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Editor's Notebook |
A Pharmacist at 36,000 Feet
A pharmacist’s knowledge of medications can be lifesaving in an emergency situation. |
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Counseling Pearls |
Antipsychotic-Induced Diabetes Mellitus
As some antipsychotics are less likely to contribute to weight gain, it is prudent to choose a lower-risk drug in people who are at high risk for or have a preexisting diagnosis of diabetes or in whom hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and/or substantial weight gain develops. |
Schizophrenia: Managing Symptoms With Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics are the mainstay of therapy for this complicated psychiatric disorder. The choice of agent depends upon individual preference, prior treatment response, side-effect profiles, and patient medical history. |
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It's the Law |
Emergency Contraception: Law & Ethics
Illinois pharmacists are no longer required to dispense emergency contraception when their own religious beliefs are opposed to its use. |
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Clinical Corner |
Depression in Cardiac Patients: Underrecognized and Undertreated
Depression occurs in 10% to 20% of post–myocardial infarction patients and 15% to 30% of heart failure patients and has been associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in these high-risk populations. |
Psychiatric Drug-Drug Interactions: A Refresher
The vast increase in the number of new psychopharmacologic agents has made more therapeutic options available, but it has complicated patient treatment. Combination therapy with psychotropics also makes adverse drug reactions more likely. |
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TechRx |
Health Information Technology Supports the Management of Infectious Disease
Health information technology now provides easy, real-time access to high-quality data and decision support to link patient care with the information needed to improve outcomes. |
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Consult Your Pharmacist |
What Is the Place of St. John’s Wort?
Patients should use caution when taking this herbal supplement for depression. |
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Educational Spotlight |
Drug-Induced Osteoporosis: A Review of Medications That Affect Bone Mineral Density
Since most diseases treated with these agents render the occurrence of low BMD more likely, these drugs can further compromise a patient’s bone structure. |
Special Considerations for the Treatment of HIV in Women
Antiretroviral therapy plays an integral role in preventing perinatal transmission of the disease. |
Update on the Treatment and Prevention of MRSA Infections
Pharmacists can help develop programs to improve outcomes, halt antimicrobial resistance, and reduce adverse events. |
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HIV Screening Recommendations Expanded
Washington, DC — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has proposed draft guidelines recommending that all individuals ages 15 to 64 years get an HIV test at least once—not just those considered at high risk for the virus. Of the more than 1.1 million Americans living with HIV, nearly 1 in 5 are not aware they have the disease. The goal is to remove the stigma associated with HIV screening and make it simply a routine part of a checkup like a mammogram or cholesterol test. If finalized, the task force guidelines could extend the number of people eligible for an HIV screening without a copay in their physician's office, as part of free preventive care under the Affordable Care Act. |
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Antibiotics in Pregnancy Linked to Childhood Asthma
Copenhagen, Denmark— According to a Danish study, children whose mothers took antibiotics while they were pregnant were more likely than other children to develop asthma. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen gathered information from a Danish national birth database of more than 30,000 children born between 1997 and 2003 and followed them for 5 years. The children who had been exposed to antibiotics were 17% more likely to be hospitalized for asthma and were also 18% more likely to have been given a prescription for an asthma medication. The results suggest that the mother’s use of antibiotics changes the body's own natural bacteria, which impacts the maturation of the infant’s immune system. |
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Tomato Consumption May Reduce Stroke Risk
Kuopio, Finland — Eating tomatoes and tomato-based products may confer a lower risk of stroke, according to new research from the University of Eastern Finland. In their study of 1,031 men aged 46 to 65 years, researchers discovered that subjects with the highest blood levels of lycopene (an antioxidant occurring abundantly in tomatoes) were 55% less likely to have a stroke than subjects with the lowest levels. Subjects, whose lycopene levels were measured at baseline, were followed for a mean of 12 years. Twenty-five of 258 subjects with the lowest lycopene levels had a stroke, versus 11 of 259 subjects with the highest levels. These results support earlier evidence that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits is associated with a reduced risk of stroke. |
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