Drug Topics - October 15, 2007 - (Page 15)

www.drugtopics.com OCTOBER 15, 2007 DRUG TOPICS 15 this omission. Unlike many states, California requires its pharmacists to consult with every patient picking up a new prescription. “Pharmacists have important information that needs to be communicated,” argued Virginia Herold, executive officer of the California pharmacy board. “The most important thing pharmacists can do is to consult with patients. This is not intended to be punitive.” In some cases, pharmacies may be held responsible when staffing is not adequate. According to Herold, the board is also updating its notice to consumers, which offers five questions patients should ask pharmacists. Abortion supporters, foes, criticize Catholic bishops’ decision Last week’s decision by Connecticut’s Roman Catholic bishops to administer emergency contraception (EC) to all rape victims at Catholic hospitals is reigniting the 34-year-old debate over abortion. The bishops announced their decision just four days before a new state law requiring them to do so took effect. In announcing the decision, the Catholic Bishops of Connecticut released a statement that read, “the teaching authority of the church has not definitively resolved this matter and since there is serious doubt about how Plan B pills work,” the hospitals will be allowed to provide Plan B to rape victims without first requiring ovulation tests. “To administer Plan B without an ovulation test is not an intrinsically evil act.” Women administered Plan B are given a high dose of a drug found in most common birth control pills. The drug works by stopping ovulation and can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89% if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Pro-life advocates called the bishops’ decision an outrage and a crime, and urged them to reconsider. “The Connecticut Catholic Conference is acting recklessly by allowing the use of this abortifacient,” said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. Pro-choice activists, on the other hand, said they were disappointed that the bishops had to be forced into providing basic health care. “It’s doubly disappointing that women in Connecticut have had to wait for so long for this concession as the bishops’ own directives clearly allow the provision of EC after a sexual assault,” said Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for a Free Choice. the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in inhalers containing epinephrine. According to the agency, no technical barriers exist that would prevent epinephrine from being reformulated without the ozone-depleting ingredient and the CFC-containing inhalers would be removed from the market by the end of 2010. A 60-day period for public comment will commence following publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register. In addition, an open public meeting on the issue will be held at a date to be announced. Under the Clear Air Act, CFCs are permitted only in medical products determined to be essential by the FDA. Should the change go through, epinephrine would no longer carry its “essential-use” designation. Wyeth’s Advil Maximum Strength product not for sale yet Madison, N.J.-based Wyeth had notified some retailers that distribution of Advil Maximum Strength was imminent, but the product is still waiting for FDA approval. The company was told that it must meet certain conditions before the FDA can approve sale of the product. Wyeth declined to identify the items that need to be addressed. The firm is running ads that state, “Any notice of the availability of Advil Maximum Strength was in error. Advil Maximum Strength is not available for sale. We apologize to our retailers and their shoppers.” Community pharmacy caucus formed in House Several Republican and Democratic Representatives have announced the formation of the Congressional Community Pharmacy Coalition (CCPC), a caucus of lawmakers interested in preserving access to community pharmacies. The group will push for the passage of specific pharmacy-related bills, such as the Saving Our Community Pharmacies Act, and also represent community pharmacy’s interests on larger healthcare-related legislation. Modeled on other caucuses like the Rural Healthcare Coalition, CCPC will initially have 34 members of Congress but is expected to grow. “Caucuses do matter in our Congress,” explained Jerry Moran (R, Kan.). “It is only right that community pharmacists have a voice.” SCFC phaseout for epinephrine inhalers? The FDA has proposed a new regulation to phase out Senate and House consider AMP fixes Both the Senate and House of Representatives are http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - October 15, 2007 Contents Drugs in the Pipeline for Diabetes Vanquishing Med Errors from Abbreviations What Pharmacy Schools Never Taught You The Week at a Glance What Kinds of Mistakes Do Pharmacists Make?

Drug Topics - October 15, 2007

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