A recent study from Radiology showed that iron absorption was abnormal (low) in patients with ADHD. This was based on 22 kids with it and 12 who never took any medications for it. There were 27 controls. It was coauthored by Helpern and Jensen (both PhDs). Of the kids with ADHD those on medication had higher iron levels than those who hadn't been on it. It was performed at the medical University of SC. I wonder though, how many of the families were meat eaters?

Less screaming at the doctor's office or pharmacy now that the CDC thinks it oks for kids 2-8 to get the inhaled flu vaccine instead of getting a shot. Honestly, who enjoys having a metal tube inserted into one's skin? Who looks forward to that senation of alcohol chilling the skin as its rubbed on and then possibly fanned on the arm? It's supposed to be better in terms of efficacy.
Minutia from the CDC memo, back in 2010 almost everyone at least 6 months old was asked to get a flu vaccine.

Here's the CDC link:
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/s0625-acip.html

http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drug-topics/news/cdc-panel-recommends-nasal-spray-flu-vaccines-some-children
CDC panel recommends nasal spray flu vaccines for some children

Memo to the RPHs of the country, be honest when you file your tax returns.


From the IRS's website.:
Ohio Pharmacist Sentenced for Failing to Pay Taxes
On June 4, 2012, in Youngstown, Ohio, Ronald E. Lidderdale, of Magnolia, Ohio, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and one year of supervised release for failing to file federal income tax returns. According to a written plea agreement, Lidderdale, who owned and operated a pharmacy and gift shop, failed to file income tax returns on which he was required to report adjusted gross income of approximately $249,497, $336,800, and $324,734 for 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. Lidderdale failed to pay approximately $281,341 in income taxes owing on that income.

https://freerangestock.com/sample/997/photo.jpg

Minutia about pharmacy:

"Ben Shalom Bernanke's parents owned/operated a pharmacy." Source: DrugStoreNews.

File this under weird pharmacy news.

A guy robs a CVS. His brother manages it. Is it the case of an inside job? Well read below to find out. Then again, who ever heard of sticking someone up not with a water gun, but a water nozzle? The entire article is copied below.
It's not quite as strange as a guy hitting a pregnant relative with a cheeseburger & pushing her because he disagrees with something she said, or an adult acting out because he can't play certain games, though normally children act out, not adults.

• Man issues threat over loss of game privileges

  A 29-year-old man was arrested after allegedly threatening his mother with a knife when she told him if he didn't do his chores, he would lose his game privileges. READ MORE

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/crime/police-blotters/report-man-hits-pregnant-woman-with-cheeseburger-1.326180

Naples man accused of robbing store with water hose nozzle

Posted: May 29, 2014 1:25 PM CDT Updated: May 29, 2014 6:18 PM CDT

By Bryan Anderson, Collier County Reporter - email

 

A man armed with a water hose nozzle is accused of robbing a Naples CVS store managed by his own brother.
Akeem Rendell Arnold, 23, of Naples, allegedly tried to steal over $14,000 shortly before closing, according to a police report.
Police say Arnold wearing a mask and dressed in black approached the store manager, who is his brother, while he was outside taking the trash out.
Arnold allegedly put what felt like a gun or knife to the manager's back and told him to re-enter the store against his will at 294 9th street South, according to the police report.
Once inside the store, Arnold is accused of hitting the manager over the head with the garden hose nozzle, taking money from the store's safe, and hog-tying him with a roll of plastic wrap.
Arnold then made a run for it, and police apprehended him along US-41 with a backpack containing the money, the garden hose nozzle, a mask, bandana and multiple pairs of gloves.
Reports show it took two pepper sprays and handcuffs to get Arnold under control.
Customers on Thursday were surprised by what happened.
"If that's true, that's really really shocking to hear that, and surprising what can happen within families," said Glynn Huntington, CVS customer.
Naples police lieutenant John Barkley credits the CVS manager, David Arnold's quick thinking for getting Akeem Arnold caught so quickly.

In Texas marijuana is illegal under state and federal law. In other states the law allows marijuana though federal law prohibits it. Last December a driver who used alcohol and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was impaired & pulled over at 0200 (2 am). According to reports his "blood-alcohol content was at .155, just short of twice the legal limit. It also showed trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, the intoxicating component in marijuana." 

It is something to think about, as one reason to advocate marijuana decriminalization or legalization is the THC to reduce pain. Yet, it is also the THC which impairs one. So to anyone who smokes weed, don't smoke and drive, nor drink and drive. Tragically this combination led to a pharmacy student's death after being pulled over and shot by a policeman.

This is more tragic because a pharmacy student studies drugs and its effects on the body. though illegal substances aren't normally the scope of pharmacy school, legal ones are, including ethanol or alcohol. Judging by the amount of drinking that some of my peers did, knowledge doesn't always led to correct decisions of moderation of imbibing.

Source:http://www.dcclothesline.com/2014/03/23/autopsy-determines-texas-cop-fatally-shot-student-back/
'Autopsy determines Texas cop fatally shot student in back'

I'm continuing my monthly blog. My goal is to write one short summary or reflection in response to a pharmacy news story/stories.

Today is the filing deadline for US Taxpayers. It is the time to consider tips and altering one's behaviors based on the tax code. How does this relate to pharmacy? One retail chain is mulling changing its headquarters to lower its tax bill, just like Apple did.
Employees of Walgreens (WAG) may imitate employees of Giant Pharmacy whose company went from being a domestic corp to an international corp with a HQ overseas. Various investors commented that the US corporate tax of 37.5% was higher than Switzerland's 20%. If the company change occurs at least 1/5th of stock most be held by foreign investors.

Source: yahoo and telegraph though there's an article in businessweek too.

Reflections on Pharmacy: I felt really sad when I read this because I know ...

Reflections on Pharmacy: I felt really sad when I read this because I know ...: I felt really sad when I read this because I know what it is like to be in pain. When I had my wisdom teeth removed it was so painful I ha...

Blog reaction to DEA PR:

People respond to incentives. If you fine someone , it's a disincentive. If you can fire someone, it's a disincentive. At first I thought that the millions of dollars in Walgreens fines didn't matter as the company' analysis said "this will only affect share prices by a few cents." This led to many saying that the government did not fine Walgreens enough. Yet, then Walgreens roled out a plan to determine if a drug was "validly written." 

To the non-pharmacy workers of the world this was always a federal and state requirement. There are numerous times I have told patients that they are multiple days early and it couldn't be filled. One patient said to me, "I will have to come back in a day or two in order to pick it up. What's the difference between a couple days?"

The difference is whether I will lose my job. How will this happen? Will the state board feel I was reckless in dispensing? Will a federal agent come in, accuse me of aiding a drug addict? Will the police storm a store or hospital and demand to cuff myself, a subordinate, or a supervisor and take us away?

If I work for Walgreens or CVS will they fire me for dispensing this medicine? Will they say, "Sorry, this is coming out of your paycheck?"