Pharmacy & Therapeutics - June 2008 - (Page 310)

CONTENTS Cover: Interventional coronarography without preparation, oblique view, showing a stent (3.5 x 30 mm) in place in the circumflex artery after dilatation by balloon catheter. See related article on page 348. (© Sovereign/ISM/Phototake. All rights reserved.) June 2008 FEATURES LETTER TO THE EDITOR Aliskiren Reduces Plasma Renin Activity Marjorie Gatlin, MD COVER STORY 319 DEPARTMENTS Editorial 314 David Nash, MD, MBA, offers strategies for current workers and young people preparing to enter an evolving pharmaceutical industry. Medication Errors 320 Matthew Grissinger, RPh, FASCP, reports on a survey in which many respondents said they had put off filling prescriptions, cut back on doses, or bought drugs illegally from other countries because of the high cost of prescribed drugs. Prescription: Washington 327 Stephen Barlas discusses the damage that can be done when the FDA does not approve drug ads before they are broadcast on television. New Drugs/Drug News/ New Medical Devices 328 From Advair to Taclonex, P&T presents the latest information about FDA approvals, new indications, recalls, and industry updates. Drug Forecast 337 Drs. Maddox and Rahman review etonogestrel (Implanon), a contraceptive. 310 P&T® • June 2008 • Vol. 33 No. 6 Challenges in Evaluating and Standardizing Medical Devices in Health Care Facilities Advances in medical technologies have led to improved diagnoses and treatments, but medical devices do not always undergo the rigorous review process that is applied to drugs. To control costs, some health care facilities are becoming more selective in how they evaluate new devices. C. Lee Ventola, MS TECHNOLOGY 348 California e-Pedigree Rules Pose Challenges For Pharmacies Because of the complex process involved in adding bar codes to all drug packages in order to prevent fraud, it might be difficult for pharmacies to fulfill the requirements of the e-Pedigree law, even by the target date of 2011. Stephen Barlas 360 Pharmaceutical Approval Update Medically accepted off-label uses of azacitidine (Vidaza) and a new indication for lubiprostone (Amitiza) are discussed. Marvin M. Goldenberg, PhD, RPh, MS MEETING HIGHLIGHTS 362 American Psychiatric Association Presentations cover iloperidone (Fanapta) for schizophrenia, asenapine for bipolar disorder, and virtual reality sessions for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. Walter Alexander P&T SNAPSHOT 364 At a Glance: Dermatology Trends in Managed Care According to a 2007 report, most dermatologists predicted that biologic therapies would be used more frequently in the next year; did not follow formularies they considered too restrictive; and expressed concern about denials of paper claims and reimbursements for surgical procedures combined with office visits. Noah Scheinfeld, MD, John Jesitus, MA, and Peter Sonnenreich, MA 365

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Pharmacy & Therapeutics - June 2008

Editorial Aliskiren Reduces Plasma Renin Activity Medication Errors Prescription: Washington New Drugs/Drug News/ New Medical Devices Drug Forecast Challenges in Evaluating and Standardizing Medical Devices in Health Care Facilities California e-Pedigree Rules Pose Challenges For Pharmacies Pharmaceutical Approval Update American Psychiatric Association At a Glance: Dermatology Trends in Managed Care

Pharmacy & Therapeutics - June 2008

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