Replacement valsartan on the way

This should help: The FDA has approved a new generic version of valsartan. This one, hopefully, without the carcinogens.

BIG BREAKING NEWS

CVS is changing its hold music.

UnitedHealth to pass more savings to patients

UnitedHealth Group says it’s going to expand its program of passing along drug rebates to consumers, rather than employers.

Eyes can show signs of dementia

Examining tiny retinal blood vessels can indicate early signs of Alzheimer’s, find a Duke study.

“Among the folks who had Alzheimer’s there was a significant reduction in the density of the blood vessels in the superficial layer of the retina compared to controls.”

Know a recovering pharmacist?

Students and faculty at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy in Ohio have embarked on an effort to gather data from recovering pharmacists throughout the country.

If you or someone you know is a recovering pharmacist, will you consider participating in their research project? Please CLICK HERE for a simple and straightforward survey. It will only take a minute to complete, your responses will be anonymous, and data is strictly confidential.

And if you’re dealing with addiction, remember that you can contact PharmAssist, offered through to the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation, at (404) 558-1983.

Migraines and dry eyes

Got patients with migraines? You might want to point them to the Visine* aisle. Apparently the odds of having dry eye disease (DED (seriously)) is increased with migraines.

* We’re not endorsing a particular brand, but “eye-lubrication drop aisle” is a bit clunky

What color is the sky in that world?

PBMs will be testifying before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to explain how they help lower drug prices and have nothing but Americans’ best interests at heart. (Also in Reality News Today, North Korea’s election had a 99.99% voter turnout and unanimously re-elected the ruling party.)

Gottlieb’s (temporary) successor named

Ned Sharpless, director of the National Cancer Institute, will serve as acting FDA commissioner starting next month.

Sentences you never expected to hear

“J&J produced raw narcotics in Tasmanian poppy fields.”

Source: a story about a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson that calls the company an opioid “kingpin.”

A big future ahead of him

That kid who’s so easy to keep calm? A study says he might have some trouble later.

In a cohort of nearly 400 mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus and their children, infants who had higher “soothability” […] were more likely to be obese at ages 2 through 5.

Elsewhere: Rhode Island

The country’s smallest state* is experimenting with allowing pharmacists to treat opioid addiction.

The pharmacist will take over their ongoing care, with broad discretion to change doses and frequency of visits. This will free up physicians to treat more patients and to focus on the most complex cases.

* Fun fact: Its full name is “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” giving it the longest name of any state. Take that, “Commonwealth of Kentucky.”