Early refill limits waived

From the DCH:

The GA Department of Community Health is temporarily waiving early refill limits on 30-day prescriptions for maintenance medications at any in-network pharmacy.

You may now fill maintenance medication prescriptions ahead of schedule.

In addition, please be advised that for prescriptions delivered during this period, DCH will not require patients to sign for the delivery of their medications.

TechU rescheduled

The big event for pharmacy techs — GPhA’s first annual TechU conference, networking, education, and golf event — has been rescheduled for October 24.

It’ll be a full day and a great way to get some CE credits, meet your peers, talk about the job, and chill, all for $30 thanks to our amazing sponsors. (It’s $50 for non-members, though.)

Check out GPhA.org/techu for all the details!

Don’t stop hypertension drugs

A recent article in the Lancet suggested that ACE inhibitors might make someone more susceptible to the coronavirus. But with that in mind, both European and American cardiology societies have issued statements: Don’t discontinue ACE inhibitors or ARBs.

We understand the concern — as it has become clear that people with cardiovascular disease are at much higher risk of serious complications including death from COVID-19. However, we have reviewed the latest research — the evidence does not confirm the need to discontinue ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs).

Augusta U has a test

As the U.S. continues to lag in coronavirus testing, researchers at the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular (GEM) Laboratory at the Augusta University Medical College of Georgia Department of Pathology* have developed a CoviD-19 test of their own — one that gives results in only two hours.

Even better, because the GEM lab is CLIA certified, it does not need FDA approval to conduct CoviD-19 tests (but it still submitted the test for FDA approval).

“We completed our COVID-19 assay validation on Sunday and immediately submitted the documentation to the FDA for their approval. This was a nonstop 90-hour effort by the phenomenal team in the GEM lab to develop this test, but we all felt a commitment to our community to make this test available here.”— Lab director Ravindra Kolhe.

* I really hope they have a wide enough door to fit that name.

Pharmacists use masks too

But you knew that already. The problem is that they’re getting harder to come by — something that’s hitting hospital pharmacies and compounders particularly hard.

Pharmacist Michael Ganio of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists:

“[W]e had some very concerned members who indicated that they’re in danger of running out. Over half said their institution has implemented a conservation plan. It’s something that’s very concerning.”

Goldilocks needs to set her alarm

Both too much sleep and too little are bad for your heart — so find Yale researchers after studying 1,752 Greeks. People who slept fewer than six hours or more than eight hours a night “had significantly greater odds of having plaque buildup in the walls of their carotid arteries.”

But why?

“We don’t fully understand the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health. It could be that sympathetic nervous system withdrawal or a slowing [of this system] that occurs during sleep may act as a recovery phase for [usual] vascular and cardiac strain.”

CoviD-19 drug list follow-up

Yesterday I mentioned some drugs that were being looked at for treating CoviD-19. Stat News now has the full list of what’s in trial and at what stage.

Spoiler: The most promising treatment is remdesivir (phase 3 trial) and a danoprevir/ritonavir cocktail (phase 1 trial). Chloroquine is not yet on the list because it’s not part of a clinical trial. Soon, probably, but not yet. Science can only work so quickly.)

The most promising vaccines are in the hands of Moderna and CanSino, both of which are in phase 1 trials. A bunch of other companies are also working on them.

Your dog can help

Self-quarantined or isolated? Good. Got a dog with you? Even better, it seems. Trigger warning: Psychologist’s photo is way over-filtered. Ease up there, Evan.

One thing we know is that sitting around worrying doesn’t do much good for our mental health. So, refocusing our mental energy on something positive, like playing with your pup or taking a walk together could bring welcome relief at a time like this.

Starting to win the melanoma war

The death rate from “aggressive melanoma” dropped 17.9% from 2013 to 2016. And it’s not just that people are being smarter about sunscreen. It’s medical science, baby!

It dovetailed with introduction of 10 new skin cancer therapies that either use the body’s immune system to fight the disease or target melanoma cells directly.

Just gonna leave this out there

From the Rome News-Tribune: “Editorial: Hey, anti-vaxxers, are you ready to get your shots yet?”

Shocking medical news

Greek researchers have concluded that, even if you go vegetarian, junk food is still not healthy.

The Long Read: You got me, copper

“Copper Destroys Viruses and Bacteria. Why Isn’t It Everywhere?” Answer: It’s not as cheap as stainless steel and plastic… which, sadly, are not only the surfaces found in most healthcare facilities, it’s where viruses last longest.

Good news: It’s not that expensive, it’s easily recycled, and it never stops killing.

When a microbe lands on a copper surface, the copper releases ions, which are electrically charged particles. Those copper ions blast through the outer membranes and destroy the whole cell, including the DNA or RNA inside. Because their DNA and RNA are destroyed, it also means a bacteria or virus can’t mutate and become resistant to the copper, or pass on genes (like for antibiotic resistance) to other microbes.

Ms. Cronan has the Buzz

And with that, I leave you in the capable hands of Liddy Cronan; she’ll start with Tuesday’s edition while I’m cleaning out my (virtual) GPhA desk next week.

It’s been fun, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading as much as I’ve enjoyed writing. So until next time … good night, and good luck. I stand relieved. —Andrew