FDA approves tiotropium bromide mist for COPD
September 25th 2014FDA approved tiotropium bromide (Spiriva Respimat, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals) inhalation spray for the long-term, once-daily maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to reduce exacerbations in patients with COPD.
Project IMPACT: Diabetes shows value of pharmacist patient care services
September 23rd 2014Pharmacists delivering patient care services as part of patient-centered, interdisciplinary healthcare teams can make a difference for diabetes patients who are disproportionately affected by the disease and have limited access to quality care, according to the final results of Project IMPACT: Diabetes.
FDA approves once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes
September 19th 2014FDA has approved dulaglutide (Trulicity, Eli Lilly) to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. The drug is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection used to improve glycemic control and is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise in the management of type 2 diabetes in adults.
5 things pharmacies should consider before the hydrocodone rescheduling deadline
September 17th 2014Now that the Drug Enforcement Agency has tightened restrictions on hydrocodone combination products by reclassifying them as Schedule II controlled substances, how should pharmacies prepare for the change?
Buprenorphine tops list for pediatric poisoning requiring hospitalization
September 16th 2014Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA undertook a study to determine the most commonly implicated active ingredients responsible for childhood poisonings that required emergency hospitalization in the hope of identifying prevention and intervention strategies. Buprenorphine and clonidine were the most common of 12 active ingredients that were found in 45.0% of these hospitalizations.
Home infusion bill would benefit seriously ill Medicare patients
September 12th 2014Proposed legislation that would cover home-based infusion therapy for Medicare beneficiaries could save the healthcare system approximately $80 million over 10 years and provide access to life-saving care at patients’ homes. The potential savings is outlined in a report released in June by Avalere.