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Articles

Researchers reviewed Medicaid policies to understand vaccine coverage and reimbursement rates among physicians and pharmacists.

Low Reimbursement, Coverage Restrictions Hinder Access to Vaccines

A conversation with Jennifer Goldman, PharmD, CDCES, BC-ADM, FCCP, professor of pharmacy practice at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Q&A: Risk Factors, Impact of Hypoglycemia in Patients with Diabetes

Researchers explored the impacts of natural bioactive compounds for the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

Natural Compounds, Phytochemicals Have Potential to Treat Acute Pancreatitis

Zepbound from Eli Lilly is the first and only prescription medicine approved by the FDA for adults with obstructive sleep apnea and obesity.

FDA Approves Tirzepatide for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Obesity

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Spotlight

ASHP Midyear 

NCPA Annual Convention

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Clinical

Pharmacists can influence institutional-level climate change-related policies to ensure continued health care delivery. 

In A Warming World, Climate-Resilient Health Care Delivery Is Key | ASHP Midyear

AMA released its 2024 Overdose Epidemic Report and presented key findings from the past year.

AMA Urges Policymakers to Act Despite Report of Improved Opioid Epidemic

Public health and infectious disease experts offered their perspectives on the 2024 US bird flu outbreak and its potential of becoming a greater public health crisis.

H5N1 Bird Flu: A Slowly Looming Public Health Threat

A collection of hospitals in Rochester, New York, have teamed up to create better access to prescription drugs and combat the city’s pharmacy desert issue.

Rochester Pharmacy Access Coalition Uniting to Fill Gaps from Pharmacy Closures

Wolters Kluwer Health conducted a survey of just over 1000 respondents to get US adults’ feelings about notable trends in the pharmacy industry.

Over Half of US Population Concerned About Prescription Drug Access, Prices

Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD, discusses the dangers associated with sourcing GLP-1s from illegal online pharmacies.

Pharmacists Play Key Role in Warning Patients About Harms of Sourcing GLP-1s Online

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. The class of medications—which includes semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide—are approved to help manage type 2 diabetes. However, a rise in awareness of GLP-1s' weight-loss benefits began around late 2022 and significantly drove demand for the drugs, resulting in shortages and a proliferation of dangerous products being sold in illegal online pharmacies.

Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD, professor of global health at the University of California, San Diego and a member of the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies’ Academic Advisory Panel, published a study recently in 

with his colleagues that sought to determine the risk of sourcing semaglutide from online platforms.

search on Google and Bing to find websites advertising the sale of semaglutide without a prescription in July 2023. They chose 6 websites to purchase products from and performed visual and quality inspections to determine sterility, falsification risks, and microbiological contamination. Of the 6 websites that were chosen for the test buys, 3 delivered the product and 3 were nondelivery scams that requested additional payment.

The study found that compared to genuine semaglutide samples, which scored 22 points on the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s checklist, the purchased test products’ scores ranged from 8 to 9. These products had discrepancies in regulatory registration information and had evidence that they were likely unregistered or unlicensed. The semaglutide content in the test products also had significantly more than what was advertised on the labels, with some samples exceeding by 29% to 39%.

, Mackey discussed how the study was conducted and its key findings, why people are seeking GLP-1s online, the dangers associated with sourcing them from online pharmacies, what can be done to increase awareness about illegal online pharmacies, and the key role pharmacists play in warning patients about the dangers of sourcing GLP-1s from online platforms.

“Clinicians and pharmacists are interfacing with the patient directly and have an opportunity to talk about not just the health and risk benefits associated with GLP-1s, but the sourcing risks,” Mackey said. “Right now, so many people are looking for [GLP-1s] and there is a lot of sourcing risk…Pharmacists and clinicians may be the only really informed intermediaries to really make sure that this stuff is appropriately prescribed.”

1. Scannell C, Romley J, Myerson R, Goldman D, Qato DM. Prescription Fills for Semaglutide Products by Payment Method. 

 2024;5(8):e242026. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.2026

2. Ashraf AR, Mackey TK, Schmidt J, et al. Safety and Risk Assessment of No-Prescription Online Semaglutide Purchases. 

 2024;7(8):e2428280. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.28280

Videos

Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD, discusses the dangers associated with sourcing GLP-1s from illegal online pharmacies and the key role pharmacists play in warning patients.

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, discusses how pharmacists skills are underutilized and how they can help support men’s health.

How Pharmacists Can Help Support Men’s Health

Community pharmacists are widely acknowledged as some of the most accessible health care providers. According to research published in 

, patients visit their community pharmacy twice as often as they visit their physician, highlighting the key role community pharmacists can play in improving patient engagement.

Patient Trust, Active Listening Key to Enhancing Men's Health Care

Preventative medicine, which aims to prevent disease or mitigate its complications, is known to significantly improve health outcomes. However, in a survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, only 50% of men said they engage in preventative care.

 The survey also found that 61% of men said they would be more likely to go to an annual check-up if it was more convenient. This is a key area where pharmacists accessibility and skills can be better utilized.

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, is the owner and manager of Your Tampa Health Care Advocates in Tampa, Florida. He also is a co-host of the Men’s Health Unscripted podcast, which discusses different issues in men’s health. The aim of the podcast is to educate and empower men to take better care of themselves through honest and open discussion.

, Alonso talked about how pharmacists are well-trained health care providers with extensive knowledge, that pharmacists skills are currently underutilized, as well as how pharmacists can help support men’s health.

“A lot of people just don’t know what pharmacists' training and capabilities are,” Alonso said. “Just being there for your patients and answering their questions I think is great. [We need to change] the way that society perceives our profession. Outside of the person that is just slapping the label on the drugs and handing them to you, we’re actually really talented, really skilled health care professionals.”

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1. Valliant SN, Burbage SC, Pathak S, et al. Pharmacists as accessible health care providers: quantifying the opportunity. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2022 Jan;28(1):85-90. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.1.85. PMID: 34949110; PMCID: PMC8890748.

2. Cleveland Clinic Survey: Men will do Almost Anything to Avoid Going to the Doctor. News Release. Cleveland Clinic. September 4, 2019. Accessed June 12, 2024. 

https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2019/09/04/cleveland-clinic-survey-men-will-do-almost-anything-to-avoid-going-to-the-doctor

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, discusses how pharmacists' skills are underutilized and how they can help support men’s health.

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, discusses how pharmacists can support men dealing with mental health issues. 

Pharmacists Can Help Alleviate Men’s Mental Health Crisis

Stigma associated with mental health illness negatively impacts everyone, but it seems to be a particularly difficult issue for men. While nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression, only half will receive treatment.

 This is likely due to several barriers that men face which results in not wanting to discuss or seek help for any struggles they may be experiencing.

Although women are around twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression, men are 4 times more likely to die by suicide.

 Men also have higher rates of illicit drug use or dependence and are more likely to report lower levels of life satisfaction compared to women.

 Considering these issues, promoting mental health among men is crucial.

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, owner and manager of Your Tampa Health Care Advocates and co-host of the Men’s Health Unscripted podcast, has been active in the men’s health space for just about 7 years. He said that since 2022, he has seen a significant shift in how seriously men take their mental health.

, Alonso discussed how pharmacists can support men dealing with mental health issues and lifestyle changes he recommends to male patients to improve their overall health.

“When I really want to get into an intricate discussion about men’s mental health, I would say [managing] stress [is key],” Alonso said. “Stress causes increased blood sugar, increased blood pressure, [and] puts us at more risk for metabolic disease. It just doesn’t allow the body to function the way it was intended to. Doing yoga, going for a run, hanging out with friends; those are really some important aspects that I think men have kind of gotten away from.”

1. Men’s Mental Health. News Release. ADAA. Accessed June 13, 2024. 

https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/mens-mental-health

2. Depression: His Versus Hers. News Release. Hopkins Medicine. Accessed June 13, 2024. 

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/depression-his-versus-hers

3. Suicide. Report. NIH. February 2024. Accessed June 13, 2024. 

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide

4. Men and Women: Statistics. News Release. Mental Health Foundation. Accessed June 13, 2024. 

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/men-women-statistics

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, discusses how pharmacists can support men dealing with mental health issues and lifestyle changes he recommends to male patients to improve overall health.

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, talks about how health care providers can build trust with male patients.

It’s no secret that men are generally reluctant to seek out health care. According to a survey from the Cleveland Clinic, 50% of men who responded said they don’t consider getting their annual check-up a regular part of taking care of themselves and 20% admitted there have been times when they were not completely honest with their doctor.

The lack of regular health check-ups and preventative screenings have led to men being more likely to die from certain conditions. The cancer rate among men is 20% higher than women, men are 4 times more likely to commit suicide due to mental health issues, and nearly 350000 men die each year in the United States of cardiovascular disease.

HPV Vaccine Reduces Risk of Infection-Related Cancers

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, is the owner and manager of BlueZone Health Care Advocates in Tampa, Florida. He also is a co-host of the Men’s Health Unscripted podcast, which discusses different issues in men’s health. The aim of the podcast is to educate and empower men to take better care of themselves through honest and open discussion.

, Alonso talked about how health care providers can build trust with male patients who might be hesitant to seek advice or discuss sensitive health issues, and how often men should visit their healthcare provider for routine check-ups and screenings.

“If you allow [men] to talk and kind of figure out what things are maybe going wrong in their life, whether it be health or mental health, they really start to open up a little bit more,” Alonso said. “The main thing is listening and waiting for them to explain what’s going on. It’s tough for men to just come right out and say, ‘Hey, I’m having this problem.’ Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time and really just building trust and letting them know you’re there for them.”

1. Cleveland Clinic Survey: Men will do Almost Anything to Avoid Going to the Doctor. News Release. Cleveland Clinic. September 4, 2019. Accessed June 12, 2024. 

2. Kim HI, Lim H, Moon A. Sex Differences in Cancer: Epidemiology, Genetics and Therapy. Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2018 Jul 1;26(4):335-342. doi: 10.4062/biomolther.2018.103. PMID: 29949843; PMCID: PMC6029678.

3. Improving Men’s Health. News Release. USA Gov. May 23, 2024. Accessed June 12, 2024. 

https://www.usa.gov/features/improving-mens-health

Patrick Alonso, PharmD, CPh, owner and manager of BlueZone Health Care Advocates and co-host of the Men’s Health Unscripted podcast, talks about how health care providers can build trust with male patients and what screenings men at different ages should be having.

Savannah Roberts Clary, PharmD, BCPS, CPGx, a clinical pharmacist with Aegis Sciences Corporation, talks about the dangers of tianeptine.

Pharmacists Play Key Role in Warning Public About Dangers of Tianeptine Misuse

Tianeptine, an atypical tricyclic antidepressant approved in some countries to treat major depressive disorder and anxiety, is not approved by the FDA for any medical purpose in the United States. However, unregulated tianeptine products are sold in the US in gas stations, convenience stores and other kinds of retail shops. Use of these products has led to adverse effects, causing lawmakers and public health officials across the country to begin sounding the alarm.

recently sat down with Savannah Roberts Clary, PharmD, BCPS, CPGx, a clinical pharmacist with Aegis Sciences Corporation, to discuss the potential dangers of tianeptine, how pharmacists can manage a patient who may be misusing tianeptine, how pharmacists can help warn the public about the potential hazards of tianeptine, and where pharmacists can go to learn more about tianeptine.

“[Tianeptine] is sought out for various reasons by individuals online and at various retailers, [such as] smokes shops [and] gas stations for various uses,” Clary said. “Some people seek it out to self-medicate for various things. It is structurally similar to tricyclic antidepressants, but it also has activity at µ-opioid receptors. That can lead it to be sought out for various treatments and self-medication purposes, perhaps for anxiety, perhaps for withdrawals or other things, of course none of which are approved or recognized for medical use in the United States.”

Clary said that pharmacists can play a key role in helping patients and the public learn about tianeptine, but getting educated on the drug first is crucial. Although tianeptine may not be something that is on most independent pharmacists radars—at least not yet—becoming familiar with the drug will allow pharmacists to help any patients who may have questions about it. Clary added that there are a number of places where pharmacists can go for validated information on tianeptine, including resources from the FDA and Drug Enforcement Administration.

“We just need to be increasingly aware of all the many substances individuals have access to,” Clary said. “[When] counseling individuals, if there is a concern or patients ask questions about these substances, just [understand] that they are not approved for any medical use in the United States, they can carry certain risks. While individuals may not have illicit or harmful intent by seeking out these substances—they may think it’s an accessible way to self-medicate and they may feel comfortable accessing these substances—they may be making an uncalculated risk.”

Make sure to check out part 1 from this series on tianeptine.

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Savannah Roberts Clary, PharmD, BCPS, CPGx, a clinical pharmacist with Aegis Sciences Corporation, talks about the dangers of tianeptine and how pharmacists can help warn the public about the potential hazards of tianeptine.

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