-
Hospitals seeing increase in anti-diarrhea drug overdoses
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcareEmergency departments are seeing an influx of patients who are overdosing on over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medications. The majority are using medicines containing loperamide to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms; others are using them to achieve a heroin-like high.
-
Do we really need another pharmacy school?
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalIn spite of growing concerns among pharmacists that the job market has already become saturated, there is news of yet another pharmacy school seeking to open its doors. Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is beginning to evaluate the feasibility of opening a pharmacy school, adding to the six schools of pharmacy already in existence in the state.
-
Benzodiazepine linked to higher risk of overdose death
Dr. Denise A. Valenti PharmaceuticalIn William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," the tragic character states, "To die, to sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream — ay, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come." However, the sleep of death is what close to 15 million adults risked as they filled their sleep, sedative, anxiolytic or anticonvulsant prescriptions containing benzodiazepine. A new study published in the April issue of the American Public Health Association Journal reported an increase in overdose mortality related to benzodiazepine prescriptions between the years 1996 and 2013.
-
Pharmacists on the front line of polypharmacy
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalMore patients are on multiple-drug regimens than ever before, and the numbers are climbing. In a study published in the March edition of JAMA Internal Medicine, the concurrent use of at least five medications in older adults increased from about 30 percent to 35 percent from 2006 to 2011. Additionally, the use of dietary supplements rose from about 52 percent to 64 percent during the same time.
-
Study: Allergy medications linked to Alzheimer’s disease
Dr. Denise A. Valenti PharmaceuticalAllergy season is upon us, and while the use of seasonal allergy products may provide immediate relief, they may also come with long-term consequences. The very medications to stem the tickle in your nose are potentially doing damage to your brain. That's certainly nothing to sneeze at.
-
How did we get here? The complex history of the opioid addiction problem
Joan Spitrey PharmaceuticalIn an effort to bring attention to the undertreatment of pain in America, Dr. James Campbell, president of the American Pain Society, encouraged healthcare providers to treat pain as seriously as they do vital signs. From Campbell's speech to the APS in 1996, the concept of pain as the "fifth vital sign" was born.
-
The increasing price of insulin harms patients
Dr. Abimbola Farinde PharmaceuticalMany Americans depend on life-saving drugs to achieve and maintain some degree of a quality of life. Given that some conditions can be debilitating or life threatening, it is critical that these individuals have access to their medications when needed.
-
Pharmacists: Don’t be afraid to spread the news of what you do
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalI recently had the privilege of speaking to a local group of physicians about the services we are implementing in our pharmacy. Their appreciation of this talk compels me to share our story with others. Just to give you some background, I manage an outpatient pharmacy inside a medium-sized hospital. Our business model, however, is not merely focused on helping patients transition to home — though this is a critical piece of our plan.
-
How can nurses help slow opioid abuse?
Joan Spitrey Healthcare AdministrationMost nurses today would quickly agree there is an epidemic of overuse and abuse of prescription pain medication. The public is also beginning to see the effects of liberal prescriptive practices and abuse of prescription medications.
-
Brand and specialty drugs causing increased drug spending
Dr. Abimbola Farinde PharmaceuticalMost drugmakers have come to realize specialty drugs are where they can achieve the most money, and they have been seeking ways to take advantage of this in recent years. As a result, the associated costs of drugs in the United States have become a major topic of discussion, particularly as they relate to escalating drug prices that can be felt by consumers or payers.
All Pharmaceutical Articles