New Vaccine … Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Polysaccharide Diphtheria
Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine (Menactra
by Aventis Pasteur) was approved by the FDA on
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-01-17-men_x.htm
New OTC Dose Form … The FDA approved a generic over-the-counter product,
New Dose Form … The FDA announced
http://www.appdrugs.com/010705PR.html (Press Release)
http://www.abraxane.com/index.htm# (Prescribing
information)
New Dose Form … The FDA approved
an oral solution dose form for aripiprazole (Abilify® by
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceutical) on
http://www.bms.com/news/press/data/pf_press_release_5280.html (Press
Release)
New Test … by Roche, AmpliChip CYP450, that analyzes
variations in two genes that affect drug metabolism, with a big impact on drug
interactions. In
Dow Jones Newswires. FDA approves Roche gene test that aids in adjusting drug doses. Wall Street Journal online 2005 Jan 11.
MedWatch
… The FDA and Wyeth notified pharmacists and physicians of a new Medication
Guide for Cordarone® (amiodarone HCl tablets). A Medication Guide is
to be provided with each prescription that is dispensed for products that FDA
determines pose a serious and significant public health concern. A list of
currently approved Medication Guides are available at http://www.fda.gov/cder/Offices/ODS/labeling.htm.
Read
the 2005 safety summary, including links to the Dear Healthcare Professional
Letter, Dear Pharmacist Letter, current Prescribing Information, and new
Medication Guide:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2005/safety05.htm#Cordarone
ADHD drug recall … According to the Washington
Post, Alliant Pharmaceuticals recalled 500 bottles of Methylin Chewable Tablets, 5 mg (methylphenidate) due to the
tablets having potentially as much as three times the labeled active
ingredient.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11075-2005Jan14.html
FROM THE MEDICAL
LITERATURE …
New OTC … NOT … An FDA Advisory Committee rejected the proposal to move lovastatin (Mevacor® by Merck and Johnson & Johnson) to over-the-counter (OTC) status, in a 20-3 vote. This is the second rejection in four years. The general feeling seems to be that more medical oversite is needed for such a drug and disease.
Stein R. Nonprescription
sales of cholesterol drug rejected.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9916-2005Jan14.html
But wait! … Bristol Myers Squibb is moving ahead with its request to move Pravachol® (pravastatin) to OTC status. They also have tried before and failed. Perhaps it will all be in the plan and presentation as to ultimate success?
Rubin R. Another cholesterol
drug seeks OTC status.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-01-16-cholesterol-usat_x.htm
Mechanism of statins
in Alzheimers … Alzheimer disease is characterized by accumulation of
amyloid deposits in the brain that are composed of amyloid-beta (Ab) peptide, a protein fragment that is
cleaved off from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP can be cleaved in two
ways. Amyloidogenic ("amyloid generating") cleavage by the enzyme
beta-secretase yields "sticky" (Ab)
peptides that aggregate to form deposits, whereas non-amyloidogenic cleavage by
alpha-secretases generates soluble peptides that do not form deposits. Studies
in animal models and cell culture suggest that statins might modulate APP
processing and shift the balance toward "healthy" cleavage. Investigators focused on a molecule called
Pedrini S, Carter
TL, Prendergast G, Petanceska S, Ehrlich ME, et al. (2005)
Modulation of Statin-Activated Shedding of Alzheimer APP Ectodomain by
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020018
Vaccine schedule … The childhood and adolescent immunization schedule for 2005 is unchanged from that published in April 2004. In addition, the catch-up immunization schedule for children and adolescents who start late or who are >1 month behind remains unchanged from that published in April 2004. The childhood and adolescent immunization schedule and the catch-up immunization schedule for 2005 have been approved by ACIP, AAFP, and AAP.
CDC. Recommended childhood
and adolescent immunization schedule –
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5351-Immunizationa1.htm
FROM THE LAY LITERATURE about medicine …
Bad News … Nothing has changed over the last year as to the secrets of good health and long life. The axioms are still: Be active; eat smart; control weight; don’t smoke; get enough sleep; control stress. A good article to summarize the stubbornly unchanging, unforgiving, in-your-face, common sense.
Stolz C, Payne JW. A prevent
defense: You can greatly reduce risk of most aging-related disease by … well,
you already know.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64296-2005Jan10.html
Adult Fitness … OK, for all you “adults”
with some competitive spirit still left, here are four basic measures of
fitness that harkens back to your high school days. The four exercises are described so as to be
standardized and a comparative chart is given to compare against fitness
assessment in age categories. Go ahead,
if you dare …
Stoltz C. Fit for the Ages:
No Matter How Old You Are, It's Time You Checked Your Performance Against These
Fitness Yardsticks.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63962-2005Jan10.html
… Then there is caffeine. A highly illustrated (with photographs)
article on the current state of caffeine consumption worldwide as well as some
history of the popular buzz. Did you
know that a manufacturer of pantyhose has woven caffeine in the fibers as a
method of weight loss?
Reid TR, Sacha B. Caffeine. National Geographic 2005 Jan;207(1):2-32.
Vocabulary … Medication Reconciliation … roughly defined as formal procedures to identify an accurate list of a patient’s medications and compare it throughout the hospital stay, from admission, through procedures, to discharge. Medication errors in hospitals is a hot topic .. again. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is to require hospitals to adopt procedures that include a complete medication list (what a concept!). Also, medication reconciliation is one of the “best practices” of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement 100,000 lives campaign. The good news is that pharmacists are at least given a little credit for trying to emphasize the problem.
Landro L. Hospitals step up efforts to avoid medication errors. Wall Street Journal online 2005 Jan 12, pg. D4.
Naturally! … Yet
another incentive for pharmacists to learn more about natural products and
herbals.
MacGregor HE. With
stethoscopes and nature’s remedies.
“Crack down” … on
methamphetamine labs, but the push will put the onus on pharmacists. Talk is heating up in many states of
mandating that all products containing pseudoephedrine be more closely
controlled. Due to the “epidemic” of
meth labs and the attendant physical and social consequences, some states have
made it similar to codeine and put it in a Schedule V category.
Simon S. States battling meth
may put controls on cold pills.
The last “dose”
…
Despite all the recent admonitions to eschew our modern lifestyle and become more active, it is actually very dated advice:
The sovereign
invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all exercises walking is the best.
--Thomas
Jefferson [1743-1826] 
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