What's the difference between a drug allergy and a side effect?
3 MIN READ
Drug allergies and side effects present differences that are often misunderstood. They are commonly discussed in overlapping terms that can understate the importance in how each should be managed (Eg. “I think I’m allergic to Aspirin, it upsets my stomach”).
Disaster Recovery and Work Comp
1 MIN READ
In just the past few years, natural disasters have generated startling headlines and produced enormous challenges for many, including for workers’ compensation systems.
Gabapentinoids in Workers’ Compensation
6 MIN READ
Nearly 20 percent of U.S. adults suffer from chronic pain. This is especially vital in the workers’ compensation world that is now asking, ‘are gabapentinoids the answer to that pain?’ Current increases in prescribing of gabapentinoids and the drugs’ less addictive qualities as compared to opioids may initially suggest so.
WHY USE ANTICONVULSANTS TO TREAT PAIN?
2 MIN READ
A fuller awareness of the risks, costs, and consequences of opioid medication use in clinical pain management is growing, and the search for safe, effective, and affordable alternatives to them has taken on new urgency. The quest for opioid alternatives that offer a measure of effective analgesia (without craving, tolerance, and addiction) is taking on an increased priority in discovery laboratories and across the ranks of practicing clinicians and other health care professionals. Beyond new discovery, another potential source of such alternatives is in reevaluating existing medications approved for pain as well as those approved for other uses that may also hold promise for use as analgesics.
Warnings about impurities in Zantac® and blood pressure medicines
2 MIN READ
In September 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported the discovery of low levels of an impurity in brand, generic, and over- the-counter (OTC) versions of a popular heartburn medication, Zantac® (Ranitidine HCl) 1, prompting a flurry of manufacturer recalls, national distribution halts, and product removals from retail pharmacy shelves. Ranitidine is an H2 (Histamine-2) blocker approved as a prescription medicine for treatment and prevention of GI ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). OTC versions are approved for relief of acid indigestion and sour stomach. H2 blockers (like Tagamet, Pepcid, and Zantac) act by reducing the amount of acid produced by cells lining the stomach.
What moved the state of Ohio to drop OxyContin® from their formulary?
3 MIN READ
The state of Ohio, among the hardest hit in the nation for opioid overdose deaths, has undertaken a number of measures to meet the crisis as it has evolved. A review of opioid use in the injured worker population, completed in 2011, revealed an alarming number (73%) were filling opioid prescriptions.1 A closed formulary, expanded access to antidote products (naloxone), and opioid focused prescribing guidelines have all followed since and have contributed to some reductions in prescribing and the prevalence of opioid use.
Pharmacy Nurse – When specialized attention is what’s needed
3 MIN READ
Workers’ comp pharmacy costs represent approximately 18% of total medical spend. That translates to $5 billion in pharmacy spend nationwide.1 Most employers and payors utilize Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) which offer an excellent line of defense in managing these ever-increasing pharmacy costs. But PBMs, by design, only manage the pharmacy related aspects of a claim. What if you could extend the reach of your PBM by combining it with the knowledge, care and one-on-one delivery model used in case management? With a pharmacy nurse, you can.