the responsibility of all pharmacists to support this campaign.

Readers speak out about "vocational schools" and certified techs.