Compounders, take note:

USP <795>, <797>, and <825> are being postponed, but USP <800> WILL take effect in Georgia December 1.

The United States Pharmacopeia — USP — is postponing the implementation of the compounding standards in its chapters 795, 797, and 825, which were to be effective on December 1. No new effective date has been set.

General Chapter <800>, however, will become official on December 1, 2019.

Although USP says that 800 “is informational” only, Georgia law requires that pharmacists comply with USP-NF standards — so USP <800> will be required by Georgia law as of December 1, 2019.

GPhA will of course keep you informed of any changes to these standards.

(Want to learn what’s involved with those standards? Check out GPhA’s course, “Compounding: The times they are a-changin’,” on Saturday, October 5. It covers <795>, <797>, and <800> and offers 8 hours of CPE.)

Georgia looks at maternal death rate

Georgia has among the highest maternal death rates in the country — probably the highest, “on par with Uzbekistan” . But a study committee’s first order of business isn’t to brainstorm ways to lower that mortality rate. Instead, it’s to question the accuracy of the data.

The line of questioning prompted objections from some.

“In any event, regardless of the best or most favorable number for Georgia or the worst for Georgia, for women of color, it’s still a crisis,” said state Rep. Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus Democrat who is on the study committee, triggering a smattering of applause from the packed committee room.

Novartis recalls generic Zantac

It’s the first company to recall the ranitidine hydrochloride because of possible contamination with a carcinogen.

Brush your teeth!

It’s not just for the sake of those around you — it seems that gum disease can raise your chance of getting hypertension. And there appears to be a causal connection:

“We observed a positive linear relationship, with the hazard of high blood pressure rising as gum disease became more severe.”

Moderate-to-severe periodontitis was associated with a 22% raised risk for hypertension, while severe periodontitis was linked with 49% higher odds of hypertension.

A gluten-diabetes link

Could gluten in infancy lead to diabetes later? A Norwegian study says it can: “Each 10 g of gluten consumed daily during infancy is associated with a 46% increased risk for developing type 1 diabetes during the next 12 years.”

(Interesting side note: The study found that gluten consumption during pregnancy had no effect.)

Quick e-cig news

Trump administration: ‘We’re going to ban flavored vaping products.”

Mom-and-pop vape shops: ‘Uh-oh.’

Political advisors: ‘There are a lot of vapers in swing states….’

Federal prosecutors: ‘Hey, Juul, got a minute to chat?‘

The long read: Warnings ignored

“Flailing on fentanyl:
As fentanyl deaths soared among their constituents, Congress failed to act despite dire warnings about the powerful opioid.”

A small group of lawmakers has been sounding the alarm on fentanyl since the drug started causing a spike in overdose deaths in 2013. But they were unable to pick up traction in Congress […] watching bills to address fentanyl languish and expire, sometimes, they said, at the behest of powerful interests including the pharmaceutical industry.