Jane Fern's Pharmacists Guide
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Be Smart Don't Be Duped By Fraudulent Online Pharmacies
And not just products, the Internet also opened a floodgate of services which include expert advise from specialists in their own fields. Of course, all this comes at a price but the stiff competition between different sites guarantees best deals and ensures that the customer continues to be king!
Online pharmacy has a special place in this scheme of things where numerous websites offer prescription drugs at unbelievable prices and promise generic equivalent of branded drugs. The same means that people no longer have to visit a drug store, and more importantly don't have to get hassled when they can't find the needed prescription drugs at a conventional drug store. All they have to do is visit a reputed online pharmacy like www.7-onlinepharmacy.com and order.
An online pharmacy also offers greater availability of drugs for people who don't live in a proximity of a pharmacy. The ease of comparative shopping among many sites to find the best prices is also a big factor for the increasing popularity of these stores selling prescription drugs. There is no denying the fact that the boom of online pharmacy stores has definitely helped people, but this has not come without drawbacks. For example, it has been reported that several websites are selling poor quality drugs, and there have been more than one instance of fraud. No wonder, medical specialists and Internet experts always stress that prescription drugs should always be bought from a reputed online pharmacy, selling FDA approved prescription drugs.
More and more customers in the United States are replacing their trip to a pharmacy with a click of the mouse where they have access to hundreds of websites offering online prescription drugs. Many of these stores selling prescription drugs have managed to earn the trust of their customers and the latter are doing regular dealings with them. However, in order to ensure that customers are not duped by this boom of online pharmacy stores, it is important to be cautious. For example, many online pharmacy stores require customers only to fill a questionnaire before ordering drugs. In this situation, there is no face to face interaction between the patient and the medical specialist, thereby bypassing direct medical supervision and physical examination, which undermines medical safeguards. It has been reported that due to this several patients have been on the receiving end of drug interactions and outdated drugs. The situation has become so alarming that FDA officials are investigating a number of these sites and plan to take legal action against any pharmacy indulging in the same.
Save yourself from being tricked
It isn't unusual to come across several online pharmacy sites shouting 'get online prescription drugs now- forget a doctor' or 'say goodbye to pain in an instant' or 'cure sugar with traditional herbs'. Learn not to get tricked by such statements. Consumers need to realize that many of these online drug stores are actively into unlawful prescribing, sell unapproved medical products and products marketed with fraudulent health claims.
Tips for using an online pharmacy:
With a view to ensue that online customers are given good quality and correct medicines, the US Pharmacopeia (USP) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established quality control standards for all medications dispensed by pharmacies across the US. Some of the important tips are:
1)Never buy drugs from an online pharmacy that is willing to sell you medicines without a proper prescription or which sells drugs that are not FDA approved.
2)Avoid using an online pharmacy that does not offer access to a registered pharmacist to answer your questions.
3)Check with the NABP to see if the online pharmacy from which are going to order is in a good standing.
4)Don't purchase drugs from foreign websites.
5)Avoid websites that promise a quick cure to serious diseases.
6)It is always wise to consult your physician before taking a drug from an online pharmacy.
7)It is important to verify if the online pharmacy from which you are ordering medicines is licensed to deliver the medications to the residents of your state.
Following the above mentioned tips can definitely be instrumental in saving yourself from being duped by online drugstores. Be wise and make the best of the convenience and benefits offered by genuine online drug stores, skirting the shady ones.
Labels: online pharmacy, Online prescription drugs, pharmacy, Prescription drugs
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Benefits of 24X7 Pharmacy
24X7 Pharmacy is committed to provide quality medication and unmatched support that too at lower prices. Apart from quality medication, 24X7 Pharmacy also provides online pharmacy consultation that helps you in getting the best advice from a panel of expert health physicians that ensure you avail quality medication. For all those who wish to seek quality medication, 24X7 Pharmacy provides 24X7 based consultation and medical prescription to help the needy patients.
As a licensed pharmacy, 24X7 Pharmacy is a dedicated portal committed to provide quality medications that to at low price. Backed by highly efficient consumer service that comes with guaranteed products, 24X7 Pharmacy ensures that you avail he best with Canadian mail order pharmacy. 24X7 Pharmacy has a user friendly website that ensures easy search of medication and prescription from a large database of medicines. As an overseas pharmacy, 24X7 Pharmacy’s medicines come with approval from heath organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Medicines Control Council (MCC), National Institute of Pharmacy (NIP) and numerous other associations that ensure quality medication.
In case one is looking for instant pain relief medication that helps in reducing the inflammation, tenderness, swelling that is usually in the case of arthritis; one can take recourse to 24X7 Pharmacy’s online pharmacy celebrex, buy canada cialis, buy cialis online, cialis for order, that helps in reducing the pain and inflation. Similarly, in the cases of meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract and vaginal infections, 24X7 Pharmacy provides diflucan online pharmacy, canadian prescriptions, Buy Soma, Acomplia Online that helps in providing instant relief and providing easy medication.
So, for all those who are looking forward to avail the benefits of timely medication, 24X7 Pharmacy helps in providing quality medication and prescription on online basis and ensuring the fact that you avail quality health treatment. With its 24X7 facilities, one can check out medical prescription at any point of time without delay and risking the heath issues in case one is unable to get a doctor at odd hours. So, get the best medication with 24X7 Pharmacy get suitable drugs as a part of Mexican pharmacy online purchase without delay. For more information about 24X7 Pharmacy and its online pharmacy consultation, log on to www.24x7pharmacy.com.
Labels: internet pharmacy, mail order pharmacy, mexican pharmacy, pharmacy
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tips For Using Online Pharmacy
And not just products, the Internet also opened a floodgate of services which include expert advice from specialists in their own fields. Of course, all this comes at a price but the stiff competition between different sites guarantees best deals and ensures that the customer continues to be king!
Online pharmacy has a special place in this scheme of things where numerous websites offer prescription drugs at unbelievable prices and promise generic equivalent of branded drugs. The same means that people no longer have to visit a drug store, and more importantly don't have to get hassled when they can't find the needed prescription drugs at a conventional drug store. All they have to do is visit a reputed online pharmacy like www.7-onlinepharmacy.com and order.
An online pharmacy also offers greater availability of drugs for people who don't live in proximity of a pharmacy. The ease of comparative shopping among many sites to find the best prices is also a big factor for the increasing popularity of these stores selling prescription drugs. There is no denying the fact that the boom of online pharmacy stores has definitely helped people, but this has not come without drawbacks. For example, it has been reported that several websites are selling poor quality drugs, and there have been more than one instance of fraud. No wonder, medical specialists and Internet experts always stress that prescription drugs should always be bought from a reputed online pharmacy, selling FDA approved prescription drugs.
More and more customers in the United States are replacing their trip to a pharmacy with a click of the mouse where they have access to hundreds of websites offering online prescription drugs. Many of these stores selling prescription drugs have managed to earn the trust of their customers and the latter are doing regular dealings with them. However, in order to ensure that customers are not duped by this boom of online pharmacy stores, it is important to be cautious. For example, many online pharmacy stores require customers only to fill a questionnaire before ordering drugs. In this situation, there is no face to face interaction between the patient and the medical specialist, thereby bypassing direct medical supervision and physical examination, which undermines medical safeguards. It has been reported that due to this several patients have been on the receiving end of drug interactions and outdated drugs. The situation has become so alarming that FDA officials are investigating a number of these sites and plan to take legal action against any pharmacy indulging in the same.
Save yourself from being tricked
It isn't unusual to come across several online pharmacy sites shouting 'get online prescription drugs now- forget a doctor' or 'say goodbye to pain in an instant' or 'cure sugar with traditional herbs'. Learn not to get tricked by such statements. Consumers need to realize that many of these online drug stores are actively into unlawful prescribing, sell unapproved medical products and products marketed with fraudulent health claims.
Tips for using an online pharmacy:
With a view to ensue that online customers are given good quality and correct medicines, the US Pharmacopeia (USP) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have established quality control standards for all medications dispensed by pharmacies across the US. Some of the important tips are:
1)Never buy drugs from an online pharmacy that is willing to sell you medicines without a proper prescription or which sells drugs that are not FDA approved.
2)Avoid using an online pharmacy that does not offer access to a registered pharmacist to answer your questions.
3)Check with the NABP to see if the online pharmacy from which are going to order is in a good standing.
4)Don't purchase drugs from foreign websites.
5)Avoid websites that promise a quick cure to serious diseases.
6)It is always wise to consult your physician before taking a drug from an online pharmacy.
7)It is important to verify if the online pharmacy from which you are ordering medicines is licensed to deliver the medications to the residents of your state.
Following the above mentioned tips can definitely be instrumental in saving yourself from being duped by online drugstores. Be wise and make the best of the convenience and benefits offered by genuine online drug stores, skirting the shady ones.
Labels: online pharmacy, Online prescription drugs, pharmacy, Prescription drugs
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Pharmacy Degree - A Career Choice for Today and Tomorrow
With so many amazing colleges, universities and technical learning facilities offering pharmacy degrees there is no reason why anyone with the desire to make a difference in patients life's could not engage and transform a dull career into something that is appealing and heartfelt.
Pharmacy schools abound throughout the United States. Many offer specific courses that are directly connected to degrees that are beneficial to becoming a pharmacist. With this remarkably condensed type of higher education offered it is easy to find a school that offers courses that are directly related to your goal of pharmacy training. Many schools offer courses that do not involve prerequisite courses that stem off and away from this direct goal.
Successfully engaging in the pursuit of a pharmacy career can occur at any age. Whether you have just graduated from high school or have been out of school for years, becoming a pharmacist or pharmacy technician can be an easily accomplished goal. You can also upgrade from being a pharmacy technician to working as a pharmacist in no time. If this type of a career interests you, you need only weigh the facts about the pharmaceutical needs of our society in order to know you will have a safe secure job in the work force for many years to come.
With people living longer than ever and with the advancements in modern medicine progressing in leaps and bounds, pharmacy skills will be a solid choice for future employment. Interesting, always changing, and steadfast are words that sum up a career in the pharmacy industry.
In engaging in the courses available for pharmacy training one thing you will quickly discover is whether you have the people skills that are necessary to be a personable pharmacist or pharmacy technician. In most cases, in any pharmacy setting, you will be in close contact with lots of people on a daily basis.
As a pharmacist you will interact with physicians. And on a more intimate level you will interact and get to know the physicians office personnel. The doctors that your patients will have prescriptions with can vary from being general physicians to being doctors of oncology and beyond. With that variation in medical doctors also comes a diverse array of patients and prescription needs.
Patients can suffer from anything as mild as a skin rash to a chronic disease that is life threatening. Within this range the patients you encounter and the questions they may ask will not always be typical. A kind and courteous bedside manner is as essential to a successful pharmacist as it is to any physician. Patients are looking to you with trust and hope and it is imperative you treat each one as a unique situation.
As a pharmacy technician you will work under a pharmacist and be expected to pull your weight at all times. As you learn and grow into a comfortable place within the available pharmacy career choices there will be no guessing as to whether you made the right decision. Understanding and relating to the people and situations that arise through out the class room atmosphere will directly prepare you for the work week that lies ahead for you as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
Visit Pharmacy Technician | Pharmacy Jobs or Pharmacy Schools for more information on a career in pharmacology.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Knutson
Labels: pharmacy, pharmacy career, pharmacy degree
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Top 7 Reasons To Become A Pharmacist
1) Flexible Working Schedules
The truth be told, there are not many other jobs out there that offers attractive working schedules. As a pharmacist, you are in control of your work schedule. You can choose from a myriad of working times. For most pharmacists with a family, they tend to opt for the regular 9AM to 5PM jobs in grocery chains and retail stores. For others, a 7 on and 7 off schedule may better suit them. This works by having the pharmacist work 7 days straight usually for a 12 hour shift. After 7 days of work, the pharmacist gets to either rest for the next 7 days or he or she can choose to work more hours for other companies. This type of scheduling puts the control to pharmacists who are interested in earning more income.
2) Great Working Salary
Depending on the location and need of pharmacists in the region, generally they can make anywhere from $75,000 to $150,000 per year. This is a lot of money considering the fact that you do not need to go through all of the training to become a pharmacist compared to a medical doctor's journey.
3) You will always have a job
As of this writing, the demand for pharmacist is much more than the supply. There is a current pharmacist shortage in most areas of the U.S. So therefore, pharmacists are currently enjoying a period of mobility, stability and flexibility as they practice their profession.
4) You will have great benefits
In order to attract new graduating pharmacist, most companies offer lucrative and enticing retirement and health benefits. These include attractive 401k plan packages, medical insurance coverage and even paid vacations to places like Hawaii and Alaska.
5) You can still be involve in healthcare and help people
Many students are interested in healthcare but feel that they are limited to either becoming a doctor or nurse. Well, as a pharmacist you are still involved in a patient's life. Pharmacists are not just people with a bright white lab-coat, who just "Count, Pour, Lick and Stick" all day. Rather than this, pharmacists are the intermediary between the doctor and patient. They consult the patients on their medications, contact doctors when there is a drug-drug or drug-food interactions, contact insurance companies to ensure proper billing and they do many more things to save people's lives all day long. Of course, these actions usually go unnoticed due to the common people's stereotypical views of most pharmacists.
6) You do not have to deal with bodily fluids
Pharmacists are known to work in a nice clean environment. They usually do not deal with blood or other nasty bodily fluids coming out of the patient's system.
7) You will enjoy the dynamicity of this profession
Pharmacist can work anywhere from the corner drug store to research to working with doctors and nurses in the hospital. There are many career opportunities for the pharmacists to pursue. These include (but not limited to) careers in community pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, research, managed care, drug utilization review, academic professor, pharmaceutical representatives, and even CEO of a major Fortune 500 company.
Charlie Thai is a pharmacy student and author of the "How To Get Into Pharmacy School" Ebook. He can be contacted by going to http://www.GetIntoPharmacySchool.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Charlie_Thai
Labels: pharmacist, pharmacy
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Why You Should Consider Becoming a Pharmacist
There has been an increase in the shortages of pharmacists not only in the United States but around the world. According to US dept of Health and Human Services, the factors causing the shortage are not likely to abate in the near future. Because of this employers are offering jobs to final year students even before their graduation.
This has created a competition among employers seeking the services of Pharmacists and as a result more incentives and big bonuses are being offered. Pharmacists salary is outstanding, compared to market standards with a very comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, vision, dental, 401k, supplemental insurance and more
Pharmacists also enjoy:
a. Job security.
b. Recession proof employment.
c. Well paid job.
d. Ability to open your own business.
e. Working with other health professionals.
f. Financial security.
Pharmacists also have so many choices of different areas of practice like:
Community Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy, Government Agencies, Academics, Hospice And Home Care, Hmo's, Medical And Scientific Publishing,Trade And Professional Associations, Managed Care,Long Term Care And Much More...
Finally:
If you want secure future financially,
If you want to take control of your life,
If you want to have a comfortable life,
If you want to give your family a better quality of life,
Then you should seriously consider becoming a Pharmacist.
To learn more about how to become a Pharmacist click on the link http://www.beapharmacist.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Frank_Buachie
Labels: pharmacists, pharmacy
Sunday, October 11, 2009
How To Become A Pharmacist
Many students these days are pursuing a career in pharmacy. And I can't blame them. Some advantages of becoming a pharmacist are:
1) Starting salary can be anywhere from $75,000 to $150,000 depending on location and need
2) A pharmacist's work schedules are flexible. You can work 7 on and 7 off, work during the evenings or work the usual 9-5 job
3) You will come out with less debt compared to other health professional schools.
4) You can become a fully-fledge licensed pharmacist in your early 20s and do not have to complete a residency
5) You won't have to deal with blood
There are many other advantages to becoming a pharmacist. Above are just a handful of them.
Now, how can you become a pharmacist?
If you are in high school and are interested in pharmacy school, I recommend that you take a look at a few 0-6 years program schools. This program works this way. The high school student applies into this program. As long as the students get the minimum grade point average (GPA) and SAT scores they should be able to get into the program. An interview may be required at some schools, so please check with each individual school. After 2 years of pre-requisite coursework with high marks, the student then proceed into the pharmacy school, where they complete either 3 or 4 years of pharmacy school coursework. Once completed, the student can opt to a 1 year residency or could go out and practice pharmacy immediately.
The shortest 0-6 years program school is University of the Pacific's (UOP) School of Pharmacy located in Stockton, CA. They offer a program that is as short as 5 years.
Below are some schools that offer 0-6 year programs:
Albany College of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Florida A & M University, Hampton University Massachusetts - Boston, Northeastern University, Ohio Northern University, Philadelphia, Rutgers University, St. John's University, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, University of Findlay, University of Missouri at Kansas City, University of Rhode Island, University of Texas at Austin, University of the Pacific and University of Pittsburgh
Now if you are a college student or non-traditional student, the road to becoming a pharmacist is similar to a high school student. Basically, you'll need to complete the pharmacy school requirements, take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT - if appropriate) and apply to the pharmacy school of your choice. There are many roadblocks that a student who are applying to pharmacy school may face. These questions include: How do I prepare myself to apply to pharmacy school? What should I major in? What extracurricular activities should I be involved in? Do I need to graduate with a bachelor's degree? Etc.
How To Get Into Pharmacy School ebook will show you how one student got into the pharmacy school of his choice within 4 short months after applying.
After graduating from pharmacy school, the student is now a fully-fledged pharmacist and only after becoming licensed, by taking the required test for the state the student is interested in practicing in, then he or she can begin working as a pharmacist.
As a pharmacist, you must renew your licensure every 2 years. This licensure process requires the pharmacist to take 30 units of Continuing Education (CE) classes either online or by signing up for a class. Other than this, the pharmacist can enjoy his or her career in the field of pharmacy.
Charlie Thai is a pharmacy student and author of the "How To Get Into Pharmacy School" Ebook. He can be reached by going to http://www.GetIntoPharmacySchool.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlie_Thai
Labels: pharmacist, pharmacy, pharmacy student
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Integrative Medicine and the Future of Pharmacy
Where are we now?
Just take a quick glance at our current healthcare system. Spending is on the rise, while the country's health deteriorates. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer are epidemic. The scope of allopathic medicine is too narrow to reverse this trend on its own. It certainly has its place in the healthcare arena, most notably for acute care, as in cases of trauma. And an incredible amount of information has been discovered under its umbrella. Still, what good is the most thorough understanding of biochemistry, pharmacology, or surgical technique if millions continue to suffer from debilitating chronic disease?
You see, the strength of the allopathic model can also be its weakness, depending upon the situation to which it is applied. When used to temporarily stabilize the body, system by system, there is no better approach. It fails miserably, however, for keeping individuals disease-free over the long run. The innate healing ability of the body is too complex, and the factors that contribute to chronic disease too numerous to lend themselves to a quick fix solution.
Likewise, judging the effectiveness of natural medicine, using allopathic standards, fails to acknowledge its aggregate and superior healing ability. It's like comparing apples with oranges. These two medical philosophies are founded on distinct principles and treatment practices.
Without a more integrative model, health care will continue down a doomed path. We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results.
Where should we go from here?
Thoreau is known to have said that "there are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one striking at the root." Look around, and you can see those devoted to working on the root causes of chronic disease, focusing on prevention and overall wellness. Naturopathic physicians, nutritionists, educators, herbalists, and even some medical doctors and pharmacists, to name a few, represent this group of healers who hint at the possible paradigm shift in medicine.
Pharmacists, in particular, hold an excellent position for implementing positive changes. They are the first point of access to health care for the majority of Americans, owing to the accessibility and convenience of pharmacies.
The profession of pharmacy is already following a trend away from the dispensing role toward one of patient-centered care. This is partly because most aspects of dispensing can now be accomplished by automated equipment or technicians. Why would a company want to dish out high salaries for a job that can be done by a robot, especially when robots don't make mistakes?
Compensation no longer depends entirely upon filling as many prescriptions as possible. It also comes from functioning as a consultant, as an information expert, and as an educator. So, why not take one more step forward and continue this trend? Pharmacy services could promote wellness and optimal outcomes, not just optimal medication usage. Pharmacists have an opportunity to push the envelope, serving as genuine patient advocates, while securing their future as indispensable healthcare providers.
Integrative pharmacies offer a glimpse of hope for the future of health care. These are centers of wellness, rather than centers of disease. Here, conventional and complementary medicine go hand in hand. Typical employees include naturopaths, nutritionists, nurses, massage therapists and aestheticians, as well as pharmacists. Education is highly emphasized, with classroom lectures and workshops being a normal part of services. Many topics are covered including smoking cessation, weight reduction, yoga instruction, and management of various disease states. Nutritional supplements and herbal products are as commonplace as prescription drugs.
Impressive business models for such an operation already exist. For example, Elephant is a pharmacy that originated in Berkeley, California and continues to grow in the San Francisco area. Pharmaca is another integrative pharmacy that has locations throughout the Western United States.
References:
Isaacs, Nora. "The New Pharmacy." Natural Health, April 2004.
(http://findarticles.com/p/articles/...)
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy
(http://www.pharmaca.com/)
Elephant Pharmacy
(http://www.elephantpharm.com/)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 by: Jeremiah Smith, citizen journalist
See all articles by this author
Email this author
About the author:
Jeremiah Smith is a pharmacy student with a strong interest in naturopathic medicine and a passion for helping people achieve optimal health.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Pharmaceutical Guide
Pharmaceuticals play a vital role in our day-to-day living. And hence their rising costs are destined to be our major concern. The ever growing price of pharmaceutical products severely pinches one’s pocket, because this is one area where there is no choice of take or leave. If a person is suffering from certain disease and the doctor prescribes him any medicines he must purchase it whether it suits his pocket or not. One is left with no choice but to pay the chemist. Hence there is a great need to regulate the prices of drugs, at least to watch that its price is not much above the cost incurred plus a marginal profit for the manufacturing company. As of now many market leaders are found to price their monopoly drugs at a very high rate. Even medicines or regular use are very costly. Drugs sold by prescription being much more expensive than those sold over the counter by the chemist. Hence, a person is often tempted to go for over the counter choice.
Big pharmaceutical players in the market also pay much attention to research and development of new medications possible. A big amount of money is invested in the R & D branch of the industry. Based on the market requirements and demands, companies try hard to invent a suitable drug to cure any ailment. Millions are spend in this type of research. And once any company hopes to have created any new medicine it has to pass through many different stages to get the approval of the drug controlling authority, FDA. FDA governs the stages of research, development and manufacture that have been undergone for any new drug before being exposed to consumers. Only after it has approved and given its quality assurance any drug shall be sold to public.
Even before any drug is presented to FDA it undergoes intensive testing which is carried on animals and even humans. These tests confirm about the effectiveness of the medicine and makes sure that the invented drug does not have any serious side effects. Animals that are used to carry these tests often raise a controversy among the environmentalists. They strongly object about animals being tortured for the benefit of mankind. While the companies defend by saying that it is important to save mankind and those animals can easily reproduce. Whatever be the case this controversy goes on forever without a suitable solution. All this research work is necessary so that the ultimate consumer gets nothing but the best.
With the high growth rate in the pharmaceutical industry all the companies employed in this sector are facing though competition. There is a constant endeavor to attract the consumers by direct marketing and efficient advertising plans targeted towards customers. We all need to be aware of what types of drugs are available in the market and take our judgment meticulously and not get carried away by advertisements.
Labels: medicines, pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical guide, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy
Top 50 Pharmacist Blogs Online
1. The Angry Pharmacist: For opinionated posts about drugs, patients, and pharmacy in general, read through this blog and see how this blogger earned his name.
2. Jim Plagakis: This pharmacist’s blog discusses current trends and problems in the world of pharmacy.
3. Drug Monkey: According to this blog, ”your pharmacist my hate you.” Take a look and find out why.
4. Drugs R Phun: This pharmacist blows off steam from the stress of the job by telling anecdotal stories about patients that come to her pharmacy.
5. Fast Food Pharmacy: This blog is dedicated to the in and out, fast paced pharmacy world. Laughs and strange patient stories are guaranteed when you visit.
6. The Angriest Pharmacist: This blog is not for the faint of heart. For real, unadulterated opinions on the day to day life of a pharmacist, browse through the posts on this blog.
7. And You Wonder Why Your Pharmacist Never Smiles: This blogger focuses on the pharmacist-patient relationship and certainly has a lot to say on the matter.
8. The Frantic Pharmacist: Take a look at what this pharmacist has to say about the profession, and the ups and downs that come along with dealing with patients as well as colleagues.
9. Farmacy is Fun: Farmacy is Fun takes a lighthearted approach to dealing with patients and their care.
10. A Day at the Pharmacy: The posts on this blog come from a provincial UK Pharmacist who discusses dealing with annoying, as well as ”occasionally lovely” patients and their needs.
11. Pharmacy Slave: Think you have it bad? Read this blogger’s humorous posts and breathe a sigh of relief.
12. Pharm Barbie: Read the musings of this pharmacy student who works ”twiddling her thumbs in a chain pharmacy.”
13. Pharmer Jane: For a good mix of humor, advice, and discussion related to daily life in the pharmacy, take a peek at what Pharmer Jane has to say.
14. Pissed Pharmacist: The tagline says, ”I think I need a new job.” That’s just the beginning. For curt, abbreviated humorous posts and rants about being a pharmacist, check this blog out.
15. SomePharmacyGuy: Find musings on the daily grind of pharmacy, from interpreting doctors’ handwriting to dealing with irritating patients when you visit this Australian pharmacist’s blog.
16. Soul Sucking Pharmacy: Read humorous posts from a pharmacist who guarantees that his blog is not HIPAA compliant.
17. Pharmacy God: This retail pharmacy veteran relates tales of being a pharmacist in a time when the job entails far more than just filling prescriptions.
18. The Politically Incorrect Pharmacist: This blogger strives to ”tell it like it is,” without holding back. Amuse yourself with his fearless posts about the world of pharmacy.
19. The Ole’ Apothecary: This blog is about ”pondering what pharmacy is and where it’s going.” The posts range from serious, to humorous, to raving rants.
20. Pharmacy Chick: Another retail pharmacist blogs about the daily goings-on at a pharmacy. The posts on this site are eloquently written and humorous, and give some insight to the reader in the process.
Pharmacy News and Informational Blogs All pharmacy blogs are not about just the day-to-day dealings with patients. The following blogs are about helping other pharmacists to stay informed, whether about the latest recall, HIPAA compliance, or a whole host of other pharmacy-related issues.
21. Pharmacist Daily: Find current and relevant information for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and contribute to the discussions related to a constantly-changing profession.
22. The Blonde Pharmacist: News and information on the latest pharmacy issues can be found on this blog, along with some strongly-voiced opinions regarding some hot-button issues.
23. Pharmacy and Health Blog: This blog has many posts related to new and cutting-edge treatments and articles related to patient care as well as the profession itself. See what you can learn about the latest health trends, or comment on an existing post.
24. Online Pharmacy News: Find interesting stories, features, and the latest developments in pharmacy news when you visit this blog.
25. RaPharmacy (Canadian Pharmacy News): Take a look at this blog to learn more about drugs for male sexual health and news related to this topic.
26. Online Pharmacy Technician Schools: The goal of this blog is to help keep pharmacists in the know regarding key issues related to giving excellent patient care. Check out what other pharmacists have to say and gather tips, advice, and best practices as well.
27. Fierce Health IT: For up-to-date news related to the world of patient care and pharmacy in a technological context, look no further than Fierce Health IT.
28. PRIME Pharmacist Case Studies: Stay abreast of what’s going on in the world of case studies involving various frequently-prescribed medications and their interactions. Find common side effects and more when you look into the latest case studies on this blog.
29. Bioethics.net: Be informed of current ethical dilemmas facing medical professionals and pharmacist, and see how your peers are responding to these dilemmas.
Professional Development Blogs Staying on top of all of the information and technology in any field can be quite a chore. See what these bloggers have to say in relation to the professional development of a pharmacist.
30. Transitional Committee Blog: Read this blog for views on pharmacy as a profession that is in constant flux. Articles and editorials regarding the role of the pharmacist are primarily featured
31. Pharmacist’s Place: Check out this blog for important discussions, from whether certification is more important than experience, to the value of continuing your education in the field of pharmacy.
Pharmacology Blogs Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. The following blogs feature articles related to drug interactions of various kinds.
32. Pharmacology Journal: Pharmacists may gain some insight about clinical pharmacology by visiting this site.
33. Indiana Systematic Thinking: Posts related to mental health pharmacology, as well as other pharmacology-related posts are available through Indiana Systematic Thinking.
34. Ask a Scientician: This blog, posted by an online pharmacist, has valuable information on drug interactions and pharmacology.
35. My Dominant Hemisphere: Find in-depth articles and best practices related to various pharmacological issues, among other things when you visit this blog.
36. Lancashire Care Library and Information Service: Browse through this blog’s treasure trove of pharmacy and pharmacological posts.
Pharmaceutical Blogs Once a drug’s ability to change an organism’s function is established as having medicinal value, it is then considered a pharmaceutical. Take some time to look through these blogs for more information on specific pharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals in general.
37. Eye on FDA: Get the latest news and information related to the Food and Drug Administration’s impact and relationship with pharmaceuticals and the companies that produce them.
38. Black Triangle: Join discussion groups or peruse the articles related to drugs and their effects on patients.
39. Pharma Marketing Blog: Opinions on pharmaceutical companies and their marketing practices, as well as the effects of their drugs on the public is the focus of this blogger’s attention.
40. WSJ Health Blog: Sift through Wall Street Journal’s authoritative collection of articles on pharmaceuticals and health care.
41. Pharma Blogosphere: As the site it self declares, this is ”a blog about blogging in the pharmaceutical industry.”
42. Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma: Updated posts on ethical issues and news related to big pharmaceutical companies can be found on this particular blog.
43. In The Pipeline: This blog is hosted by a man who has worked for several major pharmaceutical companies over the last nineteen years. For an informed, insider opinion about the inner workings of pharmaceutical companies, visit his blog.
44. The IN VIVO Blog: Browse through an amazing amount of articles and research on a wide variety of topics related to the pharmaceutical industry on The IN VIVO Blog.
45. Jim Edwards’s NRx: Look to the blog for news and information on the drug business that ”the media hasn’t written yet.”
46. Fierce Pharma: Turn to Fierce Pharma for daily updates related to big pharmaceutical companies and their products.
47. Prescription Access Litigation: Stay informed regarding consumer education, class action lawsuits, and drug industry accountability issues by visiting this blog.
48. Nurse Practitioner Program: Keep heathly with drug awareness tips from a nurse practitioner blogger.
49. Drug Injury Watch: Drug Injury Watch provides readers with new and information related to side effects and interactions of prescription drugs.
50. Pharmalive: This blog is the self-proclaimed ”pulse of the pharmaceutical industry. Articles, information, commentary and much more related to pharmaceuticals are available for readers to look through.
Labels: pharmacist blogs online, pharmacists, pharmacy
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Other Types of Pharmacies
Compounding is the practice of preparing drugs in new forms. For example, if a drug manufacturer only provides a drug as a tablet, a compounding pharmacist might make a medicated lollipop that contains the drug. Patients who have difficulty swallowing the tablet may prefer to suck the medicated lollipop instead.
Compounding pharmacies specialize in compounding, although many also dispense the same non-compounded drugs that patients can obtain from community pharmacies.
Consultant pharmacy
Consultant pharmacy practice focuses more on medication regimen review (i.e. "cognitive services") than on actual dispensing of drugs. Consultant pharmacists most typically work in nursing homes, but are increasingly branching into other institutions and non-institutional settings. Traditionally consultant pharmacists were usually independent business owners, though in the United States many now work for several large pharmacy management companies (primarily Omnicare, Kindred Healthcare and PharMerica). This trend may be gradually reversing as consultant pharmacists begin to work directly with patients, primarily because many elderly people are now taking numerous medications but continue to live outside of institutional settings. Some community pharmacies employ consultant pharmacists and/or provide consulting services.
The main principle of consultant pharmacy is pharmaceutical care developed by Hepler and Strand in 1990.
Veterinary pharmacy
Veterinary pharmacies, sometimes called animal pharmacies may fall in the category of hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy or mail-order pharmacy. Veterinary pharmacies stock different varieties and different strengths of medications to fulfill the pharmaceutical needs of animals. Because the needs of animals as well as the regulations on veterinary medicine are often very different from those related to people, veterinary pharmacy is often kept separate from regular pharmacies.
Nuclear pharmacy
Nuclear pharmacy focuses on preparing radioactive materials for diagnostic tests and for treating certain diseases. Nuclear pharmacists undergo additional training specific to handling radioactive materials, and unlike in community and hospital pharmacies, nuclear pharmacists typically do not interact directly with patients.
Military pharmacy
Military pharmacy is an entirely different working environment due to the fact that technicians perform most duties that in a civilian sector would be illegal. State laws of Technician patient counseling and medication checking by a pharmacist do not apply.
Pharmacy informatics
Pharmacy informatics is the combination of pharmacy practice science and applied information science. Pharmacy informaticists work in many practice areas of pharmacy, however, they may also work in information technology departments or for healthcare information technology vendor companies. As a practice area and specialist domain, pharmacy informatics is growing quickly to meet the needs of major national and international patient information projects and health system interoperability goals. Pharmacists are well trained to participate in medication management system development, deployment and optimization.
Source: Wikippedia
Labels: pharmacy, types of pharmacies
Monday, October 5, 2009
Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacists have extensive education in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, sociobehavioral and clinical sciences. Most clinical pharmacists have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and many have completed one or more years of post-graduate training (e.g. a general and/or specialty pharmacy residency). Many clinical pharmacists also choose to become Board Certified through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) which was organized in 1976 as an independent certification agency of APhA (American Pharmacists Association). A pharmacist may become a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP), Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP), Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist (BCNSP), or a Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialities (BPS). There are also subspecialties within the Pharmacotherapy specialty: Cardiology and Infectious Disease. It is denoted as an "Added Qualification" or AQ. In order to obtain one of these specialties you must first be a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and then submit a portfolio to the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties for review to determine if they will grant you the added qualifications.
Within the system of health care, clinical pharmacists are experts in the therapeutic use of medications. They routinely provide medication therapy evaluations and recommendations to patients and other health care professionals. Clinical pharmacists are a primary source of scientifically valid information and advice regarding the safe, appropriate, and cost-effective use of medications.
A more appropriate definition for clinical pharmacy is, "Clinical pharmacy is the branch of pharmacy which deals with various aspect of patient care, dispensing of drugs and advising patient on the safe and rational use of drug." In some states, clinical pharmacists are given prescriptive authority.
Basic components of clinical pharmacy practice:
1. Prescribing drugs
2. Dispensing and administering drugs
3. Documenting professional services
4. Reviewing drug use
5. Communication
6. Counseling
7. Consulting
Scope of clinical pharmacy:
Drug Distribution Systems
Drug Information
Drug Utilization
Drug Evaluation and Selection
Medication Therapy Management
Formal Education and Training Program
Disease State Management
Miscellaneous:Application of Electronic Data Processing(EDP).
Source: Wikipedia
Labels: clinical pharmacy, pharmacy
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Hospital Pharmacy
(Left Photo: A retail pharmacy located inside a hospital in Italy [Prato])
Some pharmacists in hospital pharmacies may have more complex clinical medication management issues whereas pharmacists in community pharmacies often have more complex business and customer relations issues. Because of the complexity of the medication use system, many pharmacists practicing in hospitals gain more education and training after pharmacy school through a pharmacy practice residency and sometimes followed by another residency in a specific area.
Hospital pharmacies can usually be found within the premises of the hospital. Hospital pharmacies usually stock a larger range of medications, including more specialized and investigational medications (medicines that are being studied, but have not yet been approved), than would be feasible in the community setting. Hospital pharmacies typically provide medications for the hospitalized patients only, and are not retail establishments. They typically do not provide prescription service to the public. Some hospitals do have retail pharmacies within them (see illustration), which sell over-the-counter as well as prescription medications to the public, but these are not the actual hospital pharmacy.
Labels: hospital pharmacy, pharmacy
Community Pharmacy

(Left Photo: 19th century Italian pharmacy)
Community pharmacies are pharmacist-owned, privately-held businesses in varying practice settings. They include single-store operations, pharmacist-owned multiple store locations, franchise, compounding, long term-care (LTC), specialty, and supermarket pharmacy operation.
A pharmacy (commonly the chemist in Australia, New Zealand and the UK; or drugstore in North America; retail pharmacy in industry terminology; or Apothecary, historically) is the place where most pharmacists practice the profession of pharmacy. It is the community pharmacy where the dichotomy of the profession exists—health professionals who are also retailers.
Community pharmacies usually consist of a retail storefront with a dispensary where medications are stored and dispensed. The dispensary is subject to pharmacy legislation; with requirements for storage conditions, compulsory texts, equipment, etc., specified in legislation. Where it was once the case that pharmacists stayed within the dispensary compounding/dispensing medications; there has been an increasing trend towards the use of trained pharmacy technicians while the pharmacist spends more time communicating with patients.
All pharmacies are required to have a pharmacist on-duty at all times when open. In many jurisdictions, it is also a requirement that the owner of a pharmacy must be a registered pharmacist (R.Ph.). This latter requirement has been revoked in many jurisdictions, such that many retailers (including supermarkets and mass merchandisers) now include a pharmacy as a department of their store.
Likewise, many pharmacies are now rather grocery store-like in their design. In addition to medicines and prescriptions, many now sell a diverse arrangement of additional household items such as cosmetics, shampoo, office supplies, confectionar, and snack foods.
Source: Wikipedia
Labels: community pharmacy, pharmacy
Friday, October 2, 2009
History of Pharmacy

Paleopharmacological studies attest to the use of medicinal plants in pre-history.
The earliest known compilation of medicinal substances was ARIANA the Sushruta Samhita, an Indian Ayurvedic treatise attributed to Sushruta in the 6th century BC. However, the earliest text as preserved dates to the 3rd or 4th century AD.
Many Sumerian (late 6th millennium BC - early 2nd millennium BC) cuneiform clay tablets record prescriptions for medicine.
Ancient Egyptian pharmacological knowledge was recorded in various papyri such as the Ebers Papyrus of 1550 BC, and the Edwin Smith Papyrus of the 16th century BC.
The earliest known Chinese manual on materia medica is the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Herb-Root Classic), dating back to the 1st century AD. It was compiled during the Han dynasty and was attributed to the mythical Shennong. Earlier literature included lists of prescriptions for specific ailments, exemplified by a manuscript "Recipes for 52 Ailments", found in the Mawangdui tomb, sealed in 168 BC. Further details on Chinese pharmacy can be found in the Pharmacy in China article.
The Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides is famous for writing a five volume book in his native Greek Περί ύλης ιατρικής in the 1st century AD. The Latin translation De Materia Medica (Concerning medical substances) was used a basis for many medieval texts, and was built upon by many middle eastern scientists during the Islamic Golden Age. The title coined the term materia medica.
In Japan, at the end of the Asuka period (538-710) and the early Nara period (710-794), the men who fulfilled roles similar to those of modern pharmacists were highly respected. The place of pharmacists in society was expressly defined in the Taihō Code (701) and re-stated in the Yōrō Code (718). Ranked positions in the pre-Heian Imperial court were established; and this organizational structure remained largely intact until the Meiji Restoration (1868). In this highly stable hierarchy, the pharmacists—and even pharmacist assistants—were assigned status superior to all others in health-related fields such as physicians and acupuncturists. In the Imperial household, the pharmacist was even ranked above the two personal physicians of the Emperor.
There is a stone sign for a pharmacy with a tripod, a mortar, and a pestle opposite one for a doctor in the Arcadian Way in Ephesus near Kusadasi in Turkey. http://www.pbase.com/tsechien/ephesus_ has photos. The current Ephesus dates back to 400BC and was the site of the Temple of Artemis one of the seven wonders of the world, the home of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, Mary Magdalen and where St Paul read his letter to the Ephesians.
In Baghdad the first pharmacies were established in 754 under the Abbasid Caliphate during the Islamic Golden Age. By the 9th century, these pharmacies were state-regulated.
The advances in made in the Middle East in botany and chemistry led medicine in medieval Islam substantially to develop pharmacology. Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi (Rhazes) (865-915), for instance, acted to promote the medical uses of chemical compounds. Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis) (936-1013) pioneered the preparation of medicines by sublimation and distillation. His Liber servitoris is of particular interest, as it provides the reader with recipes and explains how to prepare the `simples’ from which were compounded the complex drugs then generally used. Sabur Ibn Sahl (d 869), was, however, the first physician to initiate pharmacopoedia, describing a large variety of drugs and remedies for ailments. Al-Biruni (973-1050) wrote one of the most valuable Islamic works on pharmacology entitled Kitab al-Saydalah (The Book of Drugs), where he gave detailed knowledge of the properties of drugs and outlined the role of pharmacy and the functions and duties of the pharmacist. Ibn Sina (Avicenna), too, described no less than 700 preparations, their properties, mode of action and their indications. He devoted in fact a whole volume to simple drugs in The Canon of Medicine. Of great impact were also the works by al-Maridini of Baghdad and Cairo, and Ibn al-Wafid (1008-1074), both of which were printed in Latin more than fifty times, appearing as De Medicinis universalibus et particularibus by `Mesue' the younger, and the Medicamentis simplicibus by `Abenguefit'. Peter of Abano (1250-1316) translated and added a supplement to the work of al-Maridini under the title De Veneris. Al-Muwaffaq’s contributions in the field are also pioneering. Living in the 10th century, he wrote The foundations of the true properties of Remedies, amongst others describing arsenious oxide, and being acquainted with silicic acid. He made clear distinction between sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, and drew attention to the poisonous nature of copper compounds, especially copper vitriol, and also lead compounds. He also describes the distillation of sea-water for drinking.
In Europe pharmacy-like shops began to appear during the 12th century. In 1240 emperor Frederic II issued a decree by which the physician's and the apothecary's professions were separated.
In Europe there are old pharmacies still operating in Dubrovnik, Croatia located inside the Franciscan monastery, opened in 1317 ; and one in the Town Hall Square of Tallinn, Estonia dating from at least 1422. The oldest is claimed to be set up in 1221 in the Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence Itlay, which now houses a perfume museum. Another in Llívia few kilometres from Puigcerdà is a Catalan enclave in Spain almost within France which is also now a museum dating back to the 15 century.
Source: Wikipedia
Labels: history, pharmacies, pharmacy