September 2018 Immunization

Vulvovaginal atrophy, a component of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, is characterized by a range of symptoms associated with the declining levels of estrogen among postmenopausal women.

Why do many pharmacies have bare-bones waiting areas, with nothing more than a few chairs squeezed into a corner?

Brown-bag consults can be essential educational and safety tools to measure and ensure quality care. By asking patients to bring in all their current medications, including OTC, mail-order, specialty, and herbal products, pharmacists can guarantee appropriate and up-to-date care.

Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has greatly reduced HIV-associated morbidity and mortality and improved the quality of life for those living with HIV.

What should these pharmacists do?

Telehealth has become a viable niche in US health care because it lets patients and providers use technology to seek medical advice and diagnose and treat illnesses.

The growth of pharmacists’ roles across health care settings has led to the need for a comparable evolution in the responsibilities and roles of pharmacy technicians.

With school back in session, concerns about prescription medications are top of mind.

A pharmacist receives a fraudulent prescription for a controlled substance. A police officer asks the pharmacist to dispense the drug, so the offender can be arrested. Does honoring the prescription justify firing the pharmacist? Can the pharmacist recover damages under the state’s whistle-blower law?

Patients have probably heard about probiotics and their role in maintaining digestive health, but they may be unaware of how to use them.

The antibacterial agent linezolid is a nonselective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO), and when it is combined with serotonergic agents, it has been associated with serotonin syndrome. A recent case of serotonin syndrome was reported with concur- rent use of linezolid and methadone.

Amid the opioid overdose epidemic, Pharmacy Times has launched a series of training videos aimed at educating pharmacists about the role of naloxone, an opioid antagonist indicated for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, in combating the crisis.

Many pharmacists report that although they like immunizing patients, they sometimes experience awkward silence when preparing injections or offer canned responses when patients ask questions.

Opioid analgesics made with abuse-deterrent formulations (adfs) are a prominent strategy designed to combat the opioid epidemic.

Technology-savvy health care professionals are advocating for the use of text messaging to transmit orders and prescriptions.

Edward Jenner created the first vaccine to protect against smallpox in the 1790s.1 Since then, the pathway to effective and safe vaccines has not been direct or easy, yet millions of lives have been saved, proving that vaccines, in general, are powerful medical interventions.1

Rural communities throughout the united states are at the heart of what makes this nation thrive, yet far too often the residents of these areas lack access to the health care they need. Residents of rural communities account for 20% of the US population, but just 10% of physicians practice in these areas, limiting patient interaction with primary care providers.

The immune system is essential for our survival and has several critical functions that protect the human body, It guards against damage, disease, and infectious organisms, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses in the environment.

Bossy patients, abandoned prescriptions, drive-thru demands? We want to know! Send your pet peeves to PetPeeves@pharmacytimes.com. We’ll share them here and online.

Read about the OTC products featured in September.

Can you figure out what these prescriptions are saying?

With summer ending, now is a great time to ensure that children and adolescents, from preschool through college age, are up-to-date on their vaccines for school.

The most common strains of influenza start to emerge in epidemics a full 6 to 9 months ahead of European and North American outbreaks

Spending for the 10 most expensive brand name combination drugs could have been reduced by an estimated $2.7 billion between 2011 and 2016 if lower-cost generics had been prescribed, according to researchers.

With flu season around the corner, hospitals and other health care facilities will soon be encouraging staff members to protect themselves from the virus with an annual vaccine.

The recent resurgence of mumps in the United States may be linked to waning vaccine protection, according to a recent analysis.

Acetaminophen overuse becomes much more common in the United States during cold and flu season, according to a recently published study.