Seniors in South at Much Greater Risk of Getting High-Risk Drugs

Pharmacists’ chance of dispensing high-risk drugs to seniors is much greater in the South than other areas of the country. A new study finds that, nationwide, many Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are getting questionable prescriptions when safer alternatives are available. Here are the details, including a list of the high-risk drugs studied.

Therapy Never Initiated, Discontinued Early by Some Breast Cancer Patients

New data suggesting benefits for longer duration of hormone-blocking therapies in breast cancer patients may go for naught if adherence issues aren’t resolved. That’s according to a new study that finds about a quarter of women either never start or never finish the therapy. Here’s what may be contributing to the trend.

Flu Season Winds Down; It’s Time to Prepare for
the Next One

This year’s flu season was long and difficult, but, with spring on the horizon, it is no longer necessary for pharmacists to recommend the current vaccine, according to the CDC. Instead, public health officials recommend that planning begin for next year. For those who aren’t sure whether they’ll be primarily administering trivalent or quadrivalent vaccines, the CDC has the answer.

FDA Won’t Approve Generics for Original Oxycontin; OKs Reformulated Label

Pharmacists shouldn’t expect generic versions of Oxycontin to be available in the foreseeable future. The FDA approved label changes for reformulated Oxycontin and, on the same day the initial product’s patent expired, said it wouldn’t accept any generic forms that rely on approval of the original product. Here’s what was behind the decision.