Guidelines

Hy-Vee has announced that all pharmacies located within Iowa will partner with the Iowa Department of Public Health, or IDPH, in providing both patients and employees with information on how help for opioid and other substance abuse issues can be obtained.

All 104 locations will post information on a new website recently launched by IDPH called YourLifeIowa.org, which will bring awareness and offer help to individuals and families dealing with substance abuse and gambling addiction. Resources on assisting with suicide prevention also will be included.

Steel yourself for a strong cough/cold and flu season. Because before the ball even had a chance to drop in Times Square on Dec. 31, the 2017/2018 flu season is already being touted as the strongest on record since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, 5.8% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network were due to influenza-like illness.

Teva has re-launched its generic of Ritalin LA (methylphenidate hydrochloride) extended-release capsules. The drug is indicated to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

“The reintroduction of … is important to Teva’s generic portfolio,” Teva’s COO of North American generics, Maureen Cavanaugh, said. “We continue to be focused on bringing affordable generic treatment options to our customers.”

A staunch legislative advocate of the dietary supplement and over-the-counter medicine industries earlier this week announced his retirement from the Senate. On Tuesday, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, announced on Twitter that he will not be defending his Senate seat in 2018.

The Food and Drug Administration is moving full speed ahead into the new year, releasing two documents Wednesday as part of its ongoing Drug Competition Action Plan. The documents are aimed at making the generic approval process speedier and reducing the number of review cycles for abbreviated new drug applications, or ANDAs.

Vitamin Packs, a personalized vitamin subscription service, on Tuesday unveiled two new products — its Foundational Multi and Pre-Post Natal Multi.

To help mitigate the risk of autistic traits in children exposed to antiepileptic drugs in utero, women may benefit from folic acid supplementation before they get pregnant, according to a late December article published in JAMA Neurology. Fertile women using antiepileptic drugs should take folic acid supplements continuously, the study concluded.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Lupin’s generic of Leo Pharmaceutical Products’ Dovonex Scalp Solution (calcipotriene topical solution, 0.005%). The product is indicated for the topical treatment of moderately severe psoriasis on the scalp.

According to IQVIA data, the product had U.S. sales of roughly $5.9 million for the 12 months ended October 2017.