Patient claims Walgreens medication error caused miscarriage
October 31, 2007
A lawsuit against Walgreens has been filed by a woman who claims that a medication error caused her to have a miscarriage. She presented a prescription written for Materna, a prenatal vitamin, and instead she received Matulane (procarbazine).
Matulane is a chemotherapy drug used to treat Hodgkin’s disease.
The error occured at a Walgreens pharmacy near St. Louis, Mo.
Walgreens said it has reached a resolution with the family.
Pfizer Stops Sales on Exubera
October 29, 2007
After less than two years after introducing the new inhaled insulin drug Exubera, Pfizer announced it would stop selling the product. Despite Pfizer’s heavy promotion, Exubera’s sales were less than anticipated, with prescriptions amounting to less than 1 percent of the insulin market. Pfizer will take a charge of $2.8 billion for costs associated with Exubera, making it one of the most expensive failures in the history of the pharmaceutical industry.Several companies, including Eli Lilly, are investing in expensive programs to develop inhaled insulin. But Pfizer said it would not try to develop a replacement for Exubera, ending its inhaled insulin research after more than a decade of work.
Click here for NY Time’s full article.
In Case of Emergency
October 25, 2007
ICERx.org (In Case of Emergency Prescription history service) has been activated to provide licensed physicians and pharmacists caring for California wildfire evacuees with private, secure online access to available medication history information for affected individuals.
Using this website, health care professionals will be able to assist in the coordination of health care services and safely renew prescriptions for those who have been evacuated. The information can be used to avoid harmful prescription errors and potential drug interactions.
The Prescription data is available only to (US) licensed physicians and pharmacists who have been authenticated and registered. To register, physicians and pharmacists can call 1-888-ICERX-50.
The Prescription history is available from a variety of sources that participate with ICERx.org, including community pharmacies and Medicaid.
Pharmacy Technician awarded Silver Star for valor
October 24, 2007
A 32-year-old pharmacy technician from West Virginia has become the first U.S. Army Reserve soldier to receive the Silver Star for valor in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt.
Jason Fetty of Parkersburg, W.V., prevented a suicide bomber from detonating an explosive-packed vest during the dedication of a hospital emergency room built by his team in Khost.
Standing guard outside the hospital, Fetty noticed the bomber approach the area, where provincial officials, soldiers, and residents had gathered to celebrate the Feb. 20 opening of the emergency room. Fetty prevented the bomber from snatching his weapon, led him behind a wall, and shot him to prevent him from getting closer to the crowd.
“I can’t tell you how scary it is when you blow someone’s kneecap off and they still get up and come at you,” he recalled. After he fired a second shot into the man’s stomach, the bomber detonated his vest, wounding Fetty and several others.
Article Via Drug Topics
National Pharmacy Technician Day
October 23, 2007
Today is National Pharmacy Technician Day.
Make your “Pharmacist in Charge” buy you lunch. Send a free e-card to your fellow techs.
Enjoy the day. We all play an essential role in the safe operation of pharmacy. Thank you all for what you do.
Free Law CE on PowerPak
October 22, 2007
Here is a free CE on Powerpak.com that will count for a Law credit. We all need them. It is titled “The Growing Influence of Generic Drugs: What It Means to Pharmacists and Physicians.”
Click here to view the lesson.
Backorder
October 1, 2007
I just recieved this e-mail from McKesson, our wholesaler at my pharmacy.
“Teva’s chlorhexadine will be unavailable in the market until March of 2008. We are looking at a source for replacement. Other manufactures would need time to ramp up to meet our demand.”
Also, I apologize for the lack of updates. I was comissioned to build a website for a client and it has taken up much of my free time outside the pharm.
