Community Practice

Individuals taking statins are at higher risk of developing cataract at an earlier age than those not taking them, according to a study published in the August issue of Optometry and Vision Science.

Walgreens is expanding its electronic health record program to all of its stores by the summer of 2013.

Growth hormone-releasing hormone shows favorable effects on cognition in older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study published in the Archives of Neurology.

Caffeine may offer promise to patients with Parkinson disease by easing movement symptoms, according to a small study published August 1 in Neurology.

Aminoglycoside-loaded bone cement implants, frequently used in orthopedic surgery, may result in systemic effects that raise aminoglycoside serum concentrations and lead to acute kidney injury, according to a study published July 3 in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

Vitamin D deficiency in critically ill children may make them more vulnerable to severe illnesses, according to two new studies published ahead of the print September issue of Pediatrics.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd has launched authorized generics of products indicated for use with diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Certain Rite Aid pharmacies are taking part in a pilot project designed to make patient medication information easier for consumers to understand.

What's different in your drug stores this month or coming very soon?

The FTC has filed an amicus curiae brief on the issue of “pay-for-delay†actions in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, as part of an antitrust lawsuit between Wyeth and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

FDA approved Mylan Pharmaceutical's 15-mg, 30-mg, and 45-mg pioglitazone hydrochloride tablets, the first generic version of Actos (Takeda), along with diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Healthcare delivery in the United States has evolved as more patients visit their neighborhood retail clinics for acute and preventive care.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created partnerships with several pharmacies to help patients learn about new Medicare benefits available under the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare reform legislation that was upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court in late June.

FDA’s latest “Drug Info Rounds†video for health professionals helps pharmacists understand the agency’s Accelerated Approval Program for drugs when there is an unmet medical need.

It’s important to put processes in place to be sure a patient’s medication list at discharge from the hospital is the same information that is provided to the primary care physician to avoid medication errors, according to a recent study published online July 24 in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

FDA has issued a Drug Safety Communication concerning three children who died and one child who experienced a nonfatal but life-threatening case of respiratory depression after taking the pain-reliever codeine following tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.

FDA has approved the influenza vaccine formulation for six manufacturers for the 2012-2013 influenza season.

Systemic corticosteroid monotherapy using prednisone is not effective for patients with acute rhinosinusitis, according to a new study published in the August 7 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The use of generic prescription drugs instead of their brand-name counterparts has saved Americans and the nation’s healthcare system $1.07 trillion over 10 years ending in 2011, according to the results of a study commissioned by the Generic Pharmaceutical Association.

Federal legislation is needed to control pharmacies that are re-selling drugs on the gray market, according to Carmen Catizone, the executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

FDA has approved vincristine sulfate liposome injection for the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome negative (Ph-) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have had at least two relapses or whose disease has progressed following two or more anti-leukemia therapies.

What has staved off even higher levels of ongoing shortages is that drugmakers are reporting potential shortages much more often and FDA is using various tactics to prevent them from becoming reality.

As a flurry of blockbuster drugs lose their 20-year patent protection, the market is splitting wide open as drugmakers offer competing generic versions.

That the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act bodes well for the generic drug market, which is already growing by leaps and bounds annually. Industry consultants expect ACA implementation to notably benefit retail pharmacists, PBMs, and drug wholesalers.

In this month's DT Blog post, contributor Stan Illich outlines some innovations that could strengthen the practice of pharmacy, benefit patients, and assist providers. Now, if we can just work out the bottom line . . .

It might seem like common sense, but observing stringent hygiene protocols in hospital rooms can cut down on HAIs.

When pharmacy trade journals are talking about the same issues and the same solutions as they were 15 years ago, more than just the times are out of joint.

Jill Fitzgerald, PharmD, who is Drug Topics' CPE accreditor, was sworn in as chair-elect to the AACP Continuing Professional Education Section.

A recent report indicates that independent pharmacies are more prone to fraud and abuse than are chain stores.

Readers share an appreciation of JP, a defense of mail-order pharmacy, and how the $4 prescription has affected pharmacy.