Oleg Nikolaenko of Moscow, Russia, has been indicted for allegedly sending thousands of spam e-mails, including messages promoting non-FDA-approved herbal remedies, and counterfeit prescription medications, as reported in a US Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin press release. As...

FDA warns consumers not to use Man Up NowTM capsules, marketed as a dietary supplement for sexual enhancement, because they contain sulfoaildenafil, a chemical similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. Like sildenafil, this chemical may interact with prescription...

In response to numerous complaints of injury and following hundreds of consumer alerts, FDA has taken action against the manufacture and sales of products marketed as dietary supplements that contain the active ingredients found in FDA-approved drugs. On December 15,...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Drug Safety Communication warning patients and health care providers that ingestion of benzonatate, a drug used for relief of cough, by children under the age of 10 years can result in death...

Plans for a nonprofit dedicated to fighting rogue Internet drug outlets and counterfeit drugs will be developed by 11 Internet commerce companies who took part – along with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and other stakeholders –...

FDA Drug Info Rounds, a series of online training videos, provides important and timely drug information to practicing clinical and community pharmacists so they can help patients make better medication decisions. In the latest Drug Info Rounds video, pharmacists discuss...

New research has demonstrated increasing resistance to antivirals in certain influenza strains signaling the need for continued detailed studies of influenza virus strains, and the development of new medications. While resistance to either adamantanes or neurominidase inhibitors (such as oseltamivir...

A discussion paper exploring concerns about how the expansion of pharmacy education impacts the quality of pharmacy education was released on December 6, 2010, by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The paper...

The Quality Measures Workgroup, part of the federal Health Information Technology Policy Committee, seeks public comment on proposed measure concepts, as the Committee works to develop recommendations on policy to advance the development and adoption of a nationwide health information...

Iowa’s National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEX), implemented in September 2010, has blocked over 10,000 sales of over-the-counter medications containing pseudoephedrine (PSE), likely helping to fight the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine in the state. All Iowa pharmacies use the NPLEX system...

Originally published in the December 2010 NABP Newsletter As a new service to the state boards of pharmacy, NABP now has the capability to display candidate scores for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®) and Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination®...

Originally published in the December 2010 NABP Newsletter Boards Strive to Remain Compliant with HRSA Reporting Requirements With an increase of nearly 99%, disciplinary actions reported by the boards of pharmacy to the NABP Clearinghouse between January 1 and August...

Originally published in the December 2010 NABP Newsletter Pharmacists across the nation continue to receive too-good-to-be-true offers from rogue Internet drug outlets attempting to entice them to fill questionable prescriptions in return for large monetary reimbursements. While most pharmacists reject...

Originally published in the December 2010 NABP Newsletter Potentially thousands of rogue Internet drug outlets will have to board up their virtual storefronts, thanks to a new partnership agreement enforcing a major domain name registrar’s ban on illegal use of...

Originally published in the December 2010 NABP Newsletter Efforts to counteract the proliferation of counterfeit prescription medications received a boost with the federal government’s 2010 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, released last June by the Office of the...

By Dale J. Atkinson, JD Originally published in the December 2010 NABP Newsletter The standards of practice set forth in the practice act and/or regulations (preferably explicitly, but sometimes implicitly) are the barometer or measure expected of a licensed pharmacist...

Originally published in the December 2010 NABP Newsletter Since new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations for controlled substance e-prescribing took effect June 1, 2010, state boards of pharmacy are offering guidance to licensees regarding DEA e-prescribing software requirements and the...

Originally published in the December 2010 NABP Newsletter Energized by the opportunity to network and dialogue with their peers about shared challenges – from fighting prescription drug abuse and establishing drug take-back programs, to regulating the use of technology in...

One in nine adolescents received a prescription for medications with a high potential for abuse in 2007, a rate almost twice the 1994 levels, according to a study published in the December 2010 issue of Pediatrics. The researchers did not...

Following some debate among New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and the state’s General Assembly, regulations to implement the New Jersey medical marijuana law have been agreed upon. The regulations will allow for six alternative treatment centers that will both dispense...

Proposed legislation that would amend the Iowa code to classify marijuana as a Schedule II drug was approved in a vote by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy on Wednesday, November 24, 2010. Such a change would allow for medical uses...

On December 7, 2010, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors considered a Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance that would require pharmaceutical companies to provide a means of environmentally safe drug disposal. The Board reports that the city’s “wastewater treatment plants are not...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is coordinating National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), December 5-11, 2010, to promote the importance of continuing influenza vaccination. CDC is providing print literature, Web tools, and media toolkits on the CDC Web site,...

Intelli Health Products is expanding a voluntary nationwide recall of Duro Extend Capsules For Men, to include all lots, after being informed by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that laboratory analysis of Duro Extend Capsules For Men found the product...

Following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determination that propoxyphene may cause serious or even fatal heart rhythm abnormalities, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc has agreed to withdraw the brand versions of the drug, Darvon® and Darvocet®, from the United States market....

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeks assistance as the agency is in the process of collecting information for emergency scheduling of several synthetic cannabinoids (JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP 47, 497, and canabicyclohexanol) under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The synthetic cannabinoids...

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (S 3804), which would allow the federal government to take actions against Internet sites using domain names to promote counterfeit products, was approved by the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary on November...

Mississippi and Oklahoma will soon begin requiring the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE®), bringing the number of states using the MPJE to 48. Candidates may begin taking the Mississippi and Oklahoma MPJE at Pearson VUE test centers on January 25,...

NABP recently accredited 18 additional facilities through its Verified-Accredited Wholesale DistributorsCM (VAWDCM) program, bringing the total number of accredited facilities to 427 as of November 24, 2010. A full listing of VAWD facilities is available under Programs on the NABP...

A review and analysis of the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) has resulted in revisions to the MPJE competency statements. These revisions include the redistribution of the proportion of items in each content area and the addition of new competencies....

In response to an expressed need by prescription monitoring program (PMP) administrators for a way to facilitate the sharing and exchanging of data among PMP systems, NABP will be developing an interconnected communications hub for state PMPs. The “interconnect hub,”...

A recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) publication presents workshop findings about the planning, distribution, and administration of the 2009 H1N1 vaccination and highlights the role of pharmacists and pharmacies in the vaccination campaign. The report, “The 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination...

Health Canada has warned Canadians about potentially counterfeit drugs sold on three Web sites, which are listed on the NABP Not Recommended list. The Canadian regulatory agency notes that prescription drugs for sale on sites Northdrugmart.com, Northdrugstore.com, and Pharmacyrxworld.com have...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is coordinating Get Smart About Antibiotics Week, this week, November 15-21, 2010, to help raise public awareness about appropriate antibiotic use. The CDC Web site provides information on state and local Get Smart...

A study of consumers across the nation shows that 40% of United States households surveyed have at least one expired over-the-counter (OTC) medication in the home and that 55% would likely use an expired medication. The "2010 Over-The-Counter Household Inventory...

In response to an expressed need by prescription monitoring program (PMP) administrators for a way to facilitate the sharing and exchanging of data among PMP systems, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) will be developing an interconnected communications...

As a follow-up to the decision made in February 2010, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy approved its recommendation to the Iowa Legislature that marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule II controlled substance, on November 2, 2010. The Iowa Board’s February...

A study by researchers at the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy shows that prescription drug abuse led to more than 1,600 deaths in Tennessee over a three-year period. According to an article in the Tennessean, the unreleased study shows...

On October 19, 2010, Google filed a complaint amending its September 2010 federal lawsuit and alleging that four additional defendants were involved in schemes to circumvent AdWords policies in order to promote Internet drug outlets. The September 21, 2010 federal...

Certain lots of two drugs, Heparin Sodium USP Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and Methotrexate Injection (50 mg/2 mL and 250 mg/10 mL) vials, have been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturers. Working with Food and Drug Administration (FDA), B. Braun Medical...

NABP recently accredited three additional Internet pharmacies through its VIPPS® program: Ridgeway Pharmacy, Ltd dba Ridgeway Mail Order www.ridgewayrx.com PBM Plus Mail Service Pharmacy, LLC dba PBM Plus Mail Service Pharmacy www.pbmplus.com HomeMed Pharmacy, LLC dba PlanTheFam www.planthefam.com A full...

NABP recently granted two additional online pharmacy services Approved e-Advertiser status. More information about the NABP e-Advertiser ApprovalCM Program and a full listing of online pharmacy services with Approved e-Advertiser status is available under Programs on the NABP Web site....

In partnership with NABP, and as part of its Safe Use Initiative, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages pharmacies to stop using the abbreviation APAP and to spell out the drug name, acetaminophen, in an effort to help patients avoid...

Get Smart About Antibiotics Week, an effort coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will be observed November 15-21, 2010, to help raise public awareness about appropriate antibiotic use. As part of the Get Smart: Know When...

Mark Hughes, a resident of St Louis, MO, was indicted by a federal grand jury on several charges related to his alleged importing and selling of counterfeit and misbranded prescription drugs, including fakes of Viagra® and Cialis®. According to a...

FDA reports that prescription and over-the-counter drug products were seized from Tri-Med Laboratories, Inc by US Marshals at FDA’s request. The New Jersey manufacturer was producing and distributing unapproved new drugs and adulterated new drugs, according to an FDA news...

An FDA reminder warns patients and health care providers that concomitant use of Plavix® (clopidogrel) and omeprazole should be avoided due to significant reductions in clopidogrel's effectiveness when the drugs are taken at the same time. FDA also provides additional...

Signed into law by President Obama on October 12, 2010, the Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2010 (HR 2923) amends the Controlled Substances Act to effectively require all regulated retail sellers of drug products containing methamphetamine precursors to submit to...

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted its draft guidance document, "Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health Care Facilities" (PDF), soliciting comments for managing unused pharmaceuticals. EPA posted the notice as part of its efforts to reduce the amount of...

McNeil Consumer Healthcare has voluntarily recalled TYLENOL® 8 Hour caplets 50 count bottles due to complaints of a musty or moldy odor, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported on October 19, 2010. The recall is precautionary and the risk of...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the latest data showing increased use of prescription drugs in the United States in the report “Prescription Drug Use Continues to Increase: U.S. Prescription Drug Data for 2007-2008.” The report, based on...

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) has published a statement summarizing its evaluation of the factors contributing to the recall of USP 33-NF 28 in January 2010. Three evaluations were performed to determine why errors occurred during the monograph redesign...

FDA Drug Info Rounds, a series of online training videos, provides important and timely drug information to practicing clinical and community pharmacists so they can help patients make better medication decisions. In the latest Drug Info Rounds video, pharmacists discuss...

President Obama signed into law the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act (S 3397) on October 12, 2010. The law amends the Controlled Substances Act to give the Attorney General authority to promulgate regulations to allow patients to deliver unused...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took part in the International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), which took place October 5-12, 2010, by warning Web sites believed to be illegally peddling unapproved drugs to US consumers, and by targeting illegal shipments...

Due to its failure to ensure compliance with pseudoephedrine (PSE) product sales limits, CVS Pharmacy, Inc, in an agreement with federal prosecutors, will pay $77.6 million in penalties and forfeiture. CVS admitted that, from September 2007 to November 2008, the...

The New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI) issued a report, “Medication Adherence and Care Teams: A Call for Demonstration Projects,” calling for additional research on care teams – which can include physicians, pharmacists, and other non-physician caregivers – and their impact...

Last week, FDA issued warnings to eight companies marketing unapproved over-the-counter (OTC) chelation products, and also entered a consent decree prohibiting a Montana manufacturer from continuing to make or sell drugs with unapproved health claims. The eight companies marketing OTC...

The Pharmacy and Provider e-Prescribing Experience Reporting (PEER) Portal has been re-launched by the Alliance for Patient Medication Safety (APMS), and will collect data from pharmacies on electronic prescribing and generate reports and feedback intended to improve the e-prescribing process....

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a statement of policy that clarifies the proper role of a duly authorized agent of a DEA-registered individual practitioner in communicating controlled substance (CS) prescription information to a pharmacy. The statement, published October 6, 2010,...

Collecting approximately 242,000 pounds of pharmaceuticals, DEA, in collaboration with state and local law enforcement agencies, successfully coordinated the first-ever national drug take-back day. Nearly 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies, managing more than 4,000 different collection sites, participated...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about the dangers of ordering pet medications from Web sites that do not require prescriptions and offer extremely low prices. The downloadable consumer health information document, “Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware,”...

A recent FDA guidance makes clear the limited instances in which personal importation of an unapproved drug product may be allowed. The guidance, aimed to assist FDA field personnel, explains that release of an unapproved drug for personal use may...

Due to the increased risk of heart attack and stroke associated with the weight loss medication Meridia® (sibutramine), Abbott Laboratories will voluntarily withdraw the drug from the US market. As reported in a FDA news release, the agency approved Meridia...

An article in Drug Topics recently highlighted a Korean study that shows erectile dysfunction drugs purchased online can pose significant health risks. Learn more in Drug Topics....

NABP Program Alerts Consumers to Dangers of Rogue Internet Drug Sites, Stresses Vital Role of Pharmacists in Patient Care AWARxE, a consumer protection program provided by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®), encourages patients not to compromise on...

FDA recently published Import Alert #66-41 Detention Without Physical Examination of Unapproved New Drugs Promoted in the US. The guidance provides that when there is evidence of promotion of unapproved drugs to persons in the United States, products should be...

Developed to address the growing rates of prescription drug abuse, the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act (S 3397) has passed in the United States Senate and House and was presented to President Obama on September 30, 2010. This act...

Pharmacies in Missouri are beginning to implement a database that will track sales of pseudoephedrine (PSE), the primary precursor ingredient in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, and automatically deny sales to customers who have already purchased the legal daily limit....

If signed into law by President Obama, the Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2010 (HR 2923) would amend the Controlled Substances Act to effectively require all regulated retail sellers of drug products containing methamphetamine precursors to submit to the Attorney...

On September 30, 2010, FDA ordered companies that manufacture unapproved single-ingredient oral colchicine, a medication commonly used as treatment for gout, to stop the manufacture, distribution, and/or marketing of the drug. The companies are expected to stop manufacturing the drug...

Under a contract with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) will conduct a one-year study, reviewing evidence and ultimately making recommendations as to how health information technology (HIT) can best fulfill...

The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a consumer alert to pet owners, warning them about the dangers of buying discounted pet drugs online. Read more in The New York Times....

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a “Special Open Door Forum” conference call to discuss the impact of health care reform (enacted in March 2010) on the DMEPOS accreditation requirement for pharmacy. The call is scheduled...

Register for the FPGEE with NABP NABP will begin accepting registrations for the April 14, 2011 FPGEE on January 3, 2011. March 29 is the last day to register for the FPGEE. Schedule your Exam with Pearson VUE Candidates can begin scheduling their test...

On September 21, 2010, Google filed a federal lawsuit against one individual and 50 unnamed defendants allegedly connected with promoting rogue Internet drug outlets. Google announced on February 9, 2010, that it will only accept advertisements from Internet pharmacies in...

The Safe Drug Disposal Act of 2010 (HR 5809), an act that would amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide for take-back disposal of controlled substances in certain instances, passed in the US House of Representatives. Intended to help prevent...

Ohio pharmacist Eugene Fletcher is accused of illegally distributing prescription painkillers and anti-anxiety medications and was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 23, 2010. The charges allege that Fletcher conspired with Dr Paul Volkman, already a defendant in...

The Washington State Department of Health will be able to relaunch its prescription monitoring program (PMP) with new funding received through two federal grants. The department received both a Harold Rogers Grant from the US Department of Justice, Bureau of...

On September 23, 2010, the US House of Representatives passed the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Reauthorization Act of 2010 (HR 5710), which would offer financial support for state PMPs. The act, currently in Senate committee review, would appropriate...

Association Seeks to Educate about Rogue Web Sites Selling Prescription Drugs and Other Safety Issues in Pharmacy Earlier this year, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) was introduced to the AWARXE campaign, which was created and implemented by...

Originally published in the October 2010 NABP Newsletter The deadline for durable medical equipment pharmacies to obtain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) accreditation has been extended to January 1, 2011. This change, along with provisions that exempt...

Originally published in the October 2010 NABP Newsletter Based on Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE®) validation study survey results garnered earlier this year, the application of pharmacy law appears to be shifting within the practice of pharmacy. Boards of pharmacy...

Originally published in the October 2010 NABP Newsletter By Dale J. Atkinson, JD Boards of pharmacy enforce the practice acts and other legislation relevant to the licensure of pharmacies and pharmacists, among numerous other responsibilities. Occasionally, legislation outside the practice...

Originally published in the October 2010 NABP Newsletter Recommended Changes will Focus on Facilitating Provision of Patient Care and Protecting the Public Health From policies guiding allowable Schedule II prescription changes by pharmacists, to regulations for secure disposal of unused...

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in partnership with local government, community, public health, and law enforcement agencies, will hold the first-ever nationwide prescription drug take-back day. To help prevent increased rates of prescription drug abuse and...

The Iowa Department of Public Safety seeks assistance in tracking a group of individuals using fraudulent prescriptions to obtain controlled substances. Specifically, four unidentified individuals have obtained oxycodone using fraudulent prescriptions at a number of pharmacies in Iowa. Similar cases...

The Nebraska Board of Pharmacy decided against reclassifying marijuana to make it available as a medical treatment. Medical marijuana advocates asked the Board to consider reclassifying the drug at a July Board meeting. The Board, however, stressed that reclassifying marijuana...

Pharmacist Amadiegwu Onujiogu, owner of Codman Square Pharmacy in Dorchester, MA, pleaded guilty to defrauding the United States Government in a Medicaid billing scheme. Onujiogu obtained prescriptions from individuals – most of whom were suffering from chronic disease or psychiatric...

On September 14, 2010, an FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Committee voted against recommending that dextromethorpan be scheduled as a controlled substance. As reported in the September 9, 2010 e-News, the committee met in response to a DEA request...

A USA Today article reports that according to the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), nearly 1,700 incidents of counterfeit drugs were reported worldwide last year which is triple the number from 2004. Read more about the growing problem of counterfeit drugs in...

In a recent investigation, Dan Rather examined the fake prescription medication market and attempts of counterfeiters to infiltrate the US market. Read the transcript of the episode on HDNet....

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in partnership with local government, community, public health, and law enforcement agencies, will hold the first-ever nationwide prescription drug take-back day. To help prevent increased rates of prescription drug abuse and...

Marla Ahlgrimm, a pharmacist and founder of Women’s Health America, and Balbir Bhogal are accused by federal prosecutors of conspiring to deliver counterfeit controlled substances and were arrested in Wisconsin on September 1, 2010. According to the Associated Press, a...

New state legislation, new state board of pharmacy regulations, and expanded continuing education offerings in several states have empowered more pharmacists to offer immunization services during the 2010-2011 influenza season. A survey conducted by the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Info Rounds, a series of online training videos, provides important and timely drug information to practicing clinical and community pharmacists so they can help patients make better medication decisions. In the latest Drug Info...

Certain distribution practices, as well as the variation in state regulations pertaining to the veterinary drug supply chain, can create opportunities for diversion and for counterfeit drugs to enter the distribution path. Such vulnerabilities in the veterinary drug distribution channel...

NABP amended the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (Model Act) to reflect the increased utilization of computer technology, to address improved quality and safety measures in patient care, and as...

In response to the increase in dextromethorphan abuse, especially among adolescents, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee will meet to discuss the abuse potential of the drug on September 14, 2010. The committee will also examine the public...

Hazim Gaber, of Canada, admitted to selling fake cancer drugs over the Internet at a plea hearing in May 2010, and on August 25, 2010, he was sentenced to 33 months in prison by a US District Court judge in...

FDA has updated its Web page reporting potential signals of serious risks and new safety information identified from the Adverse Event Reporting System between April and June 2010. For the drugs included, FDA has identified a potential safety issue, not...

An FDA Podcast provides information on the proper administration of nimodipine oral capsules and reminds health care providers that the drug should not be administered intravenously. As reported in the August 12, 2010 e-News, FDA continues to receive reports of...

Published in the September 2010 West Virginia Board of Pharmacy Newsletter West Virginia Code Section 60A-9-4 and Rule 15-8-3 of the Board’s rules require that each time a Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance is dispensed or filled for...

Published in the September 2010 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The 2010 legislature amended K.S.A. 65-1635a related to immunizations. The change went into effect July 1, 2010. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have acknowledged that vaccination is...

Published in the September 2010 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter For Kansas methamphetamine cooks, getting a key ingredient for making the illegal drug is about to get much more difficult. The Kansas State Board of Pharmacy adopted the Kansas...

Published in the September 2010 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Effective July 1, 2010, changes to Idaho Code §54-1733 will make requesting refill authorization easier. Previously, if there were no refills remaining on an existing prescription drug order, the...

Published in the September 2010 Idaho State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Beginning July 1, 2010, all applicants for original licensure, registration, and reinstatement through the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy are required to submit fingerprints for Idaho and Federal Bureau...

Originally published in the September 2010 NABP Newsletter New state legislation, new state board of pharmacy regulations, and expanded continuing education offerings in several states have empowered more pharmacists to offer immunization services during the 2010-2011 influenza season. A survey...

Originally published in the September 2010 NABP Newsletter By Dale J. Atkinson, JD The boards of pharmacy are created and empowered to enforce the practice acts in the interest of public protection. Enforcement of the act often leads to decisions...

Originally published in the September 2010 NABP Newsletter To assist the boards of pharmacy as they work to protect the public health, NABP recently amended the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of...

Originally published in the September 2010 NABP Newsletter The Texas State Board of Pharmacy approved the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as the single provider of certification examinations for pharmacy technicians in the state as of May 14, 2010. The...

TimeOut Capsules, a product marketed as a natural sexual enhancement drug, contain a chemical that may interact with prescription drugs and result in dangerously low blood pressure, warns Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The product, distributed on Internet sites as...

Shire, along with FDA, alerts pharmacists and distributors that certain lots of Carbatrol® and Adderall XR® that were stolen on October 17, 2008, have been found in the supply chain as expired returns. The manufacturer warns that more stolen product...

Originally published in the September 2010 NABP Newsletter The standards of the Vet-VIPPSCM (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM) program help to assure that accredited online veterinary pharmacies safely dispense prescription pet medications that are acquired through verified sources. At the...

A new pilot program – slated to receive more than $3 million in federal funding – will support the development of rural health networks that can include pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. The Rural Health Workforce Development...

NABP recently granted two additional online pharmacy services Approved e-Advertiser status. More information about the NABP e-Advertiser Approval Program and a full listing of online pharmacy services with Approved e-Advertiser status is available under Programs on the NABP Web site....

NABP Launches Online Order and Renewal Services for National Database of Pharmacy Laws and Regulations The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) is pleased to announce that NABPLAW® Online subscriptions may now be ordered and renewed online, 24 hours...

According to an ABC news report, the US Attorney's Office announced that a Canadian man was sentenced in Phoenix to nearly three years in prison for selling counterfeit cancer drugs on the Internet. Read more at ABC15.com or see NABP e-News...

Signed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on August 9, 2010, a new law will expand and add safeguards to the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP). The current PMP, established in Massachusetts in 1992, collects prescribing and dispensing information on Massachusetts...

The process of implementing a new electronic system to track the sales of pseudoephedrine (PSE), ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine will begin in Washington State this month. New legislation (PDF) requiring the electronic PSE tracking system was adopted in March 2010. Once...

The effectiveness of consumer medication information (CMI) has been examined by FDA and various stakeholders, and a newly published study provides additional related data. Conducted by researchers from the University of Florida, the study concludes that the content, format, reading...

Shire, the manufacturer of ProAmatine (midodrine hydrochloride), a drug used to treat orthostatic hypotension, has announced that it will voluntarily withdraw ProAmatine effective September 30, 2010. In a Web site announcement, the manufacturer states that FDA was notified in November...

FDA released a Guidance for Industry, “Organ-Specific Warnings: Internal Analgesic, Antipyretic, and Antirheumatic Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use – Small Entity Compliance Guide” (PDF) on August 17, 2010 to help small businesses understand and comply with FDA’s organ-specific labeling...

The World Health Organization (WHO) influenza alert has moved from phase six, the highest alert level, to a post-pandemic stage, as announced by WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan on August 10, 2010. In the post-pandemic period, WHO advises that the...

Reformulated OxyContin® tablets, designed to prevent abuse of the prescription pain medication, will be released during the month of August 2010. Purdue Pharma L.P. has notified Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about the new formulation and provided details about the changes...

FDA is alerting health care providers and patients that Lamictal® (lamotrigine), a medication commonly used for seizures in children two years and older, and bipolar disorder in adults, can cause aseptic meningitis. It is important to rapidly diagnose the underlying...

As part of an expert panel, NABP staff will speak on state regulations relative to the prescription drug supply chain at the PDMA Sharing Conference to take place in San Diego, CA, on October 3-6, 2010. The panel’s session will...

The issue of delegation of authority and the extent to which statutes and rules or regulations should designate by name a private sector examination (like the NABP North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination®) or a passing standard as a mandatory prerequisite...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds health care providers that oral nimodipine capsules should be given only by mouth or through a feeding or nasogastric tube and should never be given by intravenous administration. FDA continues to receive reports of...

The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 (S. 3397) (PDF), passed in the United States Senate on August 3, 2010, and, if passed in the House and signed into law, would allow public and private entities to develop methods...

Introduced to the US Senate on August 3, 2010, the Drug Safety and Accountability Act of 2010 (S. 3690) is intended to enhance the ability of the FDA to monitor foreign drug manufacturing sites and to recall potentially dangerous drugs....

Upon careful consideration and much analysis, NABP plans to implement revised competency statements for the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE®) in January 2011. These revisions resulted from an extensive review process, including the convening of a subcommittee to develop and...

NABP recently accredited two additional facilities through its Verified-Accredited Wholesale DistributorsCM (VAWDCM) program. See a full listing of VAWD facilities. C.R. Bard, Inc, dba GDC; BAS; BPV; BEP; BMD; BUD; DAVOL Covington, GA DSC Logistics, Inc Roanoke, TX  ...

The State of Iowa Department of Administrative Services has selected a new medication therapy management (MTM) program for the state employee health plan that will bring MTM services to more than 64,000 additional patients in Iowa. The program is effective...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccines for the 2010-2011 influenza season in the United States on July 30, 2010. The seasonal influenza vaccine protects against three strains of influenza, including the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, which caused the 2009...

A new Veterans Health Administration directive issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) indicates that VA hospitals and clinics will not deny services to veterans participating in state medical marijuana programs in the 14 states that have legalized...

FDA advises patients and health care providers of reports regarding adverse effects from Evamist® in children who may have been unintentionally exposed to the drug through skin contact with women using this product. Evamist contains estradiol, an estrogen hormone, and...

Published in the August 2010 Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter   The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy appointed a Board committee of pharmacists from various areas of practice to highlight issues related to diversion as the Narcotics Task Force for...

Excerpted from the August 2010 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter In June, rules were adopted in Division 080 to remove marijuana from Schedule I and place in Schedule II, and to remove methamphetamine from Schedule II and place it...

Published in the August 2010 South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation – Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The South Carolina Code of Laws has been amended to allow pharmacists to administer influenza vaccines without a prescription effective July 1,...

Originally published in the August 2010 NABP Newsletter The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP) is working to bring about policy changes requiring Internet search engines, domain name registrars, and other “gatekeepers” to stop enabling rogue Internet drug outlets. Its...

Originally published in the August 2010 NABP Newsletter In support of Indiana Board of Pharmacy compliance operations, NABP provided Indiana Board compliance staff a one-day comprehensive training and education program in May 2010. The two-part training session began with an...

Originally published in the August 2010 NABP Newsletter Nonresident drug wholesalers that wish to do business in the state of Maryland must now obtain accreditation from a Maryland Board of Pharmacy-approved accreditation body or be licensed and inspected by a...

Originally published in the August 2010 NABP Newsletter Upon careful consideration and much analysis, NABP plans to implement revised competency statements for the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE®) in January 2011. These revisions resulted from an extensive review process, including...

By Dale J. Atkinson, JD The issue of delegation of authority and the extent to which statutes and rules or regulations should designate by name a private sector examination (like the NABP North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination®) or a passing...

Timely information relating to pharmacy legislation, regulations, and competency will now be delivered to your e-mail inbox each week, as NABP e-News moves to a weekly schedule. E-News, a free weekly electronic newsletter, will continue to provide up-to-date articles on...

NABP is pleased to announce that NABPLAW® Online subscriptions may now be ordered online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the NABP Web site at https://www.nabplaw.net/signup.php. A variety of short-term and long-term licenses are available for purchase,...

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy adopted and filed an emergency rule that places synthetic cannabinoids into Schedule I of the Iowa Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and has effectively banned certain products that are marketed as incense, but are laced with...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Info Rounds, a series of training videos, provides important and timely drug information to practicing clinical and community pharmacists so they can help patients make better medication decisions. In the latest Drug Info Rounds...

NABP recently accredited two additional Internet pharmacies that sell prescription pet medications through its Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM (Vet-VIPPSCM) program: Drs Foster & Smith Pharmacy www.DrsFosterSmith.com/pharmacy SmartPak www.smartpak.com A detailed description of the Vet-VIPPS program and a full listing...

Recent statistics show 20 percent of Americans have taken prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Read about one man's struggle in the Daily Herald....

Seal Demonstrates Commitment to Patient Safety; Approved Sites Eligible to Advertise through Search Engines that Require VIPPS Accreditation The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) has named Pharmahelper.com, QC Supply, and Kerr Drug as the first online pharmacy services...

Convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and other charges related to an Internet drug outlet scheme, David Allen Vogel forfeited over $29 million and could face more than 20 years in federal prison. According to a Department of...

FDA issued a warning that certain Advair Diskus inhalers stolen from a distribution warehouse in 2009 have been found in some pharmacies. In a July 16, 2010 press release, FDA stresses that the safety and effectiveness of the stolen inhalers...

Abuse of prescription pain medications continues to rise, according to the latest data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The agency’s Treatment Episode Data Set showed that the proportion of substance abuse treatment admissions for individuals...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to seek input on the developing risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) for drugs and biologics through both public participation in an upcoming meeting and written comments. FDA seeks comments from various stakeholders, many...

NABP is pleased to announce that Dennis K. McAllister, RPh, FASHP, a member of the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, has been appointed by the Association to the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Board of Directors for a six-year...

Developed to provide state board of pharmacy members with opportunities to discuss and gain new information about issues of highest priority to the boards, the 2010 NABP Interactive Member Forum will take place September 22-23, 2010, at NABP Headquarters in...

After three annual administrations, the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment® (PCOA®) has consistently provided data to schools and colleges of pharmacy regarding the progression in student knowledge of the pharmacy curriculum during the professional years. Measurement of students’ ability to master...

Through the AWARxE consumer protection program, NABP continues to educate the public on the dangers of buying medicine over the Internet, providing consumers with the information they need to protect themselves and their families from the risks posed by rogue...

Following extensive analysis and review of the pharmacy practice survey results, NABP has found that the overall view of pharmacists’ roles in pharmacy practice appears to be shifting. The survey, which was conducted during the second quarter 2009 to ensure...

Patients in Mississippi must present a prescription in order to purchase pseudoephedrine (PSE) products as of July 1, 2010. The new law designates PSE – the key precursor ingredient in methamphetamine production – as a Schedule III controlled substance and...

NABP is recommending that the state boards of pharmacy prohibit the use of the abbreviation “APAP” on prescription labels, and require that “acetaminophen” be spelled out to assist in preventing the well recognized danger of acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity. In situations...

Pamela Arrey, a licensed pharmacist who owned and operated two pharmacies in Baltimore, MD, pleaded guilty to charges of health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to misbrand pharmaceuticals. According to a United States Department of Justice press release,...

The Washington Times recently reported on FDA's warning against "generic Tamiflu" and the threat of counterfeit drugs in the United States. Read the article, "Popping the Internet's Poison Pills," in The Washington Times....

FDA is warning consumers that a phony version of the antiviral drug Tamiflu being sold on the Internet could spark a harmful reaction in some people. Read more in FDA's consumer updates....

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seeking comments regarding whether or not current regulations on the dispensing of controlled substances to residents residing at long term care facilities (LTCFs) should be revised. DEA posted the notice in the...

Vice President Joe Biden and United States Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel introduced a plan targeting counterfeit prescription medications, among other products infringing on intellectual property rights and endangering public safety. Announced on June 22, 2010, the Joint Strategic...

At a hearing on drug waste and disposal, US Senator Herb Kohl, Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, emphasized the need for consistent federal guidelines for proper and safe disposal of unused medications. Kohl also called on DEA to...

An online educational activity, “The Past, Present, and Future of FDA Human Drug Regulation,” is available on the FDA Web site and may be completed for continuing education (CE) credit for pharmacists. The activity is designed to give participants a clear...

Published in the July 2010 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter During the most recent legislative session a new law was passed establishing a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) in South Dakota. This law places the responsibility for implementing...

Published in the July 2010 Louisiana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter (10-07-352) During its May 5, 2010 meeting, the Board approved guidelines for medication disposal programs in Louisiana. Federal rules prohibit the transfer of previously dispensed controlled substances to any person...

Published in the July 2010 Louisiana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter (10-07-349) When the 2006 Louisiana Legislature enacted the Prescription Monitoring Program Act, the law directed dispensers of controlled substances and drugs of concern to report their eligible transactions to the...

Published in the July 2010 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter On June 1, 2010, Board rules implementing the Drug, Supplies, and Medical Device Repository Program, NCGS § 90-85.44, became effective. These rules, codified at 21 NCAC 46.2513, provide the...

Published in the July 2010 Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Minnesota Safe Drug Disposal Act, as originally drafted, would have required pharmaceutical manufacturers to establish product stewardship programs to promote the disposal of unwanted prescription drugs in a manner...

Published in the July 2010 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter No. 1045 A new law aimed at saving lives by encouraging people who witness drug overdoses to call 911 went into effect June 10, 2010. The “911 Good Samaritan”...

Published in the July 2010 Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Many Tennessee pharmacists have entertained the idea of helping patients destroy unused medications by allowing patients to bring medications back into the pharmacy. Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Rule 1140-3-.03(8) states,...

Published in the July 2010 Alaska Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Many pharmacies have had multiple phone calls from patients requesting refills and transfers of prescriptions that were originally dispensed from pharmaceutical vending machines. These vending machines have been popping up...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding a fraudulent product, sold over the Internet and represented as “Generic Tamiflu,” that contains cloxacillin, an ingredient in the same class of antibiotics as penicillin. Patients who are allergic to...

On June 16, 2010 the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy acted to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II controlled substance in accordance with an Oregon law that passed last year. The new law requires that marijuana be removed from a...

Iowa pharmacies will soon be linked to a real-time pseudoephedrine (PSE) sales tracking system designed to enable pharmacies across the state to share PSE sales data, as reported in the WCF Courier. By linking the PSE data from all pharmacies,...

Effective June 10, 2010, new laws in Washington state allow access to naloxone to treat patients suffering from opiate-related overdose. Under the Regulation of Health Professions – Uniform Disciplinary Act, the administering, dispensing, prescribing, purchasing, acquisition, possession, or use of...

The National Alert Network (NAN) for Serious Medication Errors was activated on June 16, 2010, for an urgent message on the potential for serious or fatal errors with epinephrine due to a shortage of emergency syringes. As epinephrine emergency syringes...

The World Customs Organization (WCO) will sign a declaration on June 24, 2010, to ban the making and marketing of counterfeit drugs, according to Reuters. The WCO mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of customs administrations and the...

Pharmacy owner Richard Lacson and pharmacist Cesar Cabrera were sentenced to federal prison for distributing millions of hydrocodone pills for cash at their pharmacies located in Riverside and Los Angeles Counties, CA, as reported in a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)...

Aimed to provide additional information to both patients and health care providers, summaries of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety analyses on recently approved drugs and biologics will now be periodically posted on the FDA Web site. The new summaries...

NABP recently accredited one additional Internet pharmacy through its Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM (VIPPS®) program:  BioScrip Pharmacy Services, Inc www.bioscrip.com A full listing of 21 accredited VIPPS pharmacy sites representing more than 12,000 pharmacies is available on the NABP...

NABP is sad to report that Barbara Wells, founding executive director for the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), passed away on Monday, June 7, 2010, following a courageous battle with cancer. Ms Wells is remembered fondly for the...

Under new regulations from the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, pharmacy technicians working for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be required to receive certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), as reported by Drug Store News. Pharmacy...

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance – United States, 2009 (PDF) reveals that, nationwide, a little over 20% of students in grades 9 through 12 had taken prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their life, as...

Hospira initiated a voluntary recall of several lots of propofol and Liposyn products, because some of the containers may contain particulate matter, primarily made up of sub-visible inert stainless steel particles. This action is an expansion of the recall initiated...

NABP commends Microsoft and Yahoo! for implementing new policies regarding Web sites selling prescription drugs. Microsoft now requires that online pharmacies be accredited through the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM (VIPPSCM) program to validate that those advertising on Bing.com’s United...

In preparation for the 2010 hurricane season, Rx Response advises that organizations should ensure emergency plans are up to date. Specifically, organizations should ensure that: all organizational, emergency, and continuity plans are up to date and reflect current operating environments;...

Blacksmith Brands and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified health care professionals and patients about a nationwide recall of all lots of four PediaCare children's products, as reported in an FDA press release. The following lots of PediaCare children's...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) congratulates Yahoo! for its recent decision to improve its standards for Internet pharmacies seeking to advertise online. This week, Yahoo! joins two other major search engines in requiring Internet pharmacies advertising in...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) commends Microsoft for its new policy regarding Web sites selling prescription drugs. Microsoft now requires that online pharmacies be accredited through the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM (VIPPSCM ) program to validate...

The 2011 administration of the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA) will be held from January 24 - February 4, 2011. Schools will be able to select an assessment date from that two-week period. More information about the PCOA and the...

The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) Web site provides timely information on state licensing agency reporting requirements. Resources include information about accessing conference calls covering critical information about mandatory NPDB/HIPDB reporting requirements....

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) advises that pharmacists should adhere to state regulations or policy regarding changes that a pharmacist may make to a Schedule II prescription after oral consultation with the prescriber. DEA recognizes that there may be confusion regarding...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agents examined packages containing illegal pharmaceuticals shipped from foreign countries at the Miami International Mail Facility in the three-day Operation Safeguard, an event intended to prevent the drugs from entering the United States. Working with...

On May 18, 2010, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed a bill (PDF) that directs the Pharmacy Examining Board to create a program to monitor the dispensing of Schedule II and Schedule III prescription drugs and other prescription drugs identified by...

Delegates from the member boards of pharmacy adopted 10 resolutions during the NABP 106th Annual Meeting, held May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim, CA. The complete text of the resolutions is available in the Members section of the NABP Web site and will...

Four pharmacies in Terre Haute, IN, have adopted policies requiring that patients present prescriptions in order to purchase products containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) or ephedrine. The result of a summit involving police agencies and business owners, local Kmart, Wal-Mart, JR Pharmacy,...

Published in the June 2010 New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Newsletter During the March 15-16, 2010 Board meeting, Regulation 16.19.22 NMAC concerning support personnel and pharmacy technicians was amended. To view this regulation in its entirety, please go to the...

Published in the June 2010 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy News The Board of Pharmacy voted to approve and adopt institutional drug room regulations. They can be found at K.A.R. 68-7-21 at www.kansas.gov/pharmacy under the link for Kansas Pharmacy and...

Published in the June 2010 Kansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Kansas State Board of Pharmacy and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have “Frequently Asked Questions” on their Web pages to assist medical care professionals. There was much confusion recently...

Published in the June 2010 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Newsletter HB 300, sponsored by Representative Mike Cherry, D-Princeton, was passed by the Kentucky State Legislators and signed by Governor Steve Beshear on March 24, 2010. This bill authorizes the governor...

Resolution No. 106-1-10 Title: Support of Multistate Licensure Concept Study Action: Pass Whereas, the practice of pharmacy is defined by state practice acts and regulations and founded in state licensure; and Whereas, the practice of pharmacy encompasses the provision of...

Resolution No. 106-2-10 Title: Standardization of Definitions, Requirements, and Registration of Pharmacy Interns Action: Pass Whereas, the definition of intern and internship and the activities of interns vary among the states and among the nation’s college and school of pharmacy...

Resolution No. 106-3-10 Title: Expansion of Pharmacist Immunization Services Action: Pass Whereas, pharmacists have been recognized as one of the most accessible health care professionals; and Whereas, the ability of patients to easily access pharmacists and receive pharmacist immunization services...

Resolution No. 106-4-10 Title: National Practice Standards Action: Pass Whereas, the nationwide practice of pharmacy and provision of pharmacist care is dependent on uniform, evidence-based practice standards that consider the interest of patient health and safety; and Whereas, current state...

Resolution No. 106-5-10 Title: Uniform Disciplinary Guidelines Action: Pass Whereas, state practice acts and regulations share common principles and disciplinary framework among the states; and Whereas, violations of state practice acts and regulations in the states are similar in scope...

Resolution No. 106-6-10 Title: Task Force to Review and Recommend Revisions to the Controlled Substances Act Action: Pass Whereas, the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) was adopted in 1970; and Whereas, the practice of pharmacy has changed significantly since the...

Resolution No. 106-7-10 Title: Continued Efforts to Standardize Pharmacy Technician Education and Training Programs Action: Pass Whereas, new pharmacy technician education and training programs are being established in community colleges and trade schools across the country; and Whereas, no nationally...

Resolution No. 106-8-10 Title: Development and Utilization of Technology to Ensure Complete Patient Profile Data Action: Pass Whereas, some software systems currently in use in pharmacies may not allow the input of over-the-counter products and dietary supplements into a patient’s...

Resolution No. 106-9-10 Title: Labeling of Patient Assistance Program Medications Action: Pass Whereas, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the manufacture and distribution of prescription drugs; and Whereas, the state boards of pharmacy regulate the dispensing of prescription...

Resolution No. 106-10-10 Title: Recognition Resolution Whereas, the individuals listed here have made significant contributions to NABP, the protection of the public health, and the profession of pharmacy: M. Larry Dick (AZ) Jack Stites (IL) Jack Voige (KY) Morris “Murray”...

Delegates to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) 106th Annual Meeting, held May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim, CA, elected individuals to fill the president-elect, treasurer, and open member positions on the Association’s 2010-2011 Executive Committee. The newly elected...

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) honored leaders in the protection of public health at the Association’s 106th Annual Meeting, held May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim, CA. Each year, the Association presents awards to individuals who have worked...

Delegates from the member boards of pharmacy adopted 10 resolutions during the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) 106th Annual Meeting, held May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim, CA. The resolutions addressed the following: Studying the concept of multistate licensure...

William T. Winsley, MS, RPh, began his term as president of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP® ) during the Final Business Session of the Association’s 106th Annual Meeting, May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim, CA. During his presidency,...

Malcolm J. Broussard, RPh, was elected to serve as the 2010-2011 president-elect of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 106th Annual Meeting, May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim, CA. Prior to the election, Mr Broussard served...

Michael A. Burleson, RPh, was elected to serve as the 2010-2011 treasurer of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 106th Annual Meeting, May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim, CA. Prior to the election, Mr Burleson served...

James T. DeVita, RPh, was elected to serve a three-year member term, representing District 1, on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 106th Annual Meeting, May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim, CA....

Edward G. McGinley, RPh, MBA, was elected to serve a three-year member term, representing District 2, on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 106th Annual Meeting, May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim,...

Mark T. Conradi, RPh, JD, was elected to serve a one-year member term, representing District 3, on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 106th Annual Meeting, May 22-25, 2010, in Anaheim,...

Lloyd K. Jessen, RPh, JD, was re-elected to serve a second three-year member term, representing District 5, on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) during the Association’s 106th Annual Meeting in Anaheim, CA. Mr...

Each year the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) Executive Committee selects an individual to serve as its honorary president for the coming year. NABP is pleased to announce that Howard C. Anderson, Jr, RPh, has been awarded this...

Gary Schnabel, RN, RPh, immediate past president of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®), assumed the office of chairperson of the Association’s 2010-2011 Executive Committee during the Final Business Session of the NABP 106th Annual Meeting, held May...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeks public comments on 21 draft proposals on public disclosure policies released by the FDA Transparency Task Force. The public disclosure policies are aimed at helping consumers, stakeholders, and others understand how the agency operates...

The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP) seeks to protect patient safety and ensure patient access to safe and legitimate online pharmacies and is led by a steering group of stakeholders including the American Pharmacists Association, Eli Lilly & Company,...

Curtis L. Hess of York, PA, was sentenced on May 12, 2010, to a 16-month term of imprisonment for introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead, according to a US Department of Justice press...

The 2009-2010 Committee on Constitution and Bylaws met via teleconference on April 13, 2010. The committee reviewed its charge as stated in the NABP Constitution and Bylaws. No additions or changes were proposed. Therefore, the charge reads as follows: Article...

To receive a Statement of Continuing Pharmacy Education Credit from NABP for a session attended during the 106th Annual Meeting, participants must attend the session in its entirety and submit the CPE voucher code and evaluation online. Learn more about...

On April 5, 2010, NABP reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Interim Final Rule with Request for Comment on electronic prescriptions for controlled substances was published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2010, and should take effect June...

A superseding indictment charges two individuals, Carleta Carolina and Wayne White, with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and other charges as part of their involvement in a large-scale rogue Internet drug outlet operation. DEA Special Agent in Charge, John J....

To address the problem of patient misinterpretation of medication instructions, the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) Health Literacy and Prescription Container Labeling Advisory Panel developed and recently released recommendations for standardizing the format, appearance, content, and language of prescription labels....

Government agencies that are not in compliance with the reporting requirements of the Health Care Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) will be listed in a report on the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Data Bank Web sites...

Awaits Mayor's Signature and Congress’ Approval Certain patients in the District of Columbia may be allowed to use medical marijuana under a bill approved by the DC Council on May 4, 2010 and expected to be signed into law by...

Margaret Hamburg, MD, commissioner of food and drugs, stressed the importance of collaboration between FDA and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) to proactively protect public health in a speech delivered at the USP convention on April 23, 2010. Hamburg emphasized that...

Allergan’s prescription eyelash growth product, Latisse, is frequently sold without a prescription, and often over Internet Web sites that do not require prescriptions based on face-to-face physician-patient examinations, as reported in a recent New York Times article. By purchasing Latisse...

Supported with evidence from NABP members, including two state boards of pharmacy and three Canadian pharmacy regulatory agencies, LegitScript notified 16 domain name registrars that rogue Internet pharmacies were using their services. The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy and the Texas...

McNeil Consumer Healthcare has initiated a voluntary recall of certain over-the-counter (OTC) liquid products for children and infants due to manufacturing deficiencies which may affect quality, purity, or potency, as explained in an FDA News Release. Tylenol®, Motrin®, Zyrtec®, and...

Published in the May 2010 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As many of you know, we are having a tremendous problem in Ohio with so-called pain clinics who are doing nothing but providing large amounts of controlled substances, particularly...

Published in the May 2010 Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Arkansas has the worst teen prescription pain reliever abuse problem in the entire US. (SAMHSA, 2007, as reported in ONDCP Teens and Prescription Drugs report, February 2007) By the...

How Patients Should Know What They Are Taking, Secure Their Prescription Medications, and Properly Dispose of Prescription Drugs Published in the May 2010 Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter On March 12, 2010, the Arkansas Drug Director, Fran Flener, kicked...

Seven national pharmacy organizations, including NABP, collaborated on the analysis and response to the AMA Scope of Practice Data Series: Pharmacists, a document published by the American Medical Association (AMA) that describes the scope of practice of the pharmacy profession...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Compliance has issued notice that April 28, 2010, was the last day that FDA exercised enforcement discretion for unapproved pancreatic enzyme products (PEPs). FDA considers all distributors...

To help industry secure the pharmaceutical supply chain against economically motivated adulteration, FDA is revising good manufacturing practice (GMP) regulations for incoming raw materials, according to a FDA news Drug Daily Bulletin. Deb Autor, director, Office of Compliance, Center for...

The FDA Anesthetic and Life Support Drugs Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety & Risk Management Committee voted not to recommend approval of oxycodone HCl and niacin, a combination medication that was developed to deter abuse of oxycodone, according to...

With the recent Iowa Board of Pharmacy recommendation that marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule II controlled substance, Iowa may be one of the next states to enact legislation legalizing the use of medical marijuana under certain circumstances. To date,...

Three of four American patients do not take their medications as prescribed, according to the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE). Non-adherence is serious enough, NCPIE reports, that it leads to $47 billion in drug-related hospitalizations each year....

The economic recession, coupled with a persistently high demand for pharmacists, contributed to several shifts in the 2009 pharmacy workforce, according to a new report from the Pharmacy Manpower Project, Inc, a nonprofit corporation that develops data on the size...

By Dale J. Atkinson, JD The procedural and evidentiary rules followed by the judiciary in civil and criminal proceedings provide formality to a process that involves trained and experienced judges and lawyers advocating on behalf of their respective clients. Of...

With the goals of improving patient care and reducing medication errors, the NABP community pharmacy accreditation pilot program is scheduled to launch in summer 2010. The community pharmacy accreditation program will assist boards of pharmacy in ensuring that community pharmacies...

Every 10 years, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) establishes overarching health goals for the country’s population, reassessing the previous decade’s targets and reporting progress made. Called the Healthy People initiative, this blueprint of the nation’s...

The Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation met January 26-27, 2010. Committee members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: Review and comment on existing legislation and rules for the practice of pharmacy, legal distribution of drugs, and related areas within...

The Task Force on Prescription Monitoring Program Standards met October 28-29, 2009. Task force members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: Review and identify variations in existing prescription monitoring programs as compared to the Model Prescription Monitoring Act...

When selecting over-the-counter (OTC) medications, 82% of pharmacy customers base their decision on a pharmacist’s recommendation, according to a survey (PDF) of over 1,000 pharmacists conducted by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). Survey results, presented in the Pharmacy Today Over-the-Counter Supplement,...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking an injunction in federal court against Franck’s Compounding Lab of Ocala, FL, to prevent the company from introducing adulterated, misbranded, and unsafe animal drugs into interstate commerce, as reported in an FDA News...

On April 20, 2010, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) issued a notice stating that the official status of the 2008–2009 USP Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia through its Fifth Supplement has been extended to October 1, 2010. USP advised that monograph specifications and procedures...

While DMEPOS accreditation is required for suppliers who wish to obtain Medicare Part B billing privileges for products and services that are subject to CMS’s quality standards, the March 23, 2010 enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,...

Internet advertisers that offer only limited pharmacy services or other prescription drug-related services online may now apply to become an approved NABP e-Advertiser using the application on the NABP Web site. As of March 1, a new Google advertising policy...

The number of electronic prescriptions increased 181% from 2008 to 2009, according to the 2009 National Progress Report on E-Prescribing, published by Surescripts, operator of the largest e-prescription network that connects prescribers’ e-prescribing software to pharmacies. Over 190 million e-prescriptions...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated the Medicines in My Home (MIMH) section of the agency’s Web site with new resources and materials for patients. MIMH resources teach patients from adolescence through adulthood how to choose over-the-counter medicines and...

Patients may benefit from additional Internet resources that provide timely information on medication use and safety issues. The following Internet resources, maintained by government agencies and other organizations, are targeted to patients and designed to be clear, engaging, and easy...

Register for the FPGEE with NABP NABP began accepting registrations for the September 30, 2010 FPGEE on June 21. September 16 is the last day to register for the FPGEE.   Schedule your Exam with Pearson VUE Candidates can begin scheduling...

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced a hearing regarding the proposed placement of carisoprodol in schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act, a rule that was proposed on November 17, 2009. The hearing will take place May 4, 2010, in...

The new FDA-TRACK will provide access to updated information about Food and Drug Administration (FDA) programs, projects, and core responsibilities. The system is part of the FDA transparency initiative and its objectives are represented in the TRACK name which stands...

Heparin Sodium, USP (heparin) made under the new United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Monograph has approximately 10% less anticoagulant activity compared to heparin prepared using the previous USP Monograph, as confirmed by FDA-commissioned laboratory studies. FDA recommends that health care professionals...

FDA has approved a new formulation of the controlled-release drug OxyContin® which is designed to decrease the likelihood that this medication will be misused or abused, and result in overdose. FDA explains that the new formulation adds in new tamper-resistant...

Harmonizing educational standards for international students granted advanced standing is an issue of interest to state Boards of Pharmacy. This issue and many more will be discussed at the session “Boards of Pharmacy and ACPE – Mining the Standards,” a...

On February 9, Google announced that it will only accept advertisements from Internet pharmacies in the US that are accredited through the VIPPS program, and from Internet pharmacies in Canada that are accredited by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA)....

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Interim Final Rule on electronic prescriptions for controlled substances was published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2010, and should take effect June 1, 2010, subject to Congressional review. The regulations would allow prescribers...

As part of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) measures to secure the drug supply chain, and to help implement section 505D of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the agency has published a guidance document including detailed recommendations for...

Two individuals have been arrested and face charges related to illegally importing counterfeit weight loss medication. FDA issued a series of alerts, from 2008 to 2010, about tainted weight loss pills and counterfeit drugs, and an undercover investigation identified one...

Three individuals in Florida have been indicted on charges that included the distribution of prescription drugs without a license, according to a United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Florida press release. The charges allege that the three defendants, who...

A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control reviewed 1,000 Twitter status updates mentioning antibiotics to explore whether they contained evidence of misunderstanding or misuse of antibiotics. The study concluded that such analysis can provide information about misuse...

A new guidance document, Dosage and Administration Section of Labeling for Human Prescription Drug and Biological Products—Content and Format, was released by FDA and includes recommendations to help new drug applicants write the dosage and administration section of product labeling....

The Task Force on Electronic Prescribing Software Standards and Data Storage met September 15-16, 2009. Task force members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: evaluate the current regulatory and operational status of the electronic transmission of prescriptions and...

The Task Force on Pharmacy Technician Education and Training Programs met October 6-7, 2009. Task force members reviewed their charge and accepted it as follows: Review the existing state requirements for technician education and training, requirements for national technician training...

Effective May 10, 2010, the NAPLEX will cost $485 and the MPJE will cost $200. See the NAPLEX/MPJE Registration Bulletin for further information on NAPLEX and MPJE fees.  ...

The FPGEC recently made amendments to the requirements for FPGEC Certification. Requirements for the English language proficiency examination and test site locations have been updated. Candidates who submit an application to the FPGEC Certification Program on or after April 1,...

Amends English Language Proficiency Requirements The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) continues to take steps to maintain the integrity of its examinations and programs. Recently, the NABP Executive Committee approved amendments to the requirements for Foreign Pharmacy Graduate...

Earn Credit through Timely CPE Sessions and Network with Peers Set in Anaheim, the largest and most populated city of Orange County, CA, the NABP 106th Annual Meeting, Eureka! Partnering to Save Public Protection – Boards of Pharmacy and NABP,...

Effective May 10, 2010, licensure transfer will cost $350 for the first state and $50 for each additional state – provided that you send the request in on the same application.  ...

Deadlines for the April 19 FPGEE are fast approaching. The last day to register with NABP is April 5. The last day to schedule with Pearson VUE is April 12. If you wish to cancel your April 19 examination, you...

Iowa Board of Pharmacy Recommends Classifying Marijuana as Schedule II Drug Following a unanimous vote at a special meeting held February 17, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy recommended to the Iowa state legislature that marijuana be reclassified as a Schedule...

Allegedly Retailed Counterfeit Meds The Winnipeg Free Press reports that one of Canada's Internet pharmacy pioneers has lost his credentials to practise in Manitoba after a three-year probe into allegations he sold counterfeit prescription drugs to Americans. Read the full...

Google AdWords to Require VIPPS Accreditation for Internet Pharmacies Marketing to US Patients A new policy adopted by Google AdWords on February 9, 2010 will require US Internet pharmacies to have Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM (VIPPS®) accreditation for ads...

Rogue Internet drug outlets will soon find it more difficult to advertise to unsuspecting consumers, thanks to Google’s decision to require VIPPS® (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM) accreditation. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) commends Google for the...

On February 9, 2010, NABP learned from the National Supplier Clearinghouse the following:  The National Supplier Clearinghouse will notify DMEPOS suppliers who have not initiated the accreditation process or who are in the midst of accreditation process regarding their enrollment...

Prescription Warning Label Research Reveals Elements That Increase Patient Understanding Researchers evaluating prescription warning labels concluded that warnings written in simplified text increase patient understanding, and the addition of icons increases understanding for adults with lower literacy skills. The study,led...

Published in the February 2010 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Following the 2009 legislative session, the Board was tapped for a number of new projects, including rule writing and others, as described in the November 2009 Newsletter. The Board...

Published in the February 2010 Oregon State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter A health professions workforce data collection project has been established by the 2009 legislature. This program will require health regulatory boards to collect specific work force data from certain...

HealthDay reports that people who buy prescription medications over the Internet, especially drugs purporting to treat erectile dysfunction, are playing Russian roulette with their lives, a new study contends. Read the full article in HealthDay.  ...

The US Food and Drug Administration is today warning consumers about a counterfeit and potentially harmful version of Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill kit). Read the FDA news release for more information.  ...

The Latin Business Chronicle reports that Mexico's counterfeiting, theft, and illegal sales of samples cost drug-makers nearly $2 billion a year. Read the full article in the Latin Business Chronicle....

5,000 Web Sites Selling Prescription Drugs Outside of Pharmacy Laws and Practice Standards On December 11, 2009, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) reached a bitter-sweet milestone in its ongoing review of Web sites selling prescription medications. NABP...

Published in the January 2010 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Effective October 30, 2008, credentials issued by the Board of Pharmacy include information regarding probation or practice restrictions. A credential with probation or practice restrictions is given at the...

Published in the January 2010 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Beginning in 2009 all new applicants for pharmacy technician certification must meet new credentialing requirements. Applicants must pass a Washington State Board of Pharmacy-approved national standardized certification examination and...