HEALTH

NEW YORK — According to a Credit Suisse analysis of the drug channel published Wednesday, drug stores are in for a challenging winter across the front-end with an embattled consumer continuing to hold back and the continued proliferation of dollar stores that are attracting value-driven trips to their channel. 

PORTLAND, Ore. — Aisle7 on Thursday announced the launch of Healthnotes Interactions Checker, a next-generation solution simplifying the task of deciding which nutrients positively or negatively interact with the medicines they take. More than half of all Americans take some form of dietary supplement, and an estimated 40% of U.S. adults take both drugs and nutrients as part of their health regimen. Of these, 60% aren’t discussing possible interactions with their physician or pharmacist, Aisle7 noted. 

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — The Vitamin Shoppe is making significant investments into omnichannel retailing, CEO and director Anthony Truesdale told analysts during a conference call on Tuesday. 

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Mary Landrieu, D-La., on Tuesday introduced legislation that repeals a portion of Obamacare that prohibits people from using their medical savings account funds to buy over-the-counter medications. Under current law, plan participants may no longer use funds from these accounts to purchase OTC medications, unless they have a prescription for the medication.

NEW YORK — Healthy Mama on Monday announced the launch of their full line of pregnancy-friendly OTC products in Buybuy Baby stores. 

Healthy Mama is a complete brand developed to provide pregnant and nursing women with the safest solutions to such common ailments as aches and pains, lack of energy, nausea, indigestion, constipation and sleeplessness.

NEW YORK — Rite Aid has stopped selling some cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine at its stores in West Virginia, according to published reports.

The Charleston, W.Va., Gazette reported that the chain would stop selling medicines that have pseudoephedrine as their only active ingredient, such as Sudafed 12 Hour and Sudafed 24 Hour, though they would continue selling products that combine pseudoephedrine with other ingredients like antihistamines and painkillers.

FAIRFAX, Va. — Cockroaches and rodents are common allergy and asthma triggers in the wintertime, according to a statement released Tuesday by the National Pest Management Association. 

Citing the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, NPMA reported that cockroach allergens are present in 63% of American homes and mouse allergens in 82%. The number of homes containing cockroach allergens increases to as many as 78% to 98%, respectively, in urban areas.

WAUKESHA, Wis. — On Jan. 23, 2014 Hamacher Resource Group will offer its most popular workshop, "How to Grow Sales Within Independent Pharmacy," at its headquarters in Waukesha, Wis., the company announced Wednesday.