FESTIVE GREETINGS TO ALL!
It was truly overwhelming to see the response of pharmacists across India who sent in their applications for the best pharmacist award. I take this opportunity in congratulating each one of them who came forward to apply for the same. Your contribution to society is invalauble. Our current issue bears the names of the winners. Incase your name doesn’t reflect we wish you all the best for next year. Continue your deidcated efforts.
PSM India has been diligently spreading the message on quality healthcare. Attending the PSM interchange at Washington D.C. for all 5 years, our founder head , Mr.Misra shares his experience. PSM India capsules of this issue also features Mr. Misra’s presentation at the Interchange.
Is it safe to buy medicines over the counter without a prescription? If yes, then which ones? Read our frequently asked questions section to know more on OTC drugs.
Happy Reading !
Stay Safe. Stay Healthy !
Pooja Khaitan
Chief Editor ,
The PRESCRIPTION
Partnership for Safe Medicines India.
“Oral health is integral to overall health and globally it is a challenging issue. Due to prevalence and incidence, oral diseases pose a major threat to public health. Most people are ignorant of the significance of oral health and its impact on general health. We need today in India is an Oral Health Revolution similar to the Green Revolution and White Revolution”.
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Hon’ble President of India
We are pleased to inform that the Board of Jury of Partnership for Safe Medicines India for the selection of THE BEST PHARMACIST AWARD has shortlisted 4 pharmacists across India. Heartiest Congratulations to the award winners……
Paramathma Chilukuri, Nalgonda
Ratnadeep Kurtarkar, Goa
Mahadev Patel, Mulund
Deepak Barai, Thane
For more details click
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body is unable to make proper use of glucose, resulting in the condition of hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar). Excess glucose in the blood ultimately results in high levels of glucose being present in the urine (glycosuria). This increases the urine output, which leads to dehydration and increased thirst.
Artificial Sweeteners Linked to Glucose Intolerance
Sept 2014: The artificial sweeteners aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin cause blood glucose abnormalities in mice and some humans, a team reports in an article published online September 17 in Nature. The changes in glucose tolerance seem to be driven by the microbiome and can be reproduced in germ-free mice by giving them gut microbes from a person who has consumed the sweeteners.
Regulatory experts push for pharma companies to strengthen data integrity
Mumbai, Sept 2014: Regulatory experts stressed that the Indian pharma cos should put special focus on following all the data integrity requirements to avoid crackdown by regulatory agencies. This warning comes in the wake of growing incidence of issuance of letters by the US FDA and other regulatory heads to Indian pharma cos for having data integrity issues, where inspectors have discovered glaring problems in the files. Data integrity issues have become a mounting problem for the Indian pharma companies in the recent past as many like Sun Pharmaceutical have come under scan for flouting data integrity regulations. Ranbaxy, Canton Laboratories, USV Limited, Wockhardt Limited, Agila Specialties, Posh Chemicals, Aarti Drugs, Fresenius Kabi Oncology, RPG Life Sciences etc were also in the recent past issued warning letters for having incomplete records and lack of data integrity.
Roche warns of fake MabThera in Germany
Sept, 2014: Roche has confirmed that counterfeit versions of its big-selling cancer and arthritis drug MabThera have been discovered in Germany. News that MabThera (rituximab; also sold as Rituxan) has been targeted by counterfeiters comes just a few months after the Swiss drug maker revealed that illicit, tampered copies of its breast cancer drug Herceptin (trastuzumab) were also circulating in the EU market after a theft in Italy.
First UK volunteer gets experimental GSK Ebola shot in trialSeptember, 2014: The first volunteer in a fast-tracked British safety trial of an experimental Ebola vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline received the injection on Wednesday, trial organizers said.
Antibiotics R&D to get critical lift by executive order, Obama advisory groupSeptember , 2014: Antibiotics development is about to get a needed boost with the release of new federal proposals aimed at curbing rising antibacterial-resistant infections caused by so-called superbugs.
FDA approves Lilly's diabetes drug Trulicity
September 2014: The US Food and Drug Administration has approved dulaglutide, Eli Lilly’s once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes, to be marketed as Trulicity..
Mylan recalls nitro-glycerine spray due to defective pump
Otawa, Sept 2014: Mylan Pharmaceuticals ULC Canada, in consultation with Health Canada, is voluntarily recalling all lots of its Mylan-Nitro Spray 0.4 mg/metered dose due to the product missing the "dip tube," which is part of the pump component.
FDA Approves Contrave (bupropion/naltrexone) for Weight Management
September 2014: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Contrave (naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets) as treatment option for chronic weight management in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity.
The Partnership for Safe Medicines offers valuable information on “What kind business are fake online pharmacies” to teach consumers how to safely order prescription drugs over the Internet.
Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What do you mean by OTC Drugs?
Answer: OTC or over-the-counter Drugs are which can be bought by a consumer without prescription from a healthcare professional. Such medicines are available at pharmacy, drug store or sometimes also in local grocery, supermarkets. As a general rule, over-the-counter drugs have to be used primarily to treat a condition that does not require the direct supervision of a doctor and must be proven to be reasonably safe and well tolerated. They are generally used for common ailments or day-to-day problems like to relieve pain, itches, indigestion, constipation, nausea, skin problems, tooth decay, athlete's foot, wounds, migraines and most commonly symptoms of a cold or flu (influenza).
Q2. Is it safe to consume too much of OTC medications?
Answer:Though Medicines are allowed to be sold over-the-counter only after the approval from regulatory authority but still they are not beyond any risk. Some interact with other medicines, supplements, foods or drinks. Others cause problems for people with certain medical conditions. They are generally not safe during conditions of pregnancy, lactation, vulnerable patients of ulcer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney and liver problems and especially for children.
Therefore PSM feels that it is important to take medicines correctly and in right dose and for correct time period. OTC medicines should not be taken in longer or in higher doses than the recommendation of the label. If there is persistent symptom or temporary relief from a disease condition, then it needs to take care of and consultation with doctor to stop further aggravation of any critical condition or adverse effect.
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Disclaimer : Our newsletter endeavors to compile patient safety information from various sources . PSM India may not be held responsible for any article published in The Prescription.