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Four acute-care hospitals have chosen ROBOT-Rx, an automated medication-dispensing and pharmacy-integration system manufactured by McKesson Corp., as part of a total bar-code-based pharmacy system for medication safety and operational efficiency.

With this issue of Drug Topics' e-newsletter, we expand our OTC Product Update page to showcase products and product news that fell outside the parameters of recently featured categories or ran up against space limitations in the print edition. Look for more OTC Product News in upcoming issues of the Drug Topics e-newsletter!

Pfizer plans to acquire King Pharmaceuticals for $3.6 billion in cash, expanding its current portfolio of treatments for pain relief and pain management.

The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus and the Liberty Partnership Program debuted a "Future Pharmacists Program" this past summer.

Taking Care of Myself: A Guide for when I Leave the Hospital/Como cuidarme: Guia para cuando salga del hospital, is a new, bilingual guide produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to help hospitals reduce their rates of readmission by better preparing patients before they leave the hospital.

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center have jointly awarded accreditation to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and VHA Inc.

The C.A.R.E.S. Alliance, a new patient-safety organization sponsored by Covidien, recently launched a range of online tools designed to help solve the growing problem of misuse and abuse of opioids by identifying the risks associated with these medications.

From the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: "Preventing Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings," an approach to handling hazardous drugs safely.

Implementation of a policy restricting drug sampling and pharmaceutical industry detailing in a small rural clinic resulted in modest reductions in the prescription of branded and promoted drugs, according to research published in the September/October issue of the "Annals of Family Medicine."

Use of Schedule II opioids, back pain, headache, and pre-existing substance use disorders are all associated with alcohol- or drug-related encounters and emergency department visits in adults who have taken prescribed opioids for at least 90 days, according to a study published in the Sept. 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, HealthDay News reports.

The National Institutes of Health?s National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded a 5-year, $3.7 million research grant to Jia Bei Wang, PhD, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to develop a drug to treat cocaine addiction.

The updated International Society on Hypertension in Blacks consensus statement on the management of hypertension in this population places a major emphasis on comprehensive assessment and appropriate risk stratification of individual patients with hypertension, according to a report published online Oct. 4 in Hypertension and reported by HealthDay News.

Individuals with ocular herpes simplex virus treated with prophylactic oral antibiotics appear to be at a lower risk of recurrence of epithelial keratitis, stromal keratitis, conjunctivitis, and blepharitis, according to research published in the September issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, HealthDay News reported.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), glucocorticoids, biologics, or a combination of these agents significantly reduces radiographic evidence of joint destruction, with no advantage seen for patients whose treatment includes biologics, according to research published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

For women whose ovarian cancer has been in remission, restarting chemotherapy early on the basis of heightened serum CA125 concentration does not improve survival compared with postponing treatment until symptoms of relapse appear, according to a study published in the Oct. 2, cancer-themed issue of The Lancet.

FDA has issued warning letters to three companies that manufacture mouth-rinse products and market them with claims that they remove plaque above the gum line or promote healthy gums. These claims suggest the products are effective in preventing gum disease when no such benefit has been demonstrated.

FDA is requiring a labeling change and Medication Guide to warn patients and healthcare providers about the possible risk of atypical thigh-bone (femoral) fracture in patients who take bisphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

FDA's Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee voted 9 to 0 on Sept. 20 in favor of approving dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa) for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Abbott is complying with FDA's request to withdraw sibutramine (Meridia) from the U.S. market because the obesity drug may pose unnecessary cardiovascular risks to patients, FDA announced.

FDA has requested that all companies that manufacture, distribute, and/or market unapproved single-ingredient oral colchicine, a medication commonly used for the daily prevention of gout, to treat acute gout flare-ups, and for the treatment of Familial Mediterranean Fever, stop manufacturing this drug.

Amgen and Johnson & Johnson are recalling certain lots of the anemia drugs Epogen and Procrit because vials of the injectable medicines might develop tiny glass flakes that could cause blood clots and other serious health problems.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. recalled 60 million tablets of the blood pressure medication Avalide (irbesartan-hydrochlorothiazide) in the United States and Puerto Rico.

FDA has approved the oral multiple sclerosis treatment fingolimod 0.5 mg, as a first-line treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. The approval makes fingolimod the first oral treatment indicated for relapsing forms of MS available in the United States.

Problems with the content and format of consumer medical information distributed with prescription drugs at retail pharmacies are the primary barriers to providing appropriate information to patients, a recent evaluation suggests. The reading level and length of CMI were also cited as shortcomings.

Partnering with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, the American Pharmacists Association is offering coverage of medication therapy management services provided by pharmacists to employees who are members of Kaiser Permanente.

A new website sponsored by the National Community Pharmacists Association, www.PharmacyMatching.com, will bring together independent pharmacy owners preparing to sell their pharmacies, pharmacy owners who desire additional stores, and entrepreneurs seeking to become pharmacy owners.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs purchased online may be worse than useless. They could pose significant health risks.

Costco Wholesale Corp.'s Ontario, Canada, region is testing interactive kiosks to educate pharmacy customers about medications and Costco health events.

Improper waste management affects both the environment and public health, so it is important to know the regulations governing pharmaceutical waste and to teach patients how best to dispose of unused drugs.

The anticipated approval of Gardasil for women 27 to 45 years of age has thrown the issue of vaccine reimbursement for pharmacists into the spotlight.