Trissel's 2 Clinical Pharmaceutics Database module is the largest database of stability and compatibility information ever assembled. It contains 5 times more information than any print compilations.

The staff of IJPC are sorry for the reference to the Trissel's tables and books.

January 19, 2007

Tired of seeing the following?

Let's set the record straight!
Let's look at the facts!
Let's be honest about this!
Scientific studies show that….!
I'd like to present an unbiased view on….!

Let's face it, when an article or a speaker starts with preambles such as these, oftentimes the best thing to do is run! Why? Because everyone has a built-in bias and opinion on everything they discuss or topic they speak on, it's our nature.

"Let's set the record straight!" generally means I am going to tell you my opinion, and I want you to accept it because I am right.

"Let's look at the facts!" generally means I have selected certain items that I believe are close enough to the truth that you will probably accept them and not question them. Then I can build on that and take you where I want you to go.

"Let's be honest about this!" generally means I am going to give you a combination of truthful and untruthful information in order to persuade you to accept my opinion.

"Scientific studies show that…" means that I read somewhere (newspaper, television, magazine, and sometimes even a scientific journal) that this is true. However, as we all know that when looking at what scientific studies show, one cannot take a single study, or even select a few studies, one must look at ALL studies and evaluate them to see what is fact and what is not. Just look at all the reversals that have occurred in the scientific and medical literature over the past 10 years and look at the reversals of approved drugs by the FDA. One sometimes wonders about the real value of "scientific studies." Admittedly, they are the best thing we have going, but they can be flawed and present information in a slanted way to try to prove or disprove a point for a number of reasons, whether it is to get more grant money, to get a product approved and on the market, or just for egotistical reasons.

"I'd like to present an unbiased view on…" is interesting. Is the unbiased view coming from the speakers presentation of information on both sides of the question? Or, is the speaker telling you that the information being presented was originally published by authors that are unbiased? The latter would be extremely difficult to prove. The former is a naïve statement because one cannot really present "unbiased" information. What we present, either in print or other media, is our "opinion" and the way we view things. Our views are developed from our beliefs, our environment, our parents, our friends, our experiences, and our attitudes.

As much as I wish there was total honesty in politics and in the scientific world, I realize that is probably not going to happen. But, we can be aware of the pitfalls and only believe what we hear and read after we have "checked it all out" ourselves. I hope I have "set the record straight!"



Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., R.Ph
Editor-in-Chief

IJPC apologizes for the late delivery of the January/February issue of the journal. The last three months has seen a series of unfortunate events in the IJPC family that has resulted in a delay.

• Several staff members have experienced death or illness in their families.
• LaVonn Williams (production manager for IJPC) broke her right arm (and she is right-handed) and had to have surgery.
• Oklahoma had a week of heavy ice and snow that limited travel and productivity.
• There is an increase of 10% in the number of pages starting with this issue so more effort is required for production.
• We currently are buried again under 2-3 inches of ice.

We appreciate your patience and expect to be back on track with the March/April issue.

CompoundingToday.com's literature search database this week looks at 77 citations on skin disorders. Here is a sampling of them:

Successful treatment of lichen planus with sulfasalazine in 20 patients.
Bauza A, Espana A, Gil P et al. Int J Dermatol 2005; 44(2): 158-162.

Urticaria and angioedema.
Baxi S, Dinakar C. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2005; 25(2): 353-367,vii.

Systemic and localized scleroderma.
Chung L, Lin J, Furst DE et al. Clin Dermatol 2006; 24(5): 374-392.

Micronised purified flavonoid fraction: A review of its use in chronic venous insufficiency, venous ulcers and haemorrhoids.
Lyseng-Williamson KA, Perry CM. Drugs 2003; 63(1): 71-100.

A topical azithromycin preparation for the treatment of acne vulgaris and rosacea.
McHugh RC, Rice A, Sangha ND et al. J Dermatolog Treat 2004; 15(5): 295-302.

Injection sclerotherapy for varicose veins.
Tisi PV, Beverley C, Rees A. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006; 4: CD001732.

Are you looking for information on morphine stability?

CompoundingToday.com has launched Trissel's 2 Clinical Pharmaceutics Database where you can find stability and compatibility information on many drugs - one example is morphine sulfate, morphine hydrochloride, and morphine tartrate. Trissel's 2 Clinical Pharmaceutics Database module is the largest database of stability and compatibility information ever assembled. It contains 5 times more information than any print compilations.

Visit CompoundingToday.com today and sign-up at www.CompoundingToday.com/Register

In light of recent discussions among regulatory agencies and various stakeholders of the pharmacy profession as to the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical compounding and how compounding should best be regulated, the American College of Apothecaries conducted a survey of IJPC subscribers in July 2005. The results of this survey can be reviewed in IJPC's November/December 2006 issue in the article titled Specialty Compounding for Improved Patient Care: A National Survey of Compounding Pharmacists on pages 462 through 468. If you are not a subscriber you can purchase and download this article at www.ijpc.com/backissues/ArticleDescription.cfm?ABS=2486

Sign up today at www.IJPC.com and start your journal print and electronic subscriptions. You can download what you are currently subscribed to and purchase electronic access to our complete set of back issues.

Shoe Cleats
Fantastic! That is all I can say about the small "shoe cleats" that you can purchase and that slip over your shoes when walking on ice. Here in the Midwest (especially Oklahoma), we have been covered in 2 to 3 inches of solid ice since last Saturday with power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of people. These shoe cleats can be worn by delivery personnel and anyone that has to walk on the snow and ice, even from your car to your store. With at least two deaths as a result of a fall on the ice here in Oklahoma City, one where a man hit his head on the ice when he fell and the other of an elderly lady that did the same, an investment of a few dollars is well worthwhile and can help protect your employees.