Anaphylaxis, Asthma Devices Misused Most of the Time by Patients 

Pharmacists shouldn’t assume that patients picking up prescription epinephrine auto-injectors or metered-dose inhalers know how to use the devices. A new study finds widespread misuse—even if patients think they know what they are doing. Here are the details.

Benzodiazepine Emergencies Often Serious, Especially in Older Users 

Pharmacists, prescribers, and other healthcare providers need to better caution patients about drug-drug reactions that can occur when using benzodiazepines, according to a new federal study. That is especially the case for patients 65 and older, with more than 70% having a bad outcome leading to hospitalization or death after combining those drugs with opioids and alcohol.

Mixing Clarithromycin Even with ‘Safer’ Statins Can Create Adverse Events

Because rosuvastatin and pravastatin are metabolized differently than other statins, conventional wisdom suggests they might be okay to coadminister with the antibiotic clarithromycin. A new study finds that is not the case, however. How much did the combinations increase risk of hospital admission? 

Extra Benefit for Bisphosphonates? Protection Against Endometrial Cancer 

Women who need bone-strengthening medications and who also have increased risk for endometrial cancer might be advised to choose the nitrogen form of bisphosphonates. That’s according to a new study finding that specific form of bisphosphonates could reduce the risk of developing the cancer. Find out how much of a protective effect was demonstrated.