Is amoxicillin in shortage?

If you’ve noticed a shortage of amoxicillin lately, you’re not alone — and there’s a chance this isn’t even news to you. Three of the largest manufacturers (Hikma in the UK, Sandoz in Switzerland, and Teva in Israel) all report shortages of the world’s most popular antibiotic — and no one can say why.

That said, the FDA claims it’s just “some intermittent supply interruptions,” and CVS call it a case of “isolated supplier shortages.” And yet pharmacies as far apart as Georgia, Kansas, and New York are reporting issues.

(A shout out to GPhA Past President Hugh Chancy, who’s featured in the story.)

Going deep

Bacteria — specifically Chlamydia pneumoniae — can use the olfactory nerve to enter the central nervous system. The body responds by depositing amyloid beta protein in and around the brain. Thus we have the headline, courtesy of Aussie researchers, “New research suggests nose picking could increase risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

Spinning into tumors

The continuing story: how to get anti-cancer drugs directly into the tumors they need to treat, rather than using whole-body drugs.

The latest is using magnetic bacteria, but with a literal twist. Czech scientists found that a bacteria (Magnetospirillum^*^) can better penetrate the tumors’ cell walls when they’re spun with a rotating magnetic field. Like a toy top skittering on a table, spinning means they easily encounter gaps in those walls and slip inside.

The next trick is to get those bacteria to act as drug mules, spinning into the cancer and spewing their anti-tumor doom.

* The temptation for an X-Men joke is there, but I’ll skip it this time.

China launches inhalable Covid vaccine

It’s being used in Shanghai along with shots of old-style (i.e., non-mRNA) vaccines as part of China’s zero-Covid policy.

“Our body’s first line of defense is the mucus membrane of our respiratory system, we want that to be directly stimulated to improve immunity and using the inhaled vaccine does that.”

The Long Read: Pharmacists and OTC birth control

The decision on over-the-counter birth control may have been postponed, but it’s still a good bet that it’s going to happen sooner or later. What’ll that mean for patients? Pharmacists? University of Pittsburgh experts offer some answers — and explain how “pharmacies could play an ever-increasing role in reproductive health care.”

And, of course, keep an eye out for the December/January Georgia Pharmacy magazine, where birth control issues take center stage!

Present company excluded

Admit it — there’ll be times you’ll want to use this phrase: “Half a brain can still recognize words and faces”.

The candy question

Buzz doesn’t publish on Mondays, so we’ll leave you with this bit of Halloween advice now. First, give out full-size candy bars, and do not give out pretzels. Ever.

But to answer the age-old question, “Should kids eat all Halloween candy at once, or spread it out?” the answer is … either is fine. As one nutritionist put it, “I’m not going to be concerned about the consequences of a one-night candy fiasco.”