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Following the death of a Canadian woman who purchased counterfeit drugs on-line, APhA has renewed its warnings about purchasing drugs electronically.

UnitedHealthcare has announced that BioScrip has been named a specialty pharmacy provider of HIV/AIDS and solid organ transplant drugs and services for its members through December 2008.

Congress inserted a little-noticed provision into the Iraq war supplemental spending bill, mandating the use of tamper-resistant Rx pads for Medicaid prescriptions not submitted electronically.

Results showed 23% of dermatologists now utilize photodynamic therapy to treat actinic keratosis, and 50% of dermatologists have decreased their reliance on antibiotics to treat acne out of concern for growing resistance.

Extina Foam, from Stiefel Laboratories, contains 2% ketoconazole and is approved by the FDA for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in immunocompetent patients 12 years of age and older.

BLOODBATH OVER ESAs?

New studies suggest that widely used antianemia drugs may seriously harm cancer patients.

The NACDS Marketplace Conference 2007 showcased a slew of new otcs/hbcs. A Town hall meeting discussed how to improve the front end of the pharmacy.

FDA and AHRQ heard from pharmacists and others that RiskMAPs have often caused complications in medication dispensing. Current drugs with RiskMAPs include Clozapine, Thalidomide, Lindane and Isotretinoin.

Changes to formularies continue to be among the most frustrating aspects of the Medicare prescription drug benefit for pharmacists and physicians, and most confusing to beneficiaries.

Ambrisentan (Letairis) from Gilead Sciences, Inc. has been approved by the FDA for patients with PAH (WHO Group 1) with WHO Functional Class II or III symptoms.

Patient takes tramadol 100 mg every six hours for chronic back pain; other medications include two lithium carbonate, extended release tablets, ziprasidone, temazepam, and trazodone.