Volume I January 2011

CHEM RX Gazette

HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR

Welcome to the first edition of the Chem Rx Gazette, your newsletter resource for information about Chem Rx, our services and the industry.

INDEX

1 Supporting Alzheimer’s Patients

2 ChemLink

Client Events

Recipe of the Month

3 Seminar Schedule

4-5 New Products & Indications

Ask the RPh

6 FDA News

Chem Rx is coming soon to Facebook.

Supporting Alzheimer’s Patients The New York Times recently published an article (1/1/11) on supporting Alzheimer’s patients with untraditional care. This can include allowing residents to eat what they want when they are hungry and participate in only those activities that they find pleasing. A Phoenix, Arizona nursing home employs such methods and has found that flexible care produces calmer, happier and more compliant patients. Additionally, this facility supplements traditional medication regimens with occasional evening alcohol “nips” and frequent snacks of chocolate.

Many dementia patients live in their own reality and often exhibit behavioral issues when they are forced to adhere to schedules and regimens that facilities impose. Without an effective medical treatment, the standard of care for Alzheimer’s patients is often in the care giving itself. A bit of creativity can go a long way to being able to provide effective care. Who can dismiss the value of a previously combative and aggravated patient who refused food, that will eat after feeding her “baby” first (a doll)? It seems like supporting their internal realities, instead of forcing them to live in ours can often be the key to providing comfort and reduced stress for this final stage of their lives.

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Chem Rx Gazette January 2011

How Can ChemLink Make it Easy For You?

CHEMLINK

▪ Generates cost containment drug usage and drug category reports at any time

▪ Complete, up-to-date data is readily available, with customized sorting capabilities

▪ On-line order entry system as well as refill ordering system and order D/C capability

▪ Ability to review resident’s entire profile with real-time information

▪ Track and check status details of any prescription in real time, from pharmacy to delivery

▪ Drug price calculator determines the expected medication cost of a new patient. Look up the price of any medication at any time

▪ Real Time patient profiles ▪ Ability to discharge patients from facility (NEW!) ▪ Scan prescription labels and upload to ChemLink to

reorder meds COMING SOON!

Chem Rx at Client Events

It is our privilege to support our clients and participate in their fundraising efforts. 1/11 The 2011 Friends of Palladia Breakfast – New York, NY 1/11 New York Therapeutics Communities, An Evening with Dominic Chianese of "The Sopranos" – Battery Park City, NY 2/1 AHRC New York City 31st Annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner – New York,

NY

RECIPE OF THE MONTH CHOCOLATE POPCORN

2 qts. Popped popcorn 1 cup nuts (optional)

¾ cup sugar ¼ cup corn syrup

¼ cup cocoa powder ½ cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 250 degrees, oil a 10 x 15 baking pan with sides. Place popcorn and nuts into a large bowl and set aside. Stir together sugar, corn syrup, cocoa powder and butter in saucepan over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stir in vanilla then pour over popcorn. Stir until well coated and spread into prepared pan. Bake for 30 min, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and cool.

Sunday, January 16, 2011 is the Golden Globes Awards. Try this recipe and watch to see which movie wins Best

Motion Picture Drama: Black Swan * The Fighter *

Inception * The King’s Speech * The Social Network

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Chem Rx Gazette January 2011

2011 Seminar Schedule

Chem Rx Long Beach

All seminars to take place at Leonard’s of Great Neck (Great Neck, New York)

Tuesday, March 8

Thursday, March 24th

Thursday, May 5th

Thursday, June 9th

Wednesday, September 14th

Thursday, December 1st

Chem Rx Albany

Thursday, April 14th (Radisson Hotel, Utica)

November (Date and Venue TBA)

Paula Agoglia & Steven Silva of Chem Rx

Chem Rx New Jersey

Thursday, April 28th (The Westwood in Garwood, NJ)

Tuesday, June 21st (Venue TBA)

Thursday, September 15th (The Imperia in Somerset, NJ)

Wednesday, December 7th (Forsgate Country Club)

All dates subject to change.

Register for 2011 seminars at chemrx.net

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Chem Rx Gazette January 2011

New Products The Food and Drug Administration has approved the following new drugs:

Atelvia – (Warner Chilcott) For the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. This is a delayed-release formulation of Actonel.

Baraclude – (Bristol-Myers Squibb) A nucleoside analog, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adult patients with decompensated liver disease.

Bromday – (ISTA) A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, for the treatment of post-op inflammation and reduction of ocular pain post cataract surgery.

Generic Clarinex – Desloratadine 5 mg tablets, the first approved generic equivalent of Clarinex.

Teflaro – (Forest Laboratories) An injectible antibiotic for adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (including staph).

Halaven – (Elisi) A microtubule Inhibitor injection for treatment of metastic breast cancer in patients who have undergone at least two chemotherapy regimens for late stage disease.

Iansoprazole – (ANDA) A new generic proton pump inhibitor that is the generic version of Prevacid SoluTab. A delayed release capsule in 15 mg and 30 mg will also be released shortly.

Latuda – (Sunovion) An atypical antipsychotic, for treatment of adults with schizophrenia.

Ask the Pharmacist When prescriptions are written to take with food, what is the best food to take and how should it be timed? Is the medicine less effective if food is not taken? “Take with food or milk” means any type of food. Food is recommended mainly to prevent nausea or stomach upset as is usually the case with many drugs that are taken on an empty stomach. Common examples are most antibiotics and metformin. Take medication when you start to eat or right after. The idea is to have a full stomach when   medication begins to dissolve. There are some medications whose absorption and how well or fast it starts to work is affected by food. Food, and specifically the type of food (fatty or lean), can either increase or decrease absorption of the medication. This depends on the medication. Dairy often decreases absorption of certain drugs.

If the food/dairy effects are significant, there will be separate stickers on the prescription bottle. Please follow all instructions on auxiliary stickers carefully and if you need more specifics please ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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Chem Rx Gazette January 2011

Pradaxa – (Boehringer Ingelheim) An oral direct thrombin inhibitor, for the reduction of stroke and systemic embolism risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Egrifta – (Serono EMD) A growth hormone releasing factor in the form of a once daily injection, used to treat HIV patients with lipodystophy.

New Indications Afinitor – (Novartis) now approved for adults and children with subependymal giant cell astrocytoma.

Cymbalta – (Eli Lilly) now approved for the management of chronic muscolosketal pain in patients with chronic lower back pain in patients with chronic lower back pain and pain due to osteoarthritis.

Kombiglyze XR – (Bristol-Myers Squibb & AstraZeneca) now approved for treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults.

Nexterone Premixed Injection -

Ofirmev – (Cadence Pharm.) (Injection) now approved for the management of mild to moderate pain, the management of moderate to severe pain with adjunctive opioid analgesics, and the reduction of fever.

Sprycel - (Bristol-Myers Squibb) now approved for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

Nuedexta – (Avanir) now approved for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect.

Vyvanse – (Shire PLC) now approved for the treatment of ADHD in adolescents 13-17 years of age.

(continued)

Pseudoephedrine

FDA Regulations state that the amount of Pseudoephedrine that an individual can purchase without a prescription each month is limited, and individuals are required to present photo identification to purchase products that contain this drug. In addition, stores are required to keep personal information about purchasers for two years. Due to these FDA requirements, Chem Rx will dispense this drug by prescription only.

Chem Rx Gazette January 2011

FDA News The FDA has recommended removing the breast cancer indication from Avastin (bevacizumab), as the safety and efficacy for this use has not been demonstrated after 4 clinical studies. Data indicates that the drug does not prolong overall survival or slow disease progression enough to outweigh the significant risks that the drug usage carries. The FDA lists the risks as severe high blood pressure, bleeding and hemorrhage, the development of body perforations and heart attack or failure.

New legislation strengthens the FDA’s authority to protect the country’s food supply, rather than just reacting to reports of contamination. The new laws will cover all whole and processed foods, with the exception of meat, chicken and eggs. The FDA will be able to inspect food processing plants, order recalls and set higher standards for imported products.

CHANGES IN AVASTIN INDICATION

AND FOOD OVERSIGHT

Contact Chem Rx http://chemrx.net

The information contained in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for actual professional medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment, or to make any decisions regarding an individual’s health. Chem Rx does not endorse the use of any products or services referenced herein, and although every effort is made to present current and accurate information, Chem Rx assumes no responsibility for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies with respect to the information contained herein.

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