For pharmacists, from Drug Topics: Information for pharmacists about prescription medications and related subjects
November 3, 2009
By:Eric Durbin, RPh
Instead of giving out cards that reduce the copay of a prescription, why not just decrease the price per bottle of medication?
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November 3, 2009
By:Bruce T. Roberts, RPh
In the prescription drug market, discriminatory pricing is common for independent community pharmacies and their patients. This fall, a Federal District Court in New York will consider a critical case: Drug Mart Pharmacy Corp. et a. v. American Home Products Corp. et al. The outcome of the case may determine whether discriminatory pricing techniques are illegal.
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November 3, 2009
By:Dana K. Cassell
More than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, and at least 25 million suffer on a daily basis. A Nielson study reported early in 2009 announced that 94 percent of patients are satisfied with their OTC remedies. The study estimated that OTC medications annually save patients an average total of $174 each in office visits and medication costs. Because of fewer patient visits top physicians, the study attributes $757 million in annual savings to the U.S. healthcare system.
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November 3, 2009
By:Brandon J. Sucher, PharmD, CDE, Allana J. Sucher, PharmD, BCPS
More than 22 million patients in the United States are affected by asthma and collectively were admitted for approximately 444,000 hospitalizations in 2006. With appropriate assessment and treatment by patients and healthcare providers, hospitalizations and deaths from asthma exacerbations can be significantly reduced. This article reviews the role of available asthma medications and provides an overview of the NAEPP's recommendations for management of asthma for patients 12 years of age and older.
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October 9, 2009
By:Seena Haines, PharmD, FAACP, Lisa M. Sims, PharmD
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults, as well as the increasing prevalence of pediatric obesity, has spurred research into how the condition may affect children and adolescents. Pharmacists should be able to define insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in children and adults according to national guidelines, list the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in children that may increase their risk as adults, describe the role of lifestyle modification in children and adults with metabolic syndrome, and identify the role of medical and surgical treatment for metabolic syndrome and/or obesity.
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October 8, 2009
By:Dana K. Cassell
The products pharmacists discuss most often with patients are oral pain-relief products, lip balms, and cold-sore preparations, according to an exclusive Drug Topics survey of pharmacists.
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October 8, 2009
By:Amanda Brower, Senior Editor, Centralized Content Group
Pharmacy should be part of any team evaluating an outpatient center. Effective communication between physicians, hospital administrators, pharmacists, and nursing staff is crucial to whether the infusion center will succeed.
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October 8, 2009
By:Raichell S. Brown, PharmD, JD
The FDA recently alerted pharmacists to medication error reports about mefloquine (Lariam) prescriptions calling for 250 mg daily rather than the recommended dose of 250 mg weekly for malaria prophylaxis.
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| Drug Topics is a monthly news magazine, guided by a board of pharmacy leaders, reporting on all phases of community, retail, and health-system issues and trends. We cover managed care and professional, national, and state activities as well as new therapies involving prescription and OTC drugs.
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