A couple of months ago it was ‘Ask Your Pharmacist’ week here in Australia. It occurred with little fanfare, but a nice sentiment nonetheless I suppose. Interesting to note that, as would be expected, Health Minister Nicola Roxon was the government’s representative on this campaign, though this comes at a somewhat tense time between the profession and the government, particularly Ms. Roxon. (more…)

For those in Australia, we are familiar with large chain pharmacy companies such as National Pharmacies, Chemmart, Chemplus, Amcal and so on. Now we have (relatively) newer ones such as Chemist Warehouse, United Discount Chemists, and Priceline. There seems to be a heading in a discount marketed direction, however the originals are still keeping their same banners and general ‘non-discount’ image. Do you feel this is hurting or helping the industry by marketing pharmacies as drug warehouses. These pharmacies are still providing the same counselling and professional services, but on observer may say the outfit of the store may be diminishing the professional reputation of pharmacies. (more…)

I was tempted to replace the ‘F’ in filmmaker with ‘Ph’ for geeky effect but felt ‘Philmmaker’ might be confusing.

Trailer I came across for a film directed by a pharmacist, check it out. (more…)

Here’s your Oxycontin (insert mischievous laugh here) (more…)

Although this occurred some time ago, I recently came across this article and thought it was another example of being vigilant when dispensing medication. More specifically, not blindly dispensing when there is cause to call the doctor and ask for an explanation for an order. (more…)

Edward and Bella – Your Local Pharmacists?

With all this excitement over Twilight New Moon, or the Twilight Saga, or whatever, maybe there will be a renewed interest in pasty white folks. They’re certainly going crazy over Edward and Bella and the other bone white co-stars. For those of us with already light skin that would take a week in the bahamas to give a decent tan, hanging around 9am-9pm in the one spot completely out of the reach of the sun’s rays pretty much guarantees we will look as hot as those stars. Pale is the new tan. I can cancel my appointment to the tanning spa.

While supermarket pharmacies owned by large companies is the norm in the US, Australia’s pharmacy powers that be have done an admirable job holding onto the right for the profession to be owned and run by pharmacists, and only pharmacists. (more…)

This is a little irrelevant, but I was seated at a restaurant, one of those informal venues with bold art work sprayed here and there and a couple of large screens pumping through music videos from the 80s to today. (more…)

For those fellow Aussies who are unaware in certain states in the US you can pick up a carton of your favourite smokes (that’s what you say right? Sorry, I don’t know smokers slang…if that exists) right next to nicotine replacement patches, so you can decide which you might pursue when you get home.

This is old news to the Americans, but take a look at this article which talks about Boston changing their mind and enforcing their pharmacies to remove all tobacco products. (more…)

Without taking it too personally, this is both sharp, slightly funny take on the public’s view of pharmacy, but sadly, as we know from our customers, an accurate impression of what some view our profession to be.

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All you US pharmacists are probably well aware of Jim Plagakis and his insightful website. If not you should be. I won’t say more because you are better off going straight there and finding out for yourself.

Jim was the inspiration for starting this blog section of this site to provide an Australian perspective on the profession, when he posted a reply of mine which can be found here. Essentially it is a brief run down on the Australian pharmacy system, so if you’re from Australia skip that and go straight to Jim’s blog. For those who want to know a little more about how (in general) the Australian system may compare to their own, have a quick read, and then be sure to take a look at Jim’s blog, definitely worth going back and looking at the older posts as well.

The material for this comment comes from a question asked through our ‘Ask a Question’ portal. Of course no specific detail will given as all medication question are confidential, but these red-flagged questions will hopefully be educational to our non medical readers, and those pharmacy students/new pharmas who need to remember to check any drug combined with pregnancy (or lactation for that matter) and not assume its probably okay because its not one of those extreme Catagory X drugs you get scared with at university.

A question posed was if a certain blood pressure medication is okay to take while pregnant. This person already was pregnant and there was a reasonable amount of time before her next doctor’s appointment and hence when this issue would have been discussed. (more…)

A colleague recently mentioned he had heard Vitamin D can be used against H1N1 (Swine Flu). I decided to look into this should a flurry of queries come in from customers once this leaks to a radio program or current affairs program (where apparently there are right 100% of the time, according to many customers).

This link includes some info but I can’t comment on the reliability of the source. The NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine) has a post but I haven’t got access at the moment. (more…)

When Drug Counselling Goes Bad

I’m not sure about you, but I’m not feeling the joy here. This was pulled from a leaflet I found in the dispensary, as captivated as I was by the image, I didn’t read the entire contents, but it was something about asking your pharmacist about your meds, which is an excellent point, but, yes, what caption would you give that image…?