canada pharmacy

AstraZeneca, makers of Nexium, announced that Nexium is now indicated for use in pediatric patients aged from 1 year to 17 years for the treatment of reflux esophagitis and nonerosive reflux disease. Based on the new dose, this company launching a new 10 mg sachet formulation for pediatric patients aged between 1 and 11 years to be taken orally as a drink or via naso-gastric tube.
The new dose ‘reflux esophagitis’ in children aged between 1 and 11 years is based on the weight. If the weight is less than 20 kg, the dose would be 10 mg sachet once daily for 3 weeks, or if weight is more than 20 kg, then dose would be 20 mg (2 sachets of 10 mg) once daily for 8 weeks. The dose for children aged between 12 and 17 years would be 20 mg to 40 mg once daily for 4 to 8 weeks. Safety study is not done beyond 8 weeks.

This information is based on an article published in ‘Pharmacypractice’, one of the professional journals for Canadian pharmacists. This information was obtained from IMS Health Canada database.

This year the total number of prescriptions dispensed in Canadian retail pharmacies is increased by 8.2%, compared to 5.7% in 2006. Canadians spent $20.7 billion on prescription medications in their retail pharmacies (including dispensing fees) on the 448 million scripts they filled from October 2006 to September 2007.

Generic prescriptions (47.2% of all prescriptions filled) grew by 15.6% where as the growth rate for brand scripts was recorded as only 2.3%. Each Canadian filled an average of 14 prescriptions during this one-year period, at an average retail price of $46.16 per script.

Canadian Journal of Pharmacists published an article about a class action suit filed in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in late September against Purdue Pharma LP who makes Oxycontin, a pain killer. About 100 residents of atlantic Canada are participated in this. The lawsuit contends that Purdue Pharma knew the powerful drug was highly addictive, but continued to aggressively market it to physicians and patients while downplaying the risks. Accoriding to Halifax law firm Wagners, which filed the claim, numerous people with no previous substance abuse history have become seriously addicted to OxyContin.

I was talking about “New legislation that expands pharmacist role in Alberta, Canada…” in my previous blog post, here you go, British Columbia, Canada, is also introducing something similar. In September 2007, the council of the College of Pharmacists of British columbia (CPBC) approved a protocol to guide pharmacists in medication management.

According to a new Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) report, the number of pharmacists in Canada has increased from 22, 197 in 1995 to 29, 471 in 2005. The study found that in 2006 the average of pharmacists was 43 years, more than half were females and 75% worked in community practice. Prince Edward Island showed the greatest percentage increase at 42.9%, with Alberta showing the smallest increase at 12.8%. The Northwest Territories showed a 40.5% decrease. The number of pharmacists per population served was lowest in the Northwest Territories, followed by New Brunswick and Ontario. The number of unemployed pharmacists seeking employment was 1,778 or 8.6% of the pharmacist workforce.

From the provinces for whom data was available, Ontario and Nova Scotia had the highest percentage of pharmacists who were either unemployed or employed in an area other than pharmacy.

Intresting isn’t it!

Good news for patients with seasonal allergies !!

GlaxoSmithKline Inc. introduced a new nasal spray, in fact, a first intranasal corticosteroid to be labeled for the relief of both nasal and ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, called 'AVAMYS' (fluticasone furoate nasal spray).

On April 1, 2007, the Pharmacists Profession Regulation to the Health Professions act came into effect. This regulation authorized a new scope of practice for Alberta pharmacists.
Under this new regulation, Alberta pharmacists are authorized to,
• Prescribe a small amount of drug to treat the symptoms in an emergency when patient has an immediate need for drug therapy and can not see another authorized prescriber. However, they are not authorized to prescribe narcotics or controlled drugs.
• Adapt a prescription- alter the dose, formulation, or regimen and then notify the original prescriber.

First time in Canada, Rexall Pharma Plus and Rexall pharmacies implemented a new service to their patients that helps improve patient medication adherence...that is good news ...

As part of "dispensing software", the new 'Rexall reminder Program' sends messages through e-mail or phone 5 days before their prescription is due for refill to remind them to re-order. Where as, the new 'Rx Ready Program' notifies patients when their prescription is filled and ready to pick-up.

It might not be surprising for U.S patients as they do have these facilities already...but it would be beneficial for Canadian patients. Hopefully soon every pharmacy will implement this program for their patients benefit...

I was little bit surprised when I read this article in one of the Canadian Pharmacists's Letters. It says that, blood pressure should be controlled before starting daily aspirin. How many patient do you think realize this? Aspirin lowers the risk of heart attack and ischemic storke. But it increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke...especially at higher blood pressure and perticularly in patients who are taking aspirin to prevent an 'initial' heart attack or stroke. These patients get less benefit from aspirin than patients who already have heart disease.
Studies says that,for people without heart disease, you can prevent one cardiovascular event by treating 300 patients with aspirin for 6 years, but one out of 350 patients will get a major bleed. Some evidence suggested that aspirin might not work to prevent a first cardiovascular event at higher blood pressures.

A monthly two-day dosing regimen approved for Canadians…. Health Canada recently approved risedronate (ACTONEL) 75 mg, a monthly two-day dosing regimen for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis for use in Canada. Patients take this new ACTONEL 75 mg tablet on two consecutive days each month.