Aged To Perfection

Following up on my last post about embracing middle age.. Who says we don't get better as we age. This woman is 50 years old. OMG!!

Get Some Balls

C'mon Democrats. We grew a pair in helping push through the President's promise for healthcare reform. Now let's get some balls and let the President know we want him to keep his campaign promise to bring our troops home. We don't need another Vietnam.

When Life Gets You Down

Affected by the recession? Have you been laid off, out of money and are now facing foreclosure? Are creditors calling you at all hours of the day? Are these problems beginning to affect your children?

Well, you're only one pill away from freedom. When life gets you down, try Ignorital. Don't worry, be happy.

A Pharmacist Who Loves His Job

Fawn Germer loves her father. So, she wrote a short story about his career adventures.

This is not the story of a man starting out with one store and turning it into an empire. It is the story of a man who loved being a pharmacist so much that he refused to quit — no matter what.

Career Lessons from Fred the Pharmacist

Here's Fred now, looking good and going strong at 82 years of age.

This Is Why We Clot

Just received some news from the FDA about a significant drug-drug interaction between clopidogrel and omeprazole.

According to this report:

Omeprazole inhibits the drug metabolizing enzyme (CYP2C19) which is responsible for the conversion of clopidogrel into its active form (active metabolite). The new studies compared the amount of clopidogrel's active metabolite in the blood and its effect on platelets (anti-clotting effect) in people who took clopidogrel plus omeprazole versus those who took clopidogrel alone. A reduction in active metabolite levels of about 45% was found in people who received clopidogrel with omeprazole compared to those taking clopidogrel alone. The effect of clopidogrel on platelets was reduced by as much as 47% in people receiving clopidogrel and omeprazole together. These reductions were seen whether the drugs were given at the same time or 12 hours apart. (My emphasis)

The report also recommends that:

The concomitant use of omeprazole and clopidogrel should be avoided because of the effect on clopidogrel's active metabolite levels and anti-clotting activity. Patients at risk for heart attacks or strokes, who are given clopidogrel to prevent blood clots, may not get the full protective anti-clotting effect if they also take prescription omeprazole or the OTC form (Prilosec OTC).

Sounds pretty serious to me. So, I thought I would ask a few highly talented pharmacy students their thoughts on anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy, and maybe they could shed some light on this serious interaction.



Hat tip to MindOverMatter at the SDN Forums.

The Oxycontin Express

Want to know why most pharmacists have no sympathy for adult prescription drug abusers and those who enable them? Watch this.

The OxyContin Express is a powerful one-hour documentary on prescription drug abuse. Current TV - Vanguard Journalism correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to South Florida, the "Colombia of prescription drugs," to expose a bustling pill pipeline that stretches from the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale to the rolling hills of Appalachia.

The OxyContin Express features intimate access with pill addicts, prisoners and law enforcement as each struggles with a growing national epidemic.

Here's the trailer -



Visit the Vanguard Journalism website to watch the entire episode.

Rage-Ex, For Excessive Rationality

Do you suffer from a dangerously rational, reasoned reactions to sensible healthcare proposals? Then incite your inner rage with Rage-Ex, and get back on the road to irrationality. Now available at many right-wing apocalypses apothecaries near you.



Source: Fiore Blog