All News

Postmenopausal women who were evaluated after taking conjugated equine estrogen had neither an increased nor decreased risk of coronary heart disease, and a decrease in breast cancer risk persisted, according to a post-intervention follow-up of the Women?s Health Initiative Estrogen-Alone Trial, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dalteparin was not better than unfractionated heparin for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis among critically ill patients, according to an international study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

FDA recently issued warning letters to companies that manufacture and market over-the-counter products, including hand sanitizers, that claim to prevent infection from methicillin-resistant Staphylocococcus aureus.

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 Drug Topics e-newsletter.

Infopia America?s SmartDiabetes product line has launched in 284 Walgreens drug stores in central and northeast Florida. The product line coordinates diabetes management between the patient, physician, and pharmacist.

This month, FDA launched its revamped Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts website, making it easier for consumers to search and view food- and product-recall information published since 2009.

Roche recently recalled its Accu-Chek FlexLink Plus infusion sets globally because they may deliver insufficient amounts of insulin to patients.

Fingolimod (Gilenya, Novartis) reduced the risk of disability progression in patients with RRMS, regardless of treatment history, according to a study reported at the 63rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

The Obama administration recently unveiled a multiagency plan to reduce the ?epidemic? of prescription drug abuse in the United States.

The Board of Pharmacy Specialties announced at its April meeting that the official designation for pharmacists who pass the ambulatory care pharmacy specialty certification exam would be Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist.

FDA has approved rituximab (Rituxan, Genentech) in combination with glucocorticosteroids for the treatment of 2 forms of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis.

Kaiser Permanente pharmacists in Southern California have called their first strike in more than 30 years. Some 1,300 inpatient and outpatient pharmacists at 13 medical centers and 145 medical offices serving nearly 3.3 million patients voted to walk off the job Thursday and Friday, April 21 and 22. The current contract expired on March 31.

Pharmacists will learn about reimbursement and patient motivators for medication adherence at the PQA/URAC Medication Adherence Summit in Washington, D.C., June 2 and 3.

Vaginal progesterone administered from the mid-trimester of pregnancy until term in women with a premature cervical shortening, as confirmed by transvaginal ultrasound, significantly reduced the rate of preterm birth before 33 weeks gestation, according to a phase 3 study published online in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring is a useful diagnostic tool for differentiating between true and ?white-coat resistant? hypertension, reported a study published online in Hypertension.

There are several therapies in addition to blood thinners that physicians should consider when managing patients with deep vein thrombosis, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. The statement is published online in Circulation.

FDA has approved tocilizumab (Actemra), given alone or in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 2 years of age and older.

The number of people treated in U.S. hospitals for illnesses and injuries from taking medicines increased 52%-from 1.2 million to 1.9 million-between 2004 and 2008, according to an April 2011 report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

During a recent webinar presented by Pharmacy OneSource, Michael R. McDaniel, RPh, MBA, FASHP, showed how use of data can help identify appropriate cost-containment measures and justify necessary staffing.

Jenelle Sobotka, PharmD, FAPhA, 2011-2012 president-elect of the American Pharmacists Association, started out at the U.S. Veterans Administration, where she helped improve patient health through medication management.

Prophylactic acid suppression is not appropriate for most hospital patients who are not being treated in intensive care, according to researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston.

We do not usually think of courage as a part of a pharmacist's ethical duties, but it is, and it is one that is sometimes the most difficult to practice.

Excessive use of antibiotics has led to the development of drug-resistant pathogens. A sharp decline in development of new antibiotics has limited antimicrobial treatment options. Consequently, as infections become more difficult to treat, patient outcomes may worsen and healthcare costs may rise.

This overview of some recently available OTC products marks the first time our Self Care page has focused on testing kits and accessories.

CMS is considering new regulations that would require Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to contract directly with long-term-care facilities rather than with consultant pharmacists. This doesn't sit well with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.

In March the National Association of Chain Drug Stores relaunched its advertising campaign to promote new MTM legislation and pharmacists ' role in medication therapy management.

Many third-party payers have either switched to or are considering moving to a mail-order requirement for long-term prescriptions that would prevent patients from choosing to purchase medications through retail pharmacies. Pharmacists and patients are pushing back.

Readers speak out about the increasing efficiency demands of chain pharmacies.