October 24th 2024
Nina Vadiei, PharmD, BCPP, a clinical associate professor at UT Austin and a clinical pharmacy specialist in psychiatry at San Antonio State Hospital, discusses her career as a psychiatric pharmacist.
No safety issues observed with combination treatment for recurrent herpes simplex labialis
December 23rd 2010Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis with combination 5% acyclovir and 1% hydrocortisone cream is safe in adolescents. In a study of a 5-day treatment course, no safety concerns were identified, said Anders Strand, MD, PhD, at the 45th midyear meeting of the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists.
Combination improves tumor response rates in patients with HER2-positive breast cancers
December 23rd 2010A combination of lapatinib, trastuzumab, and paclitaxel significantly improved tumor response rates in patients with HER2-positive breast cancers, according to a new study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium held recently in San Antonio, Texas.
Unproven treatments are overused to treat neck pain
December 21st 2010Diagnostic testing, narcotics, and questionable treatment modalities appear to be overused for chronic neck pain, while effective treatments such as therapeutic exercise appear to be underused, according to a study in the November issue of Arthritis Care & Research, HealthDay News reported.
Safe Use Initiative report summarizes views to promote patient medication safety
December 21st 2010A recently released Institute of Medicine workshop summary indicates there are myriad ideas, including better use of EMRs and research to focus action on the most common elements associated with adverse events.
Coalition wants Congress to restore nonprescription medications to FSA, HSA eligibility
December 21st 2010A coalition representing pharmacies, retail food stores, pharmacists, and the makers of OTC medicines is urging Congress to repeal the requirement that prevents consumers from using their FSAs and HSAs to purchase OTC medicines without a prescription.
Patients more likely to abandon e-prescriptions than paper
December 21st 2010Patients are significantly more likely to abandon at the pharmacy prescriptions submitted electronically than those dropped off in person, according to the results of a study appearing in the November 16 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
Aromatase inhibitors increase cardiovascular disease risk in breast cancer patients
December 16th 2010Postmenopausal women who take aromatase inhibitors as a treatment for breast cancer may be at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease, according to a new study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Drug Topics' 2011 business outlook survey: Steady sailing for now
December 15th 2010Drug Topics' annual business outlook survey, conducted online in October, drew more than 400 responses from community, hospital, and long-term-care pharmacists. Their conclusions about the coming year may surprise you.
FDA argues legal definition of compounding after deaths of 21 polo ponies
December 15th 2010A pharmacy that engages in veterinary compounding has been embroiled in a struggle with FDA since it compounded a vitamin supplement for administration to 21 polo ponies during the U.S. Open Polo Championships in April 2009. When they were injected with the compounded vitamin supplement, all 21 ponies collapsed and died. FDA's subsequent court challenge raises the question of when compounding becomes manufacture.