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Last year, Americans spent less on medicines per capita (3.5%) because of a greater availability of lower costing generics, a decline in the use of brand-name products, lower levels of price increases, and a reduction in spending on new medicines, according to a new report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.

Migraine prevention drugs used during pregnancy can cause decreased IQ scores in children born to mothers who take these medications, according to an FDA alert.

Leaders of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and hundreds of its members were in Washington, DC, last week for a two-day advocacy-focused conference. They hope to garner support from Congress for leveling the playing field between pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) and independent community pharmacies.

FDA has approved ezetimibe and atorvastatin (Liptruzet, Merck) tablets for the treatment of elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with primary or mixed hyperlipidemia as adjunctive therapy to diet, according to the manufacturer.

Medicaid coverage was linked to “substantially reduced” depression and the increased diagnosis of diabetes and the use of diabetes medication among low-income adults. At the same time, Medicaid coverage had no detectable effect on the prevalence of diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, according to the study published in the May 2 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

The use of neuraxial, or epidural, anesthesia improved outcomes – including mortality – in patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery, according to a new study in the May issue of the journal Anesthesiology,

The New Jersey Board of Pharmacy and the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs published a new pharmacy security guide to help prevent drug theft and diversion at retail pharmacies.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back nets 371 tons of Rx meds

Screening patients for risk factors upon hospital admission has potential to identify nearly three out of four asymptomatic carriers of Clostridium difficile, according to a new study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a notice on May 1 to appeal New York Judge Edward R. Korman’s decision last month to make levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptives available without a prescription and without point-of-sale or age restrictions.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) has joined forces with other healthcare industry leaders to raise awareness of the need for better medication adherence and to advance public policy with near-term solutions.

New intervention can raise the level of clotting factors significantly faster and with less volume than plasma can

Last month's judicial ruling that all women of any age have non-Rx access to the drug remains an issue

Legislation would create a new class of drug makers and strengthen FDA oversight

Clinical trials find tolvaptan may cause injury leading to liver transplant or death

Discoloration of skin and retina color have been reported

Prenatal exposure to valproate significantly increased the risk of autism spectrum disorder and childhood autism in the offspring of mothers who took the anti-epileptic agent, according to a study published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have been introduced in 40% of WHO member states

Interim analysis found results ineffective

Actavis will be able to sell defined quantities of a generic version or an authorized generic version of reformulated OxyContin as early as next year, according to Purdue Pharma L.P., the manufacturer of the opioid analgesic.

Patients who fail to fill a new prescription for statin therapy have a number of reasons, including negative perceptions about the medication, a preference for lifestyle modifications, concerns about side effects, drug interactions, polypharmacy, and a perception that they do not need the drug, according to a study published by The American Journal of Managed Care.

The United States continues to have the highest prices for both medical procedures and prescription drugs, according to the “2012 Comparative Price Report,” released by the International Federation of Health Plans.

FDA approved a new fixed-dose combination ophthalmic suspension of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (brinzolamide 1.0%) and an alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist (brimonidine tartrate 0.2%), which is indicated for the reduction of intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

FDA has approved a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for lubiprostone (Amitiza, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceuticals) 24 ?g twice daily as the first oral medication for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adult patients with chronic, noncancer pain.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is providing free disposal of unwanted medications during the sixth National Drug Take-Back Day on Thursday, April 27.

To reach their full potential in healthcare delivery, community pharmacists must continue to participate, innovate, and communicate through the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) for continued advancement, according to Gregory D. Wasson, chairman of the board of NACDS.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote address at the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) in October, NCPA announced April 19.

L-carnitine significantly improves cardiac health in patients after a heart attack, according to a multicenter team of investigators in a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

For critically ill adults with multiorgan failure, early supplementation with glutamine or antioxidants does not improve clinical outcomes, and glutamine may increase the mortality rate of this patient population, according to a study published in the April 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Generic OxyContin is off the table, and the branded drug gets a label warning that abuse of the product will be difficult