SSRIs and pregnancy

The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in pregnancy, particularly sertraline and citalopram, may increase a baby’s risk of septal heart defects. A population-based study of 493,113 children born in Denmark between 1996 and 2003, published online in the British Medical Journal, found that the odds ratio for septal heart defects was 3.25 for sertraline, 2.52 for citalopram, and 1.34 for fluoxetine.

Smoking while pregnant

One in six women smoked while pregnant and one-fifth of Australian children were overweight, according to the latest snapshot of the health of the country's children. Tobacco smoke contain carcinogens. The current view on cancer is that carcinogenicity is a stochastic effect, where various environmental factors trigger the development of cancer. While exposure to a carcinogen increases the probability of cancer, the process remains random.

Pharmacy Expo 09

Pharmacy Expo is a three days of networking, education and innovation in pharmacy.
Visitors who register online will receive an automated E-Ticket. If you are unable to book online, you can simply register on the day. Visit us at Hall 4, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour. Open 8.30am to 5pm on Friday 12th and 9am-5pm on Saturday 13th June & Sunday 14th June.

Electronic scripts errors

It has been found that computerised prescription systems used by pharmacists were causing errors and leading to inconsistent information, according to a new study carried out in the United States.

Forced sell of Pharmacy Direct

Coles was forced to sell Pharmacy Direct its cut-price pharmacy chain, which was bought for $48 million in 2006 with annual sales turnover of $35 million. RX Direct Pty Ltd, a company owned by the pharmacist members of the Terry White Chemists Advisory Board, had bought Pharmacy Direct from now.com.au Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Wesfarmers, which owns Coles. The business, changed hands for less than $15 million. Pharmacy Direct, a mostly online chemist that Coles bought two years ago, was not owned by a pharmacist, hence it breached the Pharmacy Act. National president of Pharmacy Guild of Australia Kos Sclavos has been opposing Coles's ownership since 2006 and had been fighting it in court until he won.

PBS drugs price cuts

THE Health dept has announced that several PBS drugs will be subject to price reductions on 01 Aug 2009, due to the first round of the new disclosure regime. The system, introduced as part of the PBS Reform package, gives the govt total transparency in PBS pricing, allowing it to achieve savings on behalf of taxpayers. Reductions, based on data collected from manufacturers during during 2008, will apply to the following medications:
- doxorubicin (down 63.54%)
- meloxicam (-22.46%)
- mitozantrone (-34.42%
- ondansetron (-15.37%)
The Pharmacy Guild welcomed the price cuts, with president Kos Sclavos saying it’s conservatively estimated the move will save the govt $13m a year in PBS outlays. However no reduction will apply to six other drugs subjected to price disclosure: amisulpride, fluconazole, fosinopril sodium.