Dosage forms

All you need to know about using smart infusion pumps

Smart infusion pumps: implementation, management and drug libraries, 2nd edition, edited by Pamela K Phelps.…

New guidance for hepatitis B vaccine shortage

Public Health England has issued “temporary” guidance that restricts providing hepatitis B immunisation to adults and children, in response to the global shortage of the vaccine.…

How to identify and manage ‘problem’ excipients in medicines for children

Children may be exposed to potentially harmful excipients, essential components of drug formulations, through unlicensed and off-label use of adult medicines. Excipient exposure should be minimised, although a medicine containing a problem excipient may be indicated, but only after a caref…

Topical drug dosage forms for eye conditions

Pharmacists managing localised eye problems should be aware of the dosage froms that can be administered topically to the eye — solutions, suspensions and ointments — and their advantages, disadvantages, and considerations for use.…

Frequent intravitreal bevacizumab injections increase risk of glaucoma surgery

Seven or more injections a year makes patients more than twice as likely to need glaucoma surgery, according to researchers.…

Smart inhalers: will they help to improve asthma care?

Smart inhalers use Bluetooth technology to detect inhaler use, remind patients when to take their medication and gather data to help guide care. They have the potential to improve patients’ adherence to asthma therapies and keep their condition under control, but it is clear they need to be de…

FDA approves first monoclonal antibody injection for atopic dermatitis

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for evaluating the safety and efficacy of medicines in the United States, has approved the use of dupilumab (Dupixent; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) to treat adults with atopic dermatitis. Dupilumab is the first monoclonal antibody t…

Study identifies most important inhaler technique errors that are linked to poor asthma outcomes

A study of 3,660 patients across eight countries has identified the types of inhaler technique errors that are associated with the greatest impact on asthma outcomes.…

A quick intervention recommendation by community pharmacists for patients using inhalers

Many pharmacists are probably busy reviewing inhaler use and technique as part of their medicines use reviews and new medicine service processes for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The long-acting beta-2 agonist formoterol is a common ingredient in step-u…

Nurses who administer cancer drugs could be at risk of developing health problems

More research is needed to assess the harmful effects on oncology healthcare staff of administering cytotoxic drugs and whether enough is being done to protect them, a research report by consumer and business analyst MindMetre says.…