January 2011 Aging Population

In addition to her studies at South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Erin Elizabeth Boles has given over 900 hours to her community.

Hypothyroidism is caused by a variety of factors, and adults, particularity women, should have a blood test to determine thyroid problems every 5 years to detect the condition and treat it effectively.

Our drug diversion expert outlines the trends and implications of drug abuse for the past 20 years in part of his review of this national issue.

Does liability attach when pharmacy staff selects a particular brand of medication delivery system and that patient passes away with the medication allegedly contributing to that death?

Studies indicate the immobilization due to bedrest is a concern for older patients, who lose their ability to perform daily activities as well as quality of life.

Among older Americans, approximately 15% are clinically depressed. Pharmacists should review patient's medication regimen and discuss symptoms, review drug side effects, and counsel the older patients about this underdiagnosed medical condition.

The FDA approved Gilenya, a Novartis Pharmaceuticals' product for relapsing multiple sclerosis. The approved labeling indicates it reduces the frequency of clinical exacerbation and delays accumulation of physical disability.

Although triple drug interactions are not well studied, available information points to some general principles that may be useful in managing such combination.

The use of e-prescribing systems offers gains in efficiency of communication between prescriber, pharmacy, and pharmacy benefit manager, but problems involving electronically transmitted prescriptions still exist.

Urinary incontinence can often be improved or cured. Many patients do not seek help, so the problem is left untreated. Here is how the pharmacist can help.

Older patients often find medication adherence difficult, as the use of multiple medications create challenges. Pharmacists can help in a variety of ways to identify the problem and implement corrective action.

The blood modifier category of drugs works stimulating bone marrow to produce more cells and they affect certain diseases such as cancer and chronic kidney failure.