Drug Shortages

It seems that drug shortages have been getting worse and worse over the last couple years, and there is no end in sight. Drug shortages are caused by a number of factors, including slow production of less-profitable generics, the consolidation of pharmaceutical companies, snags in manufacturing and crackdowns in regulations on companies. The University of Utah’s Drug Information service has kept track of these drug shortages for the last ten years, saying that the short supply has risen from 70 drugs in 2006 to 211 in 2010. Already in the first quarter of 2011, 89 drugs were in short supply.

So how are doctors coping with these problems? Simply put, they have to prioritize who receives many treatments. As drugs including chemotherapy medication, antibiotics, painkillers, and electrolytes used for liquid nutrition are included on the shortage list, doctors are having to decide which patients will benefit from them the most. Often times, they will also delay treatment to their patients, having to explain to them that later treatment is better than treatment with suboptimal options.

With patience and understanding from the patients and hard work by the doctors, most of the pitfalls from the drug shortage can be overcome and patients can receive solid medical care. But still, some worry about the future. With no end to the drug shortages in sight, how will doctors and patients cope in the future?

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Verizon Apps Help Find Cheapest Meds

Recently, Verizon Wireless and Medco Health Solutions have teamed up to provide a mobile application for BlackBerry and Android smart phones though its V Cast apps to help their users locate the best lowest-cost prescription drugs.

Medco Health Solutions provides pharmacy services to more than 65 million customers. In order to access the smart phone application, users must first register at the Medco website and then download the application onto their phone. Once the application is installed, they will be able to access its features including My Rx Choices, which delivers a personalized breakdown of out-of-pocket costs for any prescription medication as well as other potential lower-cost options, My Medicine Cabinet, which allows users to keep track of which medication they are on as well as schedule reminders to take medications for them and others in the household, and Prescription ID Card, which allows online access to the member’s prescription drug card.

Medco feels that the addition of a smart phone application to their services was an important one, as millions rely on their smart phones for quick and reliable information. By having this important prescription drug information at their fingertips, people are able to make better informed decisions when picking the best and most cost effective prescription drugs for them or their loved ones.

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FDA Pulls Avandia from Shelves

Last month, the United States Food and Drug Administration announced that starting in November 2011 the diabetes drug Avandia would no longer be sold at retail pharmacies. This is because the controversial drug poses an increased risk of cardiovascular issues to its patients. For those who have safely used the drug in the past, they can enroll in the Avandia-Rosiglitazone Medicines Access Program in order to continue their prescription, so long as they have shown no success in controlling their blood sugar with other diabetes medications or they have been informed of the risks and still choose to take Avandia.

Avandia is made with the drug Rosiglitazone, which can be found in Avandamet and Avandaryl as well. Both these drugs will be pulled off the market also. The parent company of these drugs, GlaxoSmithKline, plans on informing pharmacists and doctors about the new access protocols over the next couple months, and encourages patients to begin discussing changes to their diabetes treatments with their doctors.

The limitations to the use of Avandia and rosiglitazone in general have been long coming. According to studies, more than 23 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. In a 2007 trial of the drug, almost 40 percent of people showed an increased risk of heart attack. These findings were not found in such high levels, and today almost half a million Americans fill prescriptions with rosiglitazone. This number is dropping, though, and only expected to drop more as the regulations come into place.

For patients that use Avandia, safer alternatives such as Actos are being pursued by some doctors, and it is possible Avandia will eventually be pushed out of the market. If you have been using Avandia to control your diabetes for many years, talk to your doctor about your options in this matter.

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Pharmacies Advertising on Google

Google has been warned, but have you?

Online pharmaceutical sales is big business – research firm eMarketer estimates that pharmacy advertising generates a revenue of around $1 billion for search engines. It is quick and easy to find the drugs you might need online, but some of these online pharmacies are questionable. A study done by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), a group representing state regulators in the US and Canada, estimated that 96% of internet drug outlets appear to be violating pharmacy laws or standards in their internet marketing strategies.

Even more recently, documents shared with the Wall Street Journal have shown that Google has been repeatedly warned that many pharmaceutical companies buying advertising space on their search engine are, in fact, illegal online drug stores. The products sold by these companies can be dangerous – whether because they are bought without a prescription, are out of date, or, even worse, are not the same product that is being advertised on the website.

Currently, federal prosecutors are investigating whether or not Google was aware of the questionable reputation of some of the rogue pharmacies with which it has done business. Recent news says that Google has set aside $500 million for payments it might have to make in retribution upon the investigation by the US Justice Department into their online advertising practices.

So what do these allegations mean for the consumer? Well, look for changes in the paid advertisements on Google in the near future. Already, it has switched over to a system also used by search engines Yahoo! and Microsoft using the NABP’s list of verified pharmacies to determine if vendors are legitimate. Besides this, consumers themselves can look carefully at the page and check for its credentials so that they are assured they are receiving the best pharmaceutical products they can find.

Contact HCC Pharmacy Business Solutions for all your pharmacy design, management and interim pharmacy management needs.