Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 - (Page 6) 6 DRUG TOPICS JUNE 23, 2008 www.drugtopics.com > > >NEWS Roundup Professional Practice CommunityCareRx tops survey MemberHealth’s Community CCRx has been rated the top Medicare Part D plan for the second year in a row in a survey by Wilson Health Information. In addition, the survey named Prescription Solutions, RegenceRx, and Rite Aid Health Solutions as its top pharmacy benefit managers. The survey results are based on 34,454 households that completed the national survey. Community CCRx was the top plan in 24 of the 29 categories, including overall member satisfaction, reenrollment, and recommendation intentions. from year to year? That was the question Drug Topics posed in its online Instant Poll last month. While 30% of respondents said Yes, CDC is doing a good job, following close behind were 28% who said No, flu vaccine development seems to be a “guessing game,” since it is based on last year’s influenza activity. Then there were 22% who said they wish that thimerosal is removed from all flu vaccine products, and 18% who feel that CDC should do more to track flu activity patterns not only domestically but also internationally. Finally, 2% said there is not enough oversight of flu vaccine development. Some 172 people responded to this poll. ISMP conducting survey on tall man letters for drug names Does the use of tall man lettering (mixed case) help reduce drug name confusion, as when look-alike drugs are listed in computer databases? That’s what the Institute for Safe Medication Practices wants to find out. It has prepared a survey on its Web site to solicit pharmacists’ opinions. ISMP said the findings will be used to prepare an unofficial list of look-alike drug name pairs with suggested tall man letters to guide practitioners and healthcare organizations. ISMP cautioned that this will not be a Food & Drug Administration-approved list. Tall man letters on package labels will still require FDA approval. Responses to the survey are sought by June 27. FDA issues advice for switch to HFA-albuterol inhalers Come December 31, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-propelled inhalers will not be available due to their harmful effects on the atmosphere’s ozone layer. The Food & Drug Administration has issued a reminder to patients and healthcare professionals of the impending change to the more environmentally friendly hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant. Manufacturers have been ramping up production of the HFA-containing inhalers so an adequate supply is available. The agency warned that a spray of the HFA inhaler may have a softer feel or a different taste than the CFC-propelled inhalers and that HFA inhalers also require priming and cleaning to prevent buildup of drug in the device. So far, three HFA-propelled albuterol inhalers are FDA-approved: Proair HFA (Ivax), Proventil HFA (3M), and Ventolin HFA (GlaxoSmithKline). Xopenex HFA (Sepracor), containing levalbuterol, is also available. Rx Care AAP/AHA clarify ADHD cardiac risk statement Following confusion over a statement released in April about the appropriate use of an electrocardiogram (ECG) in the cardiovascular evaluation of kids receiving medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association have issued a joint advisory to clarify the recommendations. Acquiring an ECG prior to beginning treatment for ADHD is not mandatory, but is reasonable for a physician to consider as part of the evaluation of kids being considered for stimulant therapy, say the groups. Treatment should not be withheld, however, because an ECG is not performed. The clarifications are available online. FDA proposes new pregnancy categories for Rx label A proposed rule that will change the way a prescription label presents pregnancy and breastfeeding information has been issued by the Food & Drug Administration. If enacted, the revision would remove the current letter categories from the pregnancy section and reformat the information into three sections. A “Fetal Risk Summary” would provide a risk conclusion based on the available data and would be followed by a summary of the most important data on the drug’s effects. The “Clinical Considerations” section would include discussion regarding the risk to mother and baby, provide dosing information, and address handling of potential complications. The third section, “Data,” would describe the data used to form the conclusion statement in the “Fetal Risk Summary.” The lactation section of the label would follow the same format. CDC’s flu vaccine performance is mixed Are the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and vaccine manufacturers doing enough to ensure that the flu vaccine contains the best choice of virus strains http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.wilsonrx.com/ http://www.ismp.org/survey/Survey200805.asp http://www.circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.189473/DC1
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 Cargo Theft is Big Business, with Drugs a Major Target Can Motivational Interviewing Improve Patients' Drug Compliance Rates? Latest News Roundup Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 - Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 (Page 1) Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 - Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 (Page 2) Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 - Cargo Theft is Big Business, with Drugs a Major Target (Page 3) Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 - Can Motivational Interviewing Improve Patients' Drug Compliance Rates? (Page 4) Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 - Latest News Roundup (Page 5) Drug Topics - June 23, 2008 - Latest News Roundup (Page 6)
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