With the potential side effects associated, I am not sure if this is really a good drug to take. Not necessarily for health issues, but
for the fact that I may not have the control that most of us take for granted.

…”Side effects include gas, the urgent need to have a bowel movement, oily bowel movements, oily discharge or spotting with bowel
movements, an increased frequency of bowel movements, and the inability to control bowel movements…”

Joe Medina, CPhT

————
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved orlistat capsules as an
over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for overweight adults. The drug,
whose brand name is Xenical, had previously been approved in 1999 as a
prescription weight loss aid. The OTC preparation will have a lower
dosage than prescription Xenical and will be produced and sold by
GlaxoSmithKline under the name of Alli.

Unlike appetite suppressants, orlistat (Xenical) works as a weight
loss aid by acting upon the function of the gastrointestinal tract.
The drug binds to an enzyme known as gastrointestinal lipase and
inhibits the action of this enzyme, which plays a role in breaking
down fats for absorption in the GI tract. As a result, up to 30% of
ingested fat is not absorbed by the body.

Orlistat is recommended only for people 18 years of age and over in
combination with a diet and exercise regimen. People who have
difficulties with the absorption of food or who are not overweight
should not take orlistat. Overweight is defined by the U.S. National
Institutes of Health as having a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater.

Orlistat can be taken up to three times a day, with each
fat-containing meal. The drug may be taken during the meal or up to
one hour after the meal. If the meal is missed or is very low in fat
content, the medications should not be taken. Because of its
interference with absorption of fat from the GI tract, the absorption
of the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) may also be affected in
people taking orlistat. It is recommended that those taking orlistat
also take a daily multivitamin supplement containing these vitamins.

The most common side effects of orlistat (Xenical) are changes in
bowel habits. These include gas, the urgent need to have a bowel
movement, oily bowel movements, oily discharge or spotting with bowel
movements, an increased frequency of bowel movements, and the
inability to control bowel movements. Women may also notice
irregularities in the menstrual cycle while taking orlistat. Side
effects are most common in the first few weeks after beginning to take
orlistat. In some people the side effects persist for as long as they
are taking the drug.

People with diabetes, thyroid conditions, who have received an organ
transplant, or who are taking prescription medications that affect
blood clotting should check with their physician before using OTC
orlistat (Alli), since drug interactions with certain medications are
possible.

Maybe you’ve dropped a bunch of weight — without even trying. Funny, but these days, it seems you always have to go pee, even when you’ve just gone.

You dismiss it all as just something you’re going through. Somethingthat will pass.

Well, it could be that you’ve developed something that’s going tostick around for the rest of your life.

You could be one of the almost 250 million people around the world who has diabetes. A third of those people aren’t even aware they have the condition. Forty-six per cent of them are between 40 and 59 years old.
Quick facts 2007 2025
World population (billions) 6.6 7.9
Number of people aged 20-79 years with diabetes (millions) 246 380
World diabetes prevalence (%) 7.5 8.0
Source: Diabetes Atlas: International Diabetes Federation

Two million of them are Canadian.

Diabetes — or complications from the disease — now kills 3.8 million people a year or about the same number as HIV/AIDS.
(more…)

In today’s pharmacy setting, we are finding the dispensing of a greater diversity of medications for specific disease states. With advanced technologies and introduction of new classification of drugs, the Pharmacy has become a blessing for those in need.

Among new medications to hit the market in recent years are medications used in the treatment of Clinical Depression. Clinical Depression is one of the most common and most serious mental health issues facing individuals today. It is to be hoped that this CE offering will enlighten you as a Pharmacy Technician and give a better understanding and empathy of individuals with Clinical Depression.

Moods

In most situations, an individual’s outlook on life is based on one’s mood. Mood is a sustained emotional feeling that allows us a perception of our surroundings and in doing so, brings us sadness and joy as part of our everyday lives. When we talk about “moods,” we are not just talking about emotional feelings. Positive moods are more than just “happy” or “good” feelings — they tend to be accompanied by feelings of physical comfort, a sense of contentment with our lives, and more energy. Similarly, negative moods are more than just sad or angry feelings — they tend to be accompanied by feelings of physical discomfort, lack of energy and other physical complaints.

Normal moods or feelings are as follows:

- Joy or elation is a universal human response generally linked to success and achievement. This event allows an individual to be happy and content.

-Sadness or normal depression is a universal human response to disappointment, or other situation. Sadness can also be transient periods associated with certain events such as holidays and anniversary’s.

-Grief is a universal human response due to a significant loss, as a death of a loved one, separation, and disappointment. Grief can also be seen during times of catastrophes such as the World Trade Center terrorist attack. In most cases, individuals will go through a grief
cycle before finding resolution. (more…)

Tech Lectures is proud to present its TL Series of old CE offerings
offered in the past by Tech Lectures. Our next TL Series will be on
Depression. This informative CE Offering allows us a look at
Depression and treatment protocols.

As author of these, you may use them individually or share them with
fellow Pharmacy Technician’s or students studying to become Pharmacy
Technicians.

Abciximab 2-mg/mL injection
Allergen extract concentrate
Alprostadil injection
Alteplase
Atracurium injection
Becaplermin 0.01%
Botulinum toxin type-A 100 units
Calcitonin injection
Calcitonin nasal spray
Calcitonin salmon intranasal
Candida albicans skin test
Cisatracurium injection
Conjugated estrogens injection
Dacarbazine for injection
Daptomycin for injection
Darbepoetin alfa
Digoxin immune fab (ovine)
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed,
hepatitis B (recombinant) and inactivated poliovirus vaccine combined
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed
Dornase alfa
Epoetin alfa multidose
Epoetin alfa single dose
Eptifibatide 2 mg/mL
Erythromycin ethylsuccinate oral suspension
Etanercept powder
Etanercept prefilled syringe
Etoposide injection
Exenatide
Famotidine
Filgrastim vials and Singleject prefilled syringes
Fosphenytoin sodium injection
Glatiramer acetate injection
Hepatitis A vaccine, inactivated
Hepatitis A vaccine, inactivated
Hepatitis B immune globulin (human)
Hepatitis B vaccine (recombinant)
Immune globulin (human)
Influenza virus vaccine
Insulin as part (rDNA origin) injection
Insulin glargine (rDNA origin) vial or cartridge
70% insulin aspart protamine suspension and 30% insulin as part
injection (rDNA origin) pen fill cartridge
70% insulin aspart protamine suspension and 30% insulin as part
injection (rDNA origin) vial
Lente human insulin (rDNA origin) zinc suspension
Insulin lispro (rDNA origin) vial
NPH, human insulin isophane suspension (rDNA origin)
Regular human insulin injection (rDNA origin)
Humulin Ultralente human insulin (rDNA origin) extended zinc suspension
Hyaluronic acid
Interferon beta-1a i.m. injection
Interferon beta-1a s.c. injection
Latanoprost 0.005% ophthalmic solution
Lopinavir/ritonavir capsules
Lopinavir/ritonavir oral solution
Melphalan 2-mg tablets
Methylergonovine maleate injection
Neomycin sulfate-polymixin B sulfate solution for irrigation
Octreotide acetate injectable suspension
Palivizumab powder and solution
Pancuronium bromide injection
Peg-interferon alfa-2a vial
Peg-interferon alfa-2a vial prefilled syringe
Penicillin G benzathine injection suspension
Penicillin G benzathine and penicillin G procaine injection suspension
Pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine (diphtheria CRM197 protein)
Proparacaine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution
Quinupristin-dalfopristin for injection
Rabies immune globulin (human) solvent/detergent treated
Rabies vaccine
Ritonovir capsules
RhoD immune globulin (human)
Rocuronium bromide
Saquinavir soft gelatin capsules
Succinylcholine chloride multidose
Tetanus immune globulin human solvent/detergent treated
Tipranavir capsules
Tobramycin inhalation solution
Trifluridine ophthalmic solution
Vinorelbine tartrate injection
Vitamin A

Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health
reviewed 27 studies examining the safety and effectiveness of
antibacterial products containing the active ingredient triclosan.

That includes most commercially available soaps, detergents and other
products with the word ‘antibacterial’ on their labels, with the
notable exception of alcohol-based hand gels.

Soaps containing triclosan at concentrations commonly seen in products
sold to the public were found to be no better for killing bacteria and
preventing infectious illness than soaps that did not contain triclosan.

“Antibacterial soaps do not provide a benefit above and beyond plain
soaps for generally healthy people living in the community,”
researcher Allison Aiello, PhD, tells WebMD.

“Washing your hands is extremely important for preventing the spread
of infectious illness, especially at critical points like after using
the toilet, changing the baby, or handling raw foods. But consumers
can’t assume that antibacterial soaps are better for this than other
soaps.”
Antibacterial Soap, Antibiotic Resistance

Along with University of Michigan colleagues Elaine Larson, RN, PhD,
and Stuart Levy, MD, Aiello has conducted some of the largest and most
rigorously designed studies examining the safety and effectiveness of
antibacterial products.

Studies in their own laboratory first showed that triclosan can cause
some bacteria to become resistant to widely used antibiotics like
amoxicillin, but this has not been shown outside the lab.

In another of their studies, 238 families were told to either use
triclosan-containing cleaning and hygiene products for a year or
similar products without the antibacterial agent. Skin testing
conducted before, during, and after the intervention suggested that
both cleansing regimens were equally effective for killing germs.

There was also no evidence of an increase in antibiotic-resistant
bacteria on the hands of people who washed with the antibacterial
products.

A spokesman for the soap industry tells WebMD that no evidence exists
outside the laboratory linking the use of antibacterial soaps and
cleansers to the promotion of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

“It is egregious to continually hype the hypothesis that these
products are contributing to antibiotic resistance,” Brian Sansoni of
the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) tells WebMD. “These
researchers keep raising the specter of what could happen, but it is a
ghost story without a ghost.”
FDA: Antibacterial Soaps Not Better

Sansoni called the review “predictable repackaging of old studies and
old opinions,” adding that the issue of whether antibacterial soaps
and cleansers promote antibiotic resistance has been put to rest by
“study after study.”

Aiello disagrees. While antibiotic resistance is routinely tracked in
hospitals and other health care settings, tracking resistance trends
in the community remains a huge challenge, she says.

“These [community-based] studies are very hard to do,” she tells
WebMD. “We haven’t been able to study this in the way we would like,
and I don’t know if we will be able to in the future.”

An FDA advisory panel considered the question of the effectiveness of
antibacterial products in the fall of 2005; the panel overwhelmingly
concluded that there was no evidence proving that antibacterial soaps
were more effective than regular soaps for preventing infection.

There was talk at the time of restricting the labeling or advertising
of new antibacterial products, but the agency has taken no formal action.