Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Pharmacists Encourage Patients To Seek Their Guidance When Choosing OTC Medications

Pharmacists Encourage Patients To Seek Their Guidance When Choosing OTC Medications

Eighty-three percent of Patients Select OTC Products Recommended by Their Pharmacist

Washington, D.C. (Vocus) February 25, 2009 -- According to the most recent Pharmacy Today Over-the-Counter Product Survey conducted by the American Pharmacists Association (http://www.pharmacist.com/) (APhA), pharmacists believe that 83 percent of consumers purchase over-the-counter products that were recommended by their pharmacist. With more than 100,000 nonprescription medications on the market and more than 1,000 active ingredients, it's critical that patients consult their pharmacist to maximize the benefits from medications and minimize the potential for harmful drug interaction and/or side effects.

The survey, completed by nearly 1,000 APhA member and non-member pharmacists, also reveals that on average pharmacists counsel 31 patients per week about over the counter medications. Patients who seek their pharmacist's advice include patients suffering from an acute or chronic condition (92 percent), patients that are worried about using an OTC product with other prescription medications (84 percent), and patients worried about taking OTC products with a specific disease/condition (74 percent).

"Pharmacists are the only health professionals specifically trained in nonprescription medications," said John A. Gans, APhA's Chief Executive Officer. "Patients can take an active role in self care by reading medication labels, knowing the active ingredients in their medications, and asking their pharmacist questions."

One of APhA's goal in conducting the annual Pharmacy Today Over-the-Counter Product Survey is to educate consumers that pharmacists have the knowledge and training to help them select right OTC medications. As part of the survey, pharmacists are asked to tabulate the OTC products they recommend per week in 77 different product categories. The results of the survey are published as a supplement to the February issue of Pharmacy Today (http://www.pharmacytoday.org/index.htm). Click here to view the entire Pharmacy Today Over-the-Counter (http://www.pharmacytoday.org/index.htm) Supplement.

As the medication experts, pharmacists are trained in both prescription and over-the-counter medications and can provide patients with important information about how medications may interact with certain foods, other medicines or dietary supplements. Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers and APhA encourages patients to actively seek their advice about the proper use of medications.

About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The American Pharmacists Association (http://www.pharmacist.com/), founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States. APhA members provide care in all practice settings, including community pharmacies, health systems, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings, and the uniformed services.

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Contact Information Erin Wendel

American Pharmacists Association

http://www.pharmacist.com/

202.429.7558



Clinical Guidelines for Treating Chronic Pain Highlight Opioid Addiction Risk Assessment

Clinical Guidelines for Treating Chronic Pain Highlight Opioid Addiction Risk Assessment

Expert panel finds that SOAPP® is likely to be helpful for risk assessment and stratification

Newton, MA (PRWEB) February 25, 2009 -- Inflexxion, Inc., a company that creates scientifically validated and cost-effective solutions for critical areas of health care, is pleased to announce that its Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain (SOAPP) has been identified by an expert panel as likely to be helpful for assessing the risk of opioid addiction in patients with chronic non-cancer pain.

SOAPP is a brief paper-and-pencil self report tool that allows clinicians to assess a patient's risk of addiction before initiating opioid therapy.

The multi-disciplinary panel of experts, convened by the American Pain Society and the American Academy of Pain Medicine, conducted a comprehensive review of the evidence to develop a set of authoritative clinical guidelines on the use of opioid medications to treat chronic non-cancer pain. The guidelines, published in the February 2009 issue of The Journal of Pain (Volume 10, Number 2), recommend that clinicians routinely conduct a complete benefit-to-harm evaluation before starting opioid therapy, and do periodic follow-up screenings of patients who may be at risk for abuse or addiction.

"Proper patient selection is critical and requires a comprehensive benefit-to-harm evaluation that weighs the potential positive effects of opioids on pain and function against potential risks," write the authors. "Thorough risk assessment and stratification is appropriate in every case."

According to the authors, screening tools that assess the potential risks associated with continuous opioid therapy (COT) based on patient characteristics are likely to be helpful for risk stratification. The authors identify SOAPP Version 1 and the revised version, SOAPP-R, as among the tools that appear to have "good content, face, and construct validity."

In addition to SOAPP, the guidelines highlight the utility of Inflexxion's Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM)®, a complementary tool for identifying whether a patient, throughout the course of long-term opioid therapy, may be exhibiting aberrant behaviors associated with abuse of opioid medications.

"We at Inflexxion are very pleased to see both SOAPP and COMM included in these recommendations," says Kevin L. Zacharoff, M.D., Director of Medical Affairs at Inflexxion. "These guidelines underscore the importance of risk assessment and reassessment in this patient population. The inclusion of the SOAPP and COMM in these recommendations helps to validate Inflexxion's mission, which is to help to reduce health-related risks, enhance clinical outcomes, and positively influence quality of care."

The SOAPP and COMM tools are available for download at no cost through Inflexxion's PainEDU website (www.PainEDU.org), along with a clinician tutorial that includes video case examples.

SOAPP was developed by Inflexxion with support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and an unrestricted educational grant from Endo Pharmaceuticals.

About Inflexxion, Inc.

Founded in 1989, Inflexxion creates innovative behavioral health solutions for prevention, education, and disease management. Our clinically tested programs address substance abuse and addiction, chronic pain management, college health, and other health and wellness issues. Our pharmaceutical risk management division provides Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) assistance to companies that research, manufacture, and market opioid pain medications and other therapeutic agents with potential abuse problems. Key offerings include NAVIPPRO(TM), PainEDU.org, painACTION.com, and SOAPP®. Inflexxion is based in Newton, MA.

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Contact Information Lara Romanowski

Inflexxion

http://www.painedu.org

617-614-0406



Texas Oncology Encourages Texans To Kick Colorectal Cancer with Screenings

Texas Oncology Encourages Texans To Kick Colorectal Cancer with Screenings

Texas Oncology is inviting Texans to kick colorectal cancer by encouraging friends and loved ones to go for a routine colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer of men and women combined in the United States, and the disease is estimated to have claimed 9,570 Texans in 2008.

Paris, Texas (PRWEB) February 24, 2000- - Texas Oncology is inviting Texans to kick colorectal cancer (http://www.texasoncology.com/media-center/fact-sheets/colorectal-cancer/kick-colorectal-cancer.aspx) by encouraging friends and loved ones to go for a routine colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer (http://www.texasoncology.com/media-center/fact-sheets/colorectal-cancer.aspx) is the second-leading cancer killer of men and women combined in the United States, and the disease is estimated to have claimed 9,570 Texans in 2008.

Colon and rectal cancers occur with equal frequency in both sexes. It is vital that both men and women age 50 and over and those with increased risk factors be screened regularly (http://www.texasoncology.com/media-center/fact-sheets/colorectal-cancer.aspx) for this deadly disease. Despite the high likelihood of detection with screening, it is projected that 40 percent of the over-50 population in the United States, more than 39 million people by 2010, will not be screened for colorectal cancer. If all people over age 50 were screened routinely, research shows at least half of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented.

Colorectal cancer often lacks symptoms in its early stages, and because almost all colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in patients ages 50 and up, regular screening helps lead to early detection, which increases the five-year survival rate from the disease to 90 percent.

"Regular colorectal cancer screenings save lives. Your doctor can recommend the best screening for you, but a colonoscopy is the most common," said Dr. Michael Kerley (http://www.texasoncology.com/providerresults.aspx?id=1410&terms=%40Locations_Location_8+274), medical and radiation oncologist at Texas Oncology-Paris. "Everyone over age 50 should make routine colorectal cancer screenings a priority to kick colorectal cancer before it strikes or catch it early when it's most treatable."

Risk Factors

Besides age and race, other risk factors for colorectal cancer include:

•Family History: People with a family history of colorectal cancer have a greater risk of being diagnosed with the disease.

•Diet: A lower chance of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer is a good reason to stay in shape. Overweight and obese people have a higher risk of developing the disease.

•Lynch Syndrome: This inherited condition affecting the body's genes increases the likelihood of a colorectal cancer diagnosis. In many cases, the positive diagnosis occurs before age 45. Texas Oncology has genetic testing available at some locations to determine if patients have the gene mutation associated with Lynch Syndrome.

•Other Health Problems: Diabetics and people who have a history of polyps and inflammatory bowel disease also have an increased risk for a positive diagnosis.

Screening Types

Screening tests for rectal and colon cancer are not as difficult as many people perceive them to be. In fact, most patients tolerate the screenings very well. Physicians can recommend several different screening tests for colorectal cancer. Among them, a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) or Fecal Immunochemical Test checks for blood in the stool. Another option is a sigmoidoscopy. During this procedure, a physician uses a tube with a light connected to a tiny video camera to analyze the rectum and lower part of the colon.

The most common screening test is a colonoscopy, where the rectum and entire colon are examined through a scope to detect growths or polyps that could potentially pose a threat (see sidebar graphic for a description of a colonoscopy).

March is colorectal cancer awareness month. For more information on kicking colorectal cancer, visit TexasOncology.com (http://www.texasoncology.com).

About Texas Oncology

Texas Oncology delivers high-quality cancer care with leading-edge technology and advanced treatment and therapy options available to help patients achieve "More breakthroughs. More victories." in their fights against cancer, right in their own communities. Texas Oncology, a pioneer in community-based cancer care, is an independent oncology practice with sites of service throughout Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

Texas Oncology patients have the opportunity to take part in some of the most promising clinical trials in the nation for a broad range of cancers. In fact, Texas Oncology has played an integral role in gaining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for 24 of the latest 30 cancer therapies.

Texas Onocology is affiliated with US Oncology, the nation's foremost cancer treatment and research network accelerating the availability and use of evidence-based medicine and shared best practices. With more than 1,250 physicians at 480 locations in 39 states, the US Oncology network provides Texas Oncology with access to the latest advancements in therapies, clinical research, and technology, as well as best-in-class clinical and operational processes that help to advance the quality, safety, and cost effectiveness of cancer care.

For more information, visit http://www.texasoncology.com or call 1-888-864-I CAN (4226).

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Contact Information Alison Zvolanek

214-665-1319