Pharmacy & Therapeutics - October 2008 - (Page 562)

CONTENTS Cover: Photomicrograph. Lewy body of a pigmented neuron in the substantia nigra from a patient with Parkinson’s disease. Magnification 400x (at 24 x 36 mm). See related article on page 590. (© Pr. J. J. Hauw, ISM / Phototake. All rights reserved.) October 2008 FEATURES COVER STORY Medical Management of Parkinson’s Disease 590 DEPARTMENTS Editorial 566 David Nash, MD, MBA, muses on the gloomy mood of Moody’s Investor Services. Medication Errors 567 Matthew Grissinger, RPh, FASCP, explains how easy it is to misprogram pumps used for patient-controlled analgesia. Prescription: Washington 569 Stephen Barlas discusses the need for Congress to fund a program to evaluate the cost effectiveness of drugs and medical devices. New Drugs/Drug News/ New Medical Devices 570 From Altace to Zyprexa, P&T presents the latest studies and information about FDA approvals, new indications, product recalls, and industry updates. Drug Forecast 574 Dr. Erowele reviews alvimopan, a mu-opioid receptor antagonist (Entereg), for postoperative ileus. A comprehensive discussion of the causes, epidemiology, diagnosis, symptoms, and pharmacotherapy for this movement disorder is presented, with an emphasis on the efficacy and adverse effects of pharmaceutical treatments. Marvin M. Goldenberg, PhD, RPh, MS HEALTH CARE AND LAW Why Is Health Care Regulation So Complex? Although the intricacies of health care regulation may seem inefficient and unwieldy, our system of local, state, and national checks and balances actually makes a certain amount of sense. Dr. Field discusses the logic behind the complexities of the present regulatory system. Robert I. Field, JD, MPH, PhD COMMENTARY 607 The Next President’s Prescription for Action on Drugs Obama and McCain Positions Similar—with One Major Difference The outlook for Medicare Part D and universal health insurance coverage may depend, in part, on who is elected President and how Congress decides to act. Stephen Barlas P&T SNAPSHOT 609 Trends in Managing Multiple Sclerosis The Multiple Sclerosis Trend Report reveals the need for many improvements in treating this expensive and complex disease, such as containing costs of biotech drugs, easing the process of obtaining patient reimbursements and physician payments, developing a role for specialty pharmacy, and eliminating barriers to patient–pharmacy communication. Mari Edlin and Peter Sonnenreich, MA SECTION TWO 611 Product Profiler: Sancuso® (Granisetron Transdermal Delivery System) 562 P&T® • October 2008 • Vol. 33 No. 10

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Pharmacy & Therapeutics - October 2008 Contents Editorial Medication Errors Prescription: Washington New Drugs/Drug News/ New Medical Devices Drug Forecast Medical Management of Parkinson’s Disease Why Is Health Care Regulation So Complex? The Next President’s Prescription for Action on Drugs Trends in Managing Multiple Sclerosis Product Profiler: Sancuso®

Pharmacy & Therapeutics - October 2008

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