Improving the health care system to lower costs and make health care more accessible has been a topic of discussion in the U.S. for decades. One objection to President Obama’s health care bill was the fear that there would not be enough doctors to cover the additional patients and services. Fortunately, pharmacies were already in […]
If a customer comes to you with an infection asking about OTC medications, would you know if it were MRSA? MRSA is a strain of staphylococcus aureus, or staph infection resistant to antibiotics. Staph bacteria can be found anywhere, including on the skin of nearly 1/3 of the population. About one out of every 100 […]
On April 19, the Obama administration announced a new initiative designed to reduce prescription drug abuse. The plan, unveiled at the National Press Club in Washington, will involve a cooperative effort between four federal agencies: the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, FDA, and DEA.
The FDA has declared war on over the counter (OTC) medications, with the main targets being cold and fever medications, dietary supplements, and antacids. With OTC products increasingly harder to find, it’s up to pharmacists to fill the gap for consumers and help them find replacement products that meet their needs.
Some drug companies are grabbing up exclusive rights to common, previously untested medications and jacking the prices up to sky-high levels. How did this happen?
Many pharmacies offer a disposal service for unused medications, but the reality is that average customers don’t know about it –and don’t know to ask. As pharmacists, it is our business to offer information, because frankly, who else will?
Pharmacists are expected to know everything about every drug, an expectation that is patently ridiculous. How do you maintain your credibility when a client or friend asks about one of the 50 gazillion possible drug side effects or interactions? That’s right, there’s an app for that. Some of these nifty apps are exclusive to iPhone, […]
With new brick-and-mortars springing up on every corner, Walgreen’s $409 million acquisition of Drugstore.com should come as no real surprise. Walgreens currently has 7,689 locations throughout the U.S. and does business online at Walgreens.com. Drugstore.com’s purchase price will come from Walgreen’s existing buyout chest, which is well stocked after racking up $67 billion in fiscal […]
