Community Practice

An FDA-approved oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate, an opioid analgesic for cancer pain management, is being launched by Mallinckrodt Inc., a Covidien company.

Cabazitaxel, an investigational compound under development by Sanofi-aventis, plus prednisone/prednisolone, is associated with overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic (advanced) hormone-refractory prostate cancer whose disease advanced after treatment with docetaxel-based chemotherapy.

Data from the Phase III trial of Zelrix, a transdermal patch under development by NuPathe Inc. for management of acute migraine, showed the patch met the primary efficacy endpoint.

The FDA-approved Iprivask (desirudin for injection, Canyon Pharmaceuticals), now available, marks the first direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) OK'd for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Despite a challenging 2009-10 winter, the majority of pharmacists across 26 states (79 percent of respondents) that were affected by the snow largely managed to keep standard business hours, according to a new survey.

Pharmacists speak out about Medicaid patients, professional organizations, medication therapy management, and more.

Since February is National Children's Dental Health Month, it's an appropriate time to introduce new oral care products for children and adults.

Cutbacks to Washington's Medicaid reimbursements have resulted in Walgreens receiving below its cost or break-even point on nearly 95 percent of brand-name medications.

Patient counseling and medication management therapy: You do the math.

Most agents used for presurgical prophylaxis are not effective against MRSA. To reduce MRSA-related surgical site infections,says one expert, you need to prevent all SSIs.

The following months promise the appearance on the market of a diverse group of new drug therapies. Breakthroughs will include drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease.

Financial adviser Rick Schultenover discusses how to distinguish between a Roth IRA and 401k.

Compounding is still the quintessential art of a pharmacist.

Operational efficiences and economies of scale resulting from its 2008 merger with RxHub have enabled Surescripts to cut its pharmacy routing and transaction fees, which should lead to decreases in the prices independent pharmacies are paying.

As you look back over your life and career, what makes you most proud?

Pharmacies are experiencing financial, regulatory and reimbursement challenges that have increased pressure on their operations. A regular review of financial circumstances and business options can help pharmacies stay afloat in turbulent times.

As their growing role in healthcare causes pharmacists to focus more on medication management and patient consulting, some are specializing in healthcare issues and needs specific to women.

A survey of new Rx, new generics, new indications, and new OTC

Medication therapy management interventions by community pharmacists reduced prescription drug costs by $35 per month on average.

Medication counseling and disease management are two important areas calling for pharmacist involvement, according to Roger Merrill, MD, chief medical officer for Perdue Inc., speaking to students at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy during the annual Francis Balassone Memorial Lecture.

A webinar examining the pharmacy error that led to the death of a two-year-old girl and the conviction of an Ohio pharmacist criticized the legal system for criminalizing the event as well as the flawed hospital procedures that prevented discovery of the pharmacy tech's fatal error.

Increasing enrollment in pharmacy schools and changing economic factors appear to have eased the national pharmacist shortage. In order to plan appropriately for all stakeholders, we need to quantify the numbers when we talk about a pharmacist shortage.

Its very name implies that the American Pharmacists Association would be looking for and advocating solutions to the problems of actual pharmacists, but when it comes to addressing the barriers that stand in the way of our practicing our profession, APhA is nowhere to be found.

Many independent and small chain pharmacies nationwide are seeing flexible spending account transactions declined, pushing patients out of independent pharmacies and into chains.

'Tis the seasons for coughs, colds, and sore throats. Americans are expected to spend $3.6 billion this season on OTC remedies, 1.7% more than last year. The upsurge is attributed to media exposure of swine flu and a tough economy that has more consumers trying OTC remedies before they see their doctors.

Pharmacies are the new convenience stores when it comes to pharmacy robbery. Hawaii pharmacist and inventor Patrick Adams has responded to the increase in pharmacy crimes with PharmaSafe, a dispensing cabinet built into a timer safe.

After settling a lawsuit with the State of New York over the sale of expired products, CVS is involved in a similar suit initiated by the State of Connecticut.

Overweight and obese people constitute a majority in the United States. Universal access to healthcare will mean fat people, too. Thousands of obese people, uninsurable today, will get full coverage, and expensive prescriptions for obesity-related illnesses will clog the tube.

FDA has announced that concomitant use of omeprazole (Prilosec, AstraZeneca, and Prilosec OTC, Procter & Gamble) and clopidogrel (Plavix, Sanofi Aventis/Bristol-Myers Squibb) can reduce the anti-clotting effectiveness of clopidogrel.

Financial adviser Rick Schultenover discusses ways pharmacists can protect their financial futures.