California Pharmacists May Now Dispense Naloxone Without Prescription
Pharmacists in California may now provide naloxone, the medication that can help to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, without a prescription after the California State Board of Pharmacy approved new emergency regulations (PDF). To be eligible to dispense the drug under the new regulations, pharmacists must complete one hour of continuing education (CE) […]
Read More ›Counterfeit Botox Found in the United States, FDA Warns
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting health care providers that a counterfeit version of Botox® has been found in the United States, and may have been sold to doctors’ offices and clinics throughout the country. The counterfeit products may be identified by a missing lot number on the vial, missing information on the carton […]
Read More ›Consumers Urged to Protect Themselves When Shopping for Prescription Medication Online
With thousands of illegally operating websites selling prescription drugs, the Partnership for Safe Medicines is urging consumers to protect themselves from substandard, dangerous, and counterfeit drugs by checking that online pharmacies are accredited by NABP’s Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites® (VIPPS®) or Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites® (Vet-VIPPS®) programs. The organization encourages patients who are […]
Read More ›Proposed Medical Marijuana Bill in Louisiana Would Include Board of Pharmacy in Creating Distribution System
Louisiana State Senator Fred Mills has introduced legislation that would facilitate the development of a legal distribution system for medical marijuana. Under current Louisiana law, medical marijuana is legal, but the state lacks a legal distribution system, according to The Daily Iberian. Senate Bill 143, would authorize the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to develop rules “relating […]
Read More ›FDA Reveals New Guidance for Abuse-Deterrent Opioid Development
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued final guidance for manufacturers on the development and labeling of abuse-deterrent opioids, the agency announced last week. The guidance document, “Guidance for Industry: Abuse-Deterrent Opioids – Evaluation and Labeling,” recommends the studies manufacturers should conduct to show that a given drug formulation is abuse-deterrent. The guidance also suggests […]
Read More ›Canadian Online Pharmacy Subject of Further FDA, Canadian Scrutiny
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) raided the headquarters of CanadaDrugs.com last week, Canada’s largest online pharmacy and the subject of past US FDA investigations. CBC News reports that RCMP is silent on why the online retailer was raided, but the company has had issues in the past. In 2012, FDA accused CanadaDrugs.com of shipping […]
Read More ›Teens and Toddlers at Great Risk of Accidental Medication Poisoning, Study Finds
Toddlers and teens are at the most risk of experiencing accidental medication poisoning, reports a new study from Safe Kids Worldwide and the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The two groups found that nearly half of 1.34 million calls to poison centers each year for children relate to medicine. Also, the percent of 15-19 […]
Read More ›New Study Examines College Student Misuse and Abuse of ADHD Medications
A new study has found that approximately 17% of college students have misused or abused prescription stimulants and seeks to offer guidance for future research into the issue, as well as preliminary suggestions for prevention efforts. The study found that peers with prescriptions are the most common source for those abusing the medications that are […]
Read More ›FDA Approves First Biosimilar in US, Expects Other Biosimilars to Be Approved Soon
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zarxio® (filgrastim-sndz) as a biosimilar to Neupogen for the same five indications for which United States-licensed Neupogen® is approved. The formulation of Zarxio differs from that of US-licensed Neupogen in one inactive component, and a review of evidence demonstrated that “there are no clinically meaningful differences between Zarxio […]
Read More ›Federal Judge Overturns Maine Prescription Drug Import Law
A United States district court judge has ruled that Maine’s 2013 law allowing consumers to import prescription drugs by mail from certain countries circumvents federal law; as a result, the import law is no longer valid in Maine. The judge’s decision was the result of a legal battle between the state and the Maine Pharmacy […]
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