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To place a classified advertisement please contact: Lauren Bernick lbernick@ijpc.com or 405-513-4236 |
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Letter from the Editor |
Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., R.Ph. |
Editorial: A day to celebrate the worker!
The first Monday in September is the day that Labor Day, a U.S. federal holiday, is observed. The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City and became a federal holiday in 1894. The holiday was the result of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during a labor strike and President Grover Cleveland placed reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. To help minimize further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.
The three-day Labor Day weekend is traditionally viewed by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer and is often regarded as a day of rest and get-togethers, which include picnics, barbecues, water sports, and various public events. It often marks the beginning of the college football and regular professional football seasons.
For pharmacy, it is another holiday where some must work and some will play, depending upon your position and the way the work assignments rotate. It is a holiday where gifts are not exchanged, costumes/masks are not worn, large parades are not held in cities throughout the country, and no "themed items" are generally sold through pharmacies/drug stores for celebration.
Labor Day also has a special meaning this year as unemployment is at 9.6% and the number of individuals on welfare/social handouts is at an all time high; this results in fewer individuals in the "labor market." Nevertheless, let's celebrate and support all those that are in the labor market continuing their day-to-day responsibilities of working for this great country.
Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief
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Other News |
Another Case of an Unintended Consequence of DEA's Actions
A pharmacist from a major institution in the northeast responded to last week's Newsletter expressing thanks for printing the difficulties they are having due to "quotas" imposed by the DEA. The following is from the pharmacist's communication.
Towards the end of 2009, it was a nightmare with oxycodone, and currently it is almost impossible to get Morphine Carps from Hospira. They receive only a small quantity followed by another small quantity a few weeks later which is insufficient to satisfy the needs of the major medical center. Also, the list of "backordered drugs" and difficulties with Naloxone are major problems; Fentanyl and Morphine are in short supply and "how can one not medicate post-op patients"? The DEA needs to understand that "quotas do not necessarily stop diversion" but penalize patients! (Editor's Note: But, I guess they really don't care!).
Genetics and Tailored Prescriptions
The tailoring of prescriptions for patients based upon their DNA is a new service that may be offered by CVS Caremark in cooperation with Generation Health Incorporated. Currently, the target medications dispensed through PBM services include Imuran, Nolvadex, Plavix, Tabloid, Tegretol, and Ziagen. This partnership will also focus initially on seven medications, including Pegasus, Copegus, Gleevec, Tasigna, Sprycel, Tarceva, and Tykerb, dispensed through the CVS Caremark specialty pharmacy business. CVS acquired a majority interest in the Generic Benefit Management service company, Generation Health, in December of 2009.
(AAPS Newsmagazine; August 2010: 8-9.)
Dextromethorphan Restrictions May Be Increased by the FDA
The FDA may consider putting restrictions on cough medications containing dextromethorphan because of increasing signs of abuse and injuries among adolescents. An estimated 7,988 emergency room visits in 2008 were related to the non-medical use of dextromethorphan, up from 4,634 in 2004, according to a U.S. government report. Drugmakers have tried since 2006 to educate parents and teachers about the problem of dextromethorphan abuse ("robo-tripping" or "skittling"). Due to the drug's perceived safety, ease of availability, and desired psychoactive effects, it is sought after by those seeking to alter their mental state or to get "high." Dextromethorphan is in many nonprescription combination cold products.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-31/-robo-tripping-concerns-lead-fda-to-consider-controls-on-cough-medicine.html
Penn Study: Direct-to-Consumer Advertising is Effective
Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising can positively influence consumers to try new medications. At least that was one result of a study by researchers with the University of Georgia and the University of Pennsylvania. The study analyzed the responses of 400 adults who looked at advertisements for different pharmaceuticals in an effort to address several questions.
The research involved advertisements for three pharmaceutical medications; Vytorin for high cholesterol, Actonel for osteoporosis, and Bayer for heart disease. Participants in the control segment viewed manipulated versions of the advertisements, and other participants viewed the un-altered advertisements with familial risk cues.
http://pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=725061&categoryid=43
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Book Review |
Principles of Good Clinical Practice
McGraw MJ, George AN, Shearn SP et al.
Pharmaceutical Press; 2010; 288 Pages
Paperback; $64.99
As more pharmacists are becoming involved in clinical research studies, it is important to have a solid foundation in the principles and standards involved. This book can provide that foundation and guidance for checking the rules for proper conduct of clinical trials. There are 22 contributors to the book as well as five editors.
The 12 chapters begin with an introduction and regulatory requirements. This is followed by informed consent, investigator responsibilities, and sponsor responsibilities. Clinical trial design is next, as well as requirements for site monitoring. IRBs and ethics committees, pharmacovigilance, clinical trial registration and reporting, and quality-assurance chapters are well detailed. The final chapter discusses the future implications of good clinical practice. Appendices include The Nuremberg Code, the Helsinki Declaration and the Belmont Report on ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research.
The thread throughout the book is the protection of human subjects and ethical principles and guidelines. The authors are involved in clinical trials and are qualified for contributing to this volume. Pharmacists involved in clinical research studies should have a copy of this book in their library.
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Did You Know... |
�what was contained in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to Judge William Johnson in 1823? "The States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore�never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market."
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Compounding Tip of the Week |
Keeping Up
If you don't keep up with and respond to what is going on in the nation, your state, and your profession, then don't complain when salaries drop, workload increases, and your work becomes technical and not professional.
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