Editorial: Isn't it Great!

Isn't it great that we elect leadership in our government to pass laws and to do the "work of the people"? However, the "work of the people" is, to a large part, done by those that we do NOT elect to office-the employees hired by the myriad of government "agencies" that have been created and grown far out of control in size and influence. It seems that these employees are not really controlled by anybody; they seem to have a free reign to do what they want and impose sanctions, fines, mandates, etc. on citizens and "dole out" money to those that comply with their mandates (federal matching funds, etc.).

These government agency employees are reportedly higher paid than their private industry counterparts, have greater benefits, and an even greater retirement system. They don't answer to Congress, just to their "supervisors"; their supervisors answer to their supervisors; these supervisors answer to their supervisors; and ultimately one gets to the top individual, the Commissioners, which are appointees (and not elected either).

In pharmacy, we have long been involved with several government agencies that are involved with the practice of pharmacy. But, let's look at a recent piece of legislation and see what is now transpiring; specifically, the new healthcare bill.

As I understand it, the bill was VERY voluminous and very few of our elected representatives in Congress actually read the bill in its entirety. Now, the bill is being "implemented" by governmental "agencies" and the implementation documentation is already double in size compared to the "passed" bill, and, the bureaucrats, they are just beginning! It is also interesting that a lot of "new" things are coming out that have not been previously discussed. Why is it that in the "interpretation and implementation" of a new law, many new things seem to be introduced?

Think about the new IRS, DEA, FDA, FTC, DOT, DOEduc, etc. regulations that have come out in recent years that directly impact us. Did we vote on the regulations or the people that initiated or implemented them? I don't think so�

One contributing factor to the reason many state budgets are broke is the federal mandates imposed upon them that are not funded (unfunded mandates). This needs to change.

It seems we have given too much authority to the agencies (or maybe they just took it due to our inaction!). In fact, we really don't even need many of these agencies and could do well without them. Do a Google search on "government departments and agencies" and look at the loooong list of them, how large they are, and what they really do. We could probably cut government in half or down to one-fourth its current size and be better off in the long run! As has been said, the federal government has a role to play (mostly on the international scene, defense, and coordinating selected interstate activities, etc.); but a limited role in the day-to-day functions of the state and the citizens.

When it gets to the point that they control how much water we can flush in the toilet each time we use it, then they are intruding too much in our daily lives�oh�they have already done that with the 1 gallon per flush haven't they? I guess maybe in the future you can use no more than 2 squares of toilet paper at a time!!! Isn't it great!!!


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief

Some Doctors and Drug Companies Promote Treatments for 'Male Menopause'
Hot flashes, mood swings, and dwindling libidos may not be entirely female concerns according to many physicians, researchers, and drug companies, who have now begun making the case that men also experience a change of life, called male menopause.

Beginning in their late 30s or early 40s, there is a gradual drop in testosterone of about 1 to 2 percent a year in men. This change is not as dramatic or as abrupt a change as is often the case in women, but there is a subtle shift in hormone levels that can result eventually in a testosterone deficiency and its associated symptoms, including depression, irritability, low energy, decreased muscle mass, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and even the occasional hot flash or night sweats.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of men are undiagnosed, partly because this newly recognized condition is hard to identify given its list of possible symptoms. Still, the diagnosis of male menopause remains controversial. Critics suggest that most of the symptoms that have been blamed on "low T" are normal consequences of aging.

Some skepticism has not stopped some pharmaceutical companies from marketing products for treating low testosterone and male menopause-and it hasn't stopped men from seeking tests and receiving testosterone prescriptions, which have skyrocketed from 2.4 million in 2005 to nearly 3.9 million in 2009, according to the consulting firm IMS Health.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/04/A R2010100405856.html?hpid=topnews

Pediatric "Measuring Cups" for Measuring Pediatric Liquid Medication Doses Often Inaccurately Marked
Pediatric measuring cups, used to measure pediatric liquid medication dose commonly sold with over-the-counter medications, often are inaccurately marked. These have the potential of providing a larger dose than is intended or recommended, according to research presented by the American College of Emergency Physicians 2010 Scientific Assembly.

Independent measurements of 2.5 and 5.0 mL doses of water and medication according to markings on 7 over-the-counter medication dose cups were made by filling to the mark and then pouring the contents into a standard 10-mL graduated cylinder and recording the measurements.

The results, overall, showed measurements that were an average of 0.33 mL greater than the measuring cup. The cups with embossed measurements, instead of printed, were much harder to make the measurement. If the medication was clear, measuring was also more difficult.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/729974

Greece Pushes to End Cozy License Deals
A job in Greece often has been known to have certain guarantees. For example, pharmacists knew they would make at least 35 percent profit on medicines, by law. Lawyers had no worry with out-of-town rivals, who couldn't take up cases in their area. Truckers faced limited competition as they had to come up with euro 100,000 or more for a state license sold on the open market.

These have been cozy arrangements but ones the Greek government says the country can no longer afford. The Prime Minister is asking parliament to eliminate a host of restrictive professional licenses as it desperately tries to improve the productivity of the Greek economy, stricken with a government debt crisis.

One associated difficulty that is occurring is that some people borrowed heavily to buy licenses and now face the prospect they will become worthless overnight.

More than 200,000 people are in restricted professions-including lawyers, pharmacists, civil engineers, as well as truckers and others. These professions operate essentially as closed shops with tightly controlled licensing practices or fixed profit margins.

Government arguments say that labor controls have been holding back an economy in urgent need of reinvention before international bailout loans run out in 2012. Many low-paid Greeks that are shut out of protected jobs and the country's massive civil service tend to agree.

The closed system benefits the few rather than Greek society and state as a whole. Closed professions keep the income of those working in them artificially high without producing the corresponding quality and low cost for the consumer.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9IIS3O80.htm

Single-Ingredient Oral Colchicine
The FDA has acted against companies that manufacture, distribute, and/or market unapproved single-ingredient oral colchicine. A small amount of unapproved colchicine is expected to be available for a short while until supplies are exhausted.

Colcrys is the only FDA-approved single-ingredient oral colchicine product available on the U.S. market. Colcrys, approved by the FDA in 2009, contains important safety data and recommendations on drug interactions and dosing not available with unapproved products.

�that the latest chapter in the "Inner Life of the Cell" animation series is now available? This new one is called "Powering the Cell: Mitochondria." These short educational animations are very, very good and all can be found at: http://multimedia.mcb.harvard.edu/

Here Come the Holidays!
The holiday season is coming quickly. It's time to plan and purchase store decorations and items to be a part of the season's festivities. This year, be creative and try something different!