Community/Retail

A new smart case offers the opportunity to help patients at severe risk of developing allergic reactions necessitating the use of epinephrine to remember to keep their EpiPen with them.

The FDA today approved carbidopa-levodopa, an extended-release oral capsule formulation, to treat Parkinson's disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism, and parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication and/or manganese intoxication.

The Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation® recently accredited The Medicine Shoppe franchise in Two Rivers, WI, under its community pharmacy practice standards. The Two Rivers Medicine Shoppe follows the inaugural CPPA® accreditations of Goodrich Pharmacy, Anoka, MN, and the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD.

Evidence released by the manufacturers of Tamiflu and Relenza has raised questions concerning the drugs' efficacy and safety.

CVS has been slapped with a federal class action suit, after a former assistant pharmacist for several stores reported that hourly paid pharmacists were not receiving time-and-a-half pay for working more than 40 hours per week.

The American Psychological Association issued the following statement regarding the shooting death of Timothy Fjordbak, PsyD.

In an effort to strengthen its longstanding relationships with independent pharmacies, The F.C. Sturtevant Company has announced that Cardinal Health Inc. has become its exclusive national wholesale distributor.

After ringing in the New Year, Americans from all walks of life have started dieting. For the 10% to 20% of Americans who experience gastric reflux, such weight loss may be the key to reducing associated symptoms.

After celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy remains dedicated to providing training and education to future pharmacists in an evolving field.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States inched a step closer to a historic milestone today when the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee recommended approval of the investigational biosimilar, filgrastim.

"Today's Food and Drug Administration Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting features a strong showing of science-based support for biosimilar medicines from patients, pharmacists, generic drug manufacturers and other health stakeholders, and is an important step forward for cancer patients and all who are awaiting access to more affordable versions of lifesaving biologic medicines here in the United States.

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy today supported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's use of "an expedited approval process" for biosimilars to encourage the development of both new and more affordable treatments for such serious conditions as cancer, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Women exposed to a common pesticide have a better chance of becoming and staying pregnant if they get enough vitamin B.

The FDA has approved Suneva Medical's dermal filler, Bellafill, for the treatment of moderate to severe, atrophic, distensible facial acne scars in patients aged >21 years.

A co-founder of the Massachusetts compounding pharmacy embroiled in controversy after its products allegedly led to a deadly meningitis outbreak is taking a financial hit, as authorities have seized more than $18 million from 13 different financial institutions.

Mylan and Teva have separately announced the US launches of their respective valsartan tablets, the generic version of Novartis' antihypertensive agent, Diovan.

Many male patients being treated for prostate cancer undergo androgen deprivation therapy, which has been shown to have several risky side effects, including osteoporosis.

The number of pharmacies accepting electronic prescriptions for controlled substances has increased substantially in a short time period.

Americans are entering 2015 with their highest level of economic confidence since the Great Recession.

The NAPLEX/MPJE 2015 Candidate Registration Bulletin is now available on the NABP website. The revised bulletin contains a link to the revised North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® competency statements that will go into effect beginning November 1, 2015.

Abuse of most types of prescription drugs among teens declined in 2014.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals of Bridgewater, NJ, has issued a voluntary recall of one lot of Virazole®(ribavirin powder for solution), 100 mL, 6g vial, 4-pack to the user level.

Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers, in an unwelcome New Year's surprise, are discovering that they are unable to fill prescriptions at pharmacies promoted by Aetna/Coventry Part D drug plans listed on the Medicare Plan Finder website used during the 2014 Medicare open enrollment to select a 2015 drug plan.

In 2014, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom seized at least 1.2 million doses of illegally supplied erectile dysfunction drugs, 383,000 slimming products, and 331,000 doses of sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and antidepressants " mostly originating from China and India.

In addition to providing patient education on disease states and medications, pharmacists are now considered the experts and front runners of medication adherence, medication therapy management, prescription synchronization, and medication reconciliation.

A group of leading independent long-term care pharmacies has joined to form the new Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition, dedicated to representing the legislative and regulatory interests of independent LTC pharmacies and those of the vulnerable patients they serve. No other organization in Washington focuses exclusively on the public policy priorities unique to this increasingly important health sector, which provides consultative pharmacy services and medications to seniors in skilled nursing centers and residential care settings across the nation.

Position yourself for success by giving your goals some serious thought upfront.

Roughly 50 million Americans take daily low-dose aspirin for cardioprevention, as it is generally perceived as a safe, effective, and inexpensive OTC preventive medication for cardiovascular disease. For patients who have nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, many guidelines recommend aspirin as thromboprophylaxis among those who are not considered to be high risk.

The FDA today granted the first waiver to allow the use of a nucleic acid-based influenza diagnostic test in a greater variety of health care settings.

Rite Aid Corporation announced today that Jocelyn Zazyczny Konrad, currently vice president, healthcare initiatives, has been promoted to group vice president, pharmacy initiatives and clinical services. Konrad succeeds Karen Staniforth, who was recently promoted to the role of chief operating officer at Health Dialog, a subsidiary of Rite Aid.