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Advances in treatment of epilepsy offer new options
Rosemary Sparacio Medical & Allied HealthcareApproximately 2.3 million adults and nearly 500,000 children in the U.S. currently live with some form of epilepsy, and the annual costs are estimated to be $15.5 billion. The good news is that recent advances in epilepsy treatment have given physicians and patients more options.
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Hobby Lobby: Progestins and the politics of prevention
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalI would rather talk about progestins than politics almost any day of the week — they are far more predictable and cause less constipation and nausea. But the recent decision by the Supreme Court concerning Hobby Lobby and whether they have the right to not cover certain specific types of contraception has gotten so much attention from the media that silence seems almost sinful.
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Cannabis, cognition and confusion in research
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Mental HealthcareOf the 22 states in the United States that allow for the medical use of marijuana, 13 specify Alzheimer's disease (AD) as one of the approved conditions. Some studies report benefits to AD patients, but other research is inconclusive.
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The frustrating lack of comparative effectiveness — Part II
Mike Wokasch PharmaceuticalLet's assume that a credible, third-party source with therapeutic, statistical and analytic expertise has established definitive evidence that one drug is better than others in treating a particular disease in certain types of patients. They publish the treatment guidelines in a peer-reviewed reputable medical journal, issue press releases and present their findings at relevant medical meetings. Would the guidelines be followed?
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Is clinical pharmacy really the future of our profession?
Greg L. Alston PharmaceuticalIn the fall of 1974, I entered pharmacy school energized by a new vision of pharmacy practice called clinical pharmacy. Now that 40 years have elapsed, let's take a look at how this vision has manifested within the profession and the education of our student pharmacists.
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The frustrating lack of comparative effectiveness — Part I
Mike Wokasch PharmaceuticalWhen you go to the doctor's office, you expect your healthcare providers will prescribe drugs that will be effective and safe in treating your diagnosis. But which drug is best for treating your disease or medical condition? You rely on your physician or PA to make this determination.
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Pharmaceutical reps and the Twilight Zone
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalI had lunch today with a pharmaceutical representative, or "sales specialist." We talked about what was going on in my life and my career. We talked about the importance of transitional care from hospital to home and how to improve patient adherence to recommended treatments.
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Cancer therapy: Targeting in the field of metabolic rewiring
Dr. Afsaneh Motamed-Khorasani PharmaceuticalOf more than 100,000 carcinogen point mutations, 350 are known to influence cancer phenotype. However, 30 years of intensive research on cancer biology and large amounts of grant money invested have translated into few novel treatments.
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Recent developments in transdermal delivery of therapeutics
Dr. Afsaneh Motamed-Khorasani PharmaceuticalAdvances in recombinant DNA technology and protein-based therapeutics have affected several medical conditions, including diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. There are multiple protein-drug products for these conditions that are often large polar complex macromolecules with side chains.
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Can pharmacists help patients afford their drugs?
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalEver since the release of the latest Hepatitis C drug, which sells for $1,000 per pill, it seems there has been more attention than ever given to the often unaffordable price of some prescription medications. But it isn’t just the rare specialty medication that is pinching the pockets of the American public these days.
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