Prescription Drug News and Research

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Pharmaceutical policies: effects of cap and co-payment on rational drug use

A new review of existing research suggests that co-pays and caps on drug expenditures could keep crucial medications out of the hands of those who need them.

13 Feb 2008

NACDS launches campaign to expand role in healthcare debate

Pharmacy is vital to healthcare quality, affordability and accessibility, and should be valued and utilized more completely. That is the message of a major advertising campaign launched today by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) as part of its increasingly proactive outreach to policymakers to tell the story of its members.

4 Feb 2008

Bush's efforts to rein in government spending places a dangerous target on health care

President George W. Bush today submitted his budget proposal to Congress for fiscal year 2009. In response Bruce Roberts, RPh, executive vice president and CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) issued the following statement:

4 Feb 2008

Researchers propose consumers buy yearly 'drug licenses' as new way to pay for prescriptions

Changing the way consumers pay for prescription drugs so that the system more closely resembles paying for cell phones or computer software could increase drug use without altering patients' out-of-pocket spending, health plan costs or drug company profits, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

23 Jan 2008

Popular sleeping pill Stilnox in danger of being classed with morphine, narcotics and amphetamines

A popular sleeping pill that has reportedly triggered bizarre side-effects in some people, could be placed by Australian drug regulators into the same class as morphine, narcotics and amphetamines.

22 Jan 2008

U.S. health authorities warn about OTC cough and cold remedies for the under 2's

Health authorities in the United States are again warning about the dangers of giving children over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines.

20 Jan 2008

Hormonal nutritional supplements might speed prostate cancer progression

Hormonal components in over-the-counter dietary supplements may promote the progression of prostate cancer and decrease the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered.

16 Jan 2008

OIG report confirms dangerously thin margins for community pharmacy

The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services released a "Review of the Relationship Between Medicare Part D Payments to Local, Community Pharmacies and the Pharmacies' Drug Acquisition Costs."

15 Jan 2008

Hormonal components in over-the-counter dietary supplements might promote prostate cancer progression

15 Jan 2008

Anti-retrovirals given daily before and after exposure to HIV prevent vaginal transmission AIDS virus

Prescription drugs now used to treat human immunodeficiency virus infection in adults may prevent the vaginal transmission of HIV, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

15 Jan 2008

Analysis defines impact of Medicare Part D

The most thorough study to date of the impact of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) found that this benefit led to a 13.1 percent decrease in out-of-pocket expenses for patients and a 5.9 percent increase in prescription use.

9 Jan 2008

Americans pay the most for prescription drugs and still don't take them

An international study of dialysis patients shows that although U.S. residents have the highest out-of-pocket drug costs, even those who can afford their prescription drugs are far less likely to take them than patients in other countries.

9 Jan 2008

FDA warnings appeared to effectively increase perception of risks involved with antidepressant treatment

U.S. Food and Drug Administration warnings regarding the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents taking antidepressants appear to have had modest and targeted effects on the intended populations, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

8 Jan 2008

Prescription drug ads on television minimize risk information

Prescription drug ads on television first hit the airwaves just over a decade ago, but a new University of Georgia study finds that most of them still do not present a fair balance of information, especially when it comes to the risk of side effects.

4 Jan 2008

Cosmecueticals improve skin

Cosmecueticals, beauty aids that reportedly work like prescription drugs, are providing new ways to treat aging skin.

2 Jan 2008

NCPA applauds pharmacy tricare provisions in the congressional passage of the defense authorization bill

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) thanks Congress for including key pharmacy provisions in the Defense Authorization Act Conference Report for fiscal year 2008 it passed last week.

17 Dec 2007

CDC study finds 5.5 percent increase in injury mortality from 1999 to 2004

Increases in deaths among 20-to-29 and 45-to-54 year olds contribute to first overall increase in years.

14 Dec 2007

Study finds disease management programs improve the quality of health care

Disease management programs that help guide the care of patients with chronic health problems appear to improve the quality of health care, but there is little evidence that such efforts actually save money, according to a study issued by the RAND Corporation.

10 Dec 2007

FDA to review potential anti-arrhythmic claims for Ranexa

CV Therapeutics, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the Company that it will evaluate the approval of potential anti-arrhythmic claims for Ranexa (ranolazine extended-release tablets) as part of its ongoing review of the Company's supplemental new drug application (sNDA).

10 Dec 2007

How much and how often should you take your medicine?

You have just been prescribed a new medication by your doctor and the container label says: "take one tablet by mouth twice daily for 7 days."

29 Nov 2007

Prescription Drug News and Research

Pharmaceutical policies: effects of cap and co-payment on rational drug use

NACDS launches campaign to expand role in healthcare debate

Bush's efforts to rein in government spending places a dangerous target on health care

Researchers propose consumers buy yearly 'drug licenses' as new way to pay for prescriptions

Popular sleeping pill Stilnox in danger of being classed with morphine, narcotics and amphetamines

U.S. health authorities warn about OTC cough and cold remedies for the under 2's

Hormonal nutritional supplements might speed prostate cancer progression

OIG report confirms dangerously thin margins for community pharmacy

Hormonal components in over-the-counter dietary supplements might promote prostate cancer progression

Anti-retrovirals given daily before and after exposure to HIV prevent vaginal transmission AIDS virus

Analysis defines impact of Medicare Part D

Americans pay the most for prescription drugs and still don't take them

FDA warnings appeared to effectively increase perception of risks involved with antidepressant treatment

Prescription drug ads on television minimize risk information

Cosmecueticals improve skin

NCPA applauds pharmacy tricare provisions in the congressional passage of the defense authorization bill

CDC study finds 5.5 percent increase in injury mortality from 1999 to 2004

Study finds disease management programs improve the quality of health care

FDA to review potential anti-arrhythmic claims for Ranexa

How much and how often should you take your medicine?

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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