Rollercoaster of Hospital COVID Drug Spending Continued in 2022

According to the National Trends in Prescription Drug Expenditures and Projections for 2023 report by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), the primary reason for a 5.2% decline in hospital drug spending last year was the sudden drop in the use of COVID drug remdesivir compared to the previous year. In contrast, overall drug expenditures grew by 9.4% in 2022 in the U.S., reaching a total of $633.5 billion, with utilization increasing by 5.9% compared to 2021. Average drug pri

FDA Requires New Warnings For Prescription Opioids in Another Step to Prevent Overdoses

The FDA has recently announced safety labeling changes for all prescription opioid drugs, including immediate-release (IR) and extended-release/long-acting (ER/LA) formulations. One of the updates will include a new warning regarding the risk of opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), a condition associated with taking opioids that causes an increase in pain (hyperalgesia) or an increased sensitivity to pain (allodynia). The FDA announced the labeling changes after they identified 46 cases of OIH th

Depakote: Dosage, Side Effects, Uses, and More

If you have bipolar disorder, epilepsy, or migraine, your doctor might suggest Depakote as a treatment option for you. It’s a prescription drug used to: • treat certain mood episodes (such as mania) in adults with bipolar disorder • treat certain kinds of seizures in adults and some children Depakote may be used as a short-term or long-term treatment. For more details about this drug’s uses, see the “What is Depakote used for?” section below. Depakote belongs to a group of medications called ant

Does Tirzepatide's Benefits in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Make The Price Worth It?

Tirzepatide costs $2,247 more than semaglutide to achieve an extra 1% reduction in hemoglobin A1c (a measure of average blood sugar level) and $237 more than semaglutide for an extra 1 kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) in weight loss, according to a new study1 published in the Journal of Managed Care + Specialty Pharmacy. The effectiveness of tirzepatide in A1C and weight reduction was previously confirmed through the SURPASS trials, which compared tirzepatide to placebo and standard of care options

What to know about tinnitus and blood pressure medications

What to know about tinnitus and blood pressure drugs If you experience ringing in the ears, talk to your doctor When considering a new medication, it can be scary to read the list of potential risks and side effects. It can be especially concerning when a prescription drug that improves one condition ends up making another condition worse or introduces a new problem. You may be facing such a dilemma if you require treatment for high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) and are experiencin

Could Copay Assistance Narrow Health Inequities?

Many people are unable to afford healthcare and medication, which often results in individuals not filling or picking up their prescriptions. Around 25% of U.S. adults report that they or someone in their household have cut pills in half, skipped doses of medication, or have not filled a prescription due to cost concerns. These reports are more common among Black and Hispanic people and adults with lower incomes. Copay assistance programs from pharmaceutical manufacturers, such as free trial vo

Generics Keep Out-of-Pocket Costs Low for Women with Breast Cancer

The total estimated annual out-of-pocket cost averages around $1,500 per patient for the treatment of invasive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, according to a recent study of employer-insured women published in JAMA Network Open. Oral anticancer prescription drugs are essential to the management of invasive breast cancer. However, prescription costs and other aspects of care may present a financial burden to those undergoing treatment. With this in mind, a recent study

OTC hearings aids at a pharmacy near you: Two experts weigh in

In October 2022, the FDA’s ruling on over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids went into effect, allowing the sale of hearing aids without a prescription. This ruling is intended to make hearing aids more accessible and affordable. Now that hearing aids are available over the counter, you may be thinking of trying them. But what if you need assistance selecting or adjusting OTC hearing aids? Can your pharmacist help? As with other OTC products, pharmacists can help you compare the features of differ

A new therapeutic target for the prevention of heart failure

Experts say a recent study examining a new treatment for a type of heart failure is promising. Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images • Heart failure is prevalent in people with aortic stenosis. • Researchers from Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares found stimulation of the beta-3 adrenergic receptor in heart cells helps protect and prevent heart failure from aortic stenosis in a mouse model. — a type of cardiovascular disease — affects around the world. Heart failur

The OutcomesOne™ platform is innovating solutions across pharmacies, payers and pharmaceutical manufacturers

Outcomes™ has announced that the Connect™ platform is now the OutcomesOne™ platform. Rest assured that they are still the same Cardinal Health company, consistently delivering quality digital tools that seamlessly connect pharmacists, payers and pharmaceutical companies with innovative solutions for driving revenue and cost savings. With up to 15,000 pharmacies accessing opportunities on the platform on a daily basis across the nation, the platform is what unifies the Outcomes audience of payers

The value of pharmacists to pharmaceutical manufacturers

Pharmacists do so much more than dispense medication. Today, pharmacies offer a wide range of convenient healthcare services. Pharmaceutical manufacturers can benefit from partnering with pharmacists to make a bigger impact on patients. As highly trusted healthcare professionals, pharmacists are experts at identifying barriers to medication adherence and helping patients overcome them. The efforts of a caring pharmacist can greatly impact whether a patient leaves the pharmacy with the informati

Dementia: Using hearing aids, cochlear implant may reduce risk by 19%

Using hearing aids could help reduce cognitive decline in the long term, according to new research. Erin Brant/Stocksy • Age-related hearing loss Is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. • Several studies have found an association between hearing loss and the risk of developing dementia. • Hearing aids and cochlear implants can restore hearing and improve overall well-being. • A new analysis has found that, for people with hearing loss, wearing their hearing aid or having a c

Overeating and obesity: How curbing 'protein hunger' may help

• Researchers investigated the link between protein consumption and caloric intake. • They found a link between lower protein consumption and higher caloric intake from fats and carbohydrates, which may increase obesity risk. • They concluded that consumers, industry, and the government should prioritize reducing the intake of highly processed foods and increasing whole food intake. Obesity is linked to some of the leading causes of , including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer

Upneeq: Uses, Doses, and Side Effects

If one or both of your upper eyelids droop over your eye, people may sometimes think you’re falling asleep. While that may sometimes be the case, your droopy lids may signify a condition called ptosis. It’s often caused by genetics, aging, trauma, or various medical conditions. Until recently, surgery was one of the only options to correct drooping lids. Now, a new non-surgical treatment called Upneeq is available. Upneeq (oxymetazoline 0.1% ophthalmic solution) is a prescription eye drop avai

Mytesi (Crofelemer) Oral: Uses, Effects, Interactions

Mytesi (crofelemer) is an antidiarrheal medication. More specifically, Mytesi is prescribed to relieve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea in adults taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS. This type of diarrhea is also known as HIV-related diarrhea. Mytesi works to regulate the amount of water in your digestive tract. Having less water in your digestive tract leads to less watery diarrhea. Mytesi comes as an oral tablet typically taken twice a day. What Is Mytesi Used For? The Foo

Podiatric Surgeons Share How They Decide to Amputate or Pursue Limb Salvage

Rhofade (Oxymetazoline) Topical: Uses, Side Effects, Dosages

Rhofade (oxymetazoline) is a prescription topical cream used in adults 18 and older with a skin condition called rosacea. This medication is used to reduce facial redness caused by rosacea. Rhofade contains the active ingredient oxymetazoline, which is classified as an adrenergic agonist agent. It works by constricting blood vessels near the surface of your skin, which helps relieve redness. Discontinued in generic form as a rosacea medication, the primary ingredient found in Rhofade, oxymetaz