Community/Retail

Skipping college seems to contribute to prescription painkiller abuse.

Taking folic acid supplements prior to pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of offspring being small for gestational age at birth.

Donna S. Barsky, DPh, RPh, CDE, of Texas Star Pharmacy, discusses how community pharmacists can begin to collaborate with other health care professionals.

Eli Lilly and Company and AstraZeneca today announced enrollment of the first patient into AMARANTH, a Phase II/III study of an oral beta secretase cleaving enzyme inhibitor currently in development as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

A new study reaffirms the vital role independent community pharmacies play in areas that lack access to prescription medications.

An Indian pharmacist said he has not been paid for the last 14 months while stationed in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and has not been granted a visa to return home.

The FDA today approved blinatumomab for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-negative precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare form of ALL.

Joe Moose, PharmD, of Moose Pharmacy, discusses the role of the pharmacist in care transitions for acute coronary syndrome patients.

In support of National Influenza Vaccination Week, Rite Aid is reducing the price of flu shots by $5 to encourage people who have not yet received their annual flu shot to get vaccinated. From now through December 13, flu shots will be available from Rite Aid certified immunizing pharmacists at Rite Aid pharmacies nationwide at a reduced price of only $26.99*, subject to state regulations. Flu shots are covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare Part B.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to announce the signing of a long-term global agreement with Pfizer Inc. that will allow Pfizer to share information on pipeline products that have a potential for athletic performance misuse, and in parallel allow WADA to exchange information with Pfizer on substances that are being abused by athletes.

Teens with a history of traumatic brain injury are twice as likely to abuse alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs than peers who have not experienced a concussion.

Activist and award-winning actress Madeleine Stowe recently went public about her late father's battle with multiple sclerosis, revealing to fans that she's nothing like the scheming Victoria Grayson who she portrays on ABC's hit show "Revenge." And this winter, Stowe will continue to share her inspiring story and insights about growing up in a family impacted by MS as she embarks on a tour across the country to meet people living with MS who will likewise share their experiences with the disease. The events will feature leading neurologists, lifestyle experts and people living with MS who are taking action in their own unique ways.

Law enforcement and emergency response officials in Norfolk County, MA, have kicked off a Prescription Drug Safety Initiative to help pharmacies identify possible signs of fraud or abuse.

What if patients could print their medications in their own homes?

Due to the presence of undeclared drug ingredients, FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or use certain products marketed as dietary supplements, including Slim Vie, Super Extreme Accelerator, and Black Storm.

Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc has issued a voluntary recall of one lot of gabapentin capsules, USP 300 mg, 100-count bottles to the consumer level after finding that some capsules were empty.

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The American Academy of Neurology has named a new editor-in-chief of its award-winning patient education magazine, Neurology Now®. Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, of Tarrytown, NY, will succeed founding Editor-in-Chief Robin L. Brey, MD, of San Antonio, Texas, who is completing her 10-year term after leading the publication from an idea to a bimonthly magazine with a circulation of 500,000 and a reach of 1.6 million readers.

The FDA will allow marketing of HeartFlow FFR-CT software, which non-invasively evaluates blood flow in the coronary arteries of patients showing signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announces the launch of the generic equivalent to Exforge HCT Tablets in the United States.

Chapter 9 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone not only hinted at the young wizard's promising future as a Quidditch player, but also helped scientists detect the different brain regions activated among story readers.

Donna S. Barsky, DPh, RPh, CDE, of Texas Star Pharmacy, discusses the role of the community pharmacist in collaborative care.

Enrollment in a pharmaceutical care program conducted by a pharmacist can improve health-related quality of life in women with epilepsy, according to a recent study published in Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.

Roche announced the acquisition of Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc, a privately-held company based in San Jose, California. Ariosa is a molecular diagnostics testing service provider that provides a highly targeted and accurate non-invasive prenatal testing service through their CLIA laboratory using cell-free DNA technology.

On the heels of the first national Meth Awareness Week, Kmart Pharmacy announced that all in-store pharmacies nationwide are increasing their efforts to keep their communities safer by stocking NEXAFED®, a meth-resistant pseudoephedrine product designed to help pharmacies and their customers combat methamphetamine usage across the country.

While there are currently no active cases of Ebola virus infection in the United States, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that 35 hospitals across the country are now designated treatment centers for the virus.

One pharmacist who illegally supplied steroids to bodybuilders will not be filling prescriptions any time soon.

With flu activity just beginning to rise in many parts of the U.S. in the midst of the busy holiday travel season, Walgreens today introduced its new Flu Index " a weekly report providing state- and market-specific information regarding influenza to help identify areas where flu cases may be escalating. The Index ranks markets and states experiencing the highest incidences of influenza across the country, as well as those showing the largest increases week-over-week.

Baxter International has submitted a biologics license application to the FDA for its investigational, extended half-life recombinant factor VIII treatment for hemophilia A based on antihemophilic factor.