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Pharmacy Industry News

01/14/04 Topamax prescribing drug information has been revised to include a warning that Topamax causes  hyperchloremic, non-anion gap metabolic acidosis...

From: Kinray                                                                              03/15/05 Kinray Family Members and Pharmacists: We all work so hard and I thought that most of you would enjoy this. It sums up some of the important things that matter in life's short journey. Enjoy! A Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day  are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two cups of coffee... A professor stood before his philosophy class and has some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes". The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. The professor then said the following... " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are important things- your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else- the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. One of the students raised her hands and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor responded: "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend. Respectfully, Stewart Rahr Kinray                                                                                      More News from Kinray

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RDI Announces Acquisition of Global Solution, LLC.                     03-24-05 Foley, Ala. ( March 23, 2005)- Respiratory Distributors, Inc. ("RDI") today announced that it has acquired the assets and business of Global Solution, LLC. (QWICRx). Global Solution, LLC is a prominent supplier of medication vials, compounding equipment and cloakrooms and vertical and powder hoods for use by homecare pharmacies and hospitals. Global Solution, LLC is located in Morristown, TN. Warren K. Trowbridge, RDI's President and CEO, states "WE are pleased to have Global Solution as an integral part of the RDI team, and feel that the combination of our companies enables us to offer customers a complete USP (797) solution." Steve LeMarr, Global Solution, LLC's President, said that on behalf of all our employees, we are very excited about bringing our innovative technology to RDI. We are certain that the combination of our companies makes us a very strong competitive force in the industry. END About Respiratory Distributors, Inc. ("RDI"): Headquartered in Foley, Alabama, RDI is the nation's largest provider of medication vials used primarily to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the home respiratory medications market. The company's clients are a diverse mix of independent retail pharmacies that provide home carte products and services to the growing COPD patient population. For more information, visit the company's Web site, at www.rdiworld.com.

General Pharmacy Classified | Pharmacy Antiques | Pharmacy Collectibles | Rx Computing 

- HIPPA information from WELLPOINT Phamacy Management. 10/16/03. More Info...

- HIPPA information from Aetna. 10/12/03. More Info...

- Immediate Attention required Dispensing Error Alert. 10/10/03 More Info...

- Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. immediate-release Roxicodone product line. 09/07/03 More Info....

- Drug info about Zyban. 07/16/03 More Info...

- Let your customers know that Allegra may be a good option for them. 06/23/03 More Info...

- Exelon Efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials. 06/23/03 More Info...

- LDL cholesterol plummets as much as 24% without a prescription. 06/23/03 More Info...

- Zyprexa Zydis (olanzapine) orally desintegrating tablets-updated stocking information. 05/16/03 More Info..

- Legislative Alert / Legislative Defense Fund. 06/11/03 More Info...

- Warning: Neoral (cyclosporine) - An incorect substitution may pose a treat to patients. 06/19/03 More Info...

- Proto-Kit is indicated for relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. 06/19/03 More Info...

- Introducing Coppertone® Spectrs 3 - The next generation of sunscreen protection. 06/20/03 More Info...

- Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals provides the opportunity for you to earn rebates on the utilization of Pfizer products.

- Valley Independent Pharmacy Alliance 06/20/03 More Info...

- Retail pharmacies may earn rebates on patient-paid prescriptions based on their achievement of market share goals for certain products promoted by Pfizer.

- As a Pharmacist, you have the opportunity to Influence 8 out of 10 purchase decisions! 06/19/03 More Info...

- Ethex, the nation's leading provider of prescription prenatal vitamins, is pleased to provide prenatal vitamin reference materials. 06/30/03 More Info...

- Important women's health care products... now available for Pharmacies - Prochieve™ 8% (progesterone gel) Rx only, specifically designed for vaginal administration 03/30/03. More Info...

- Did you know about the substudy of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) conducted in women age 65 and older. 05/28/03 More Info...

- Important Information regarding Biaxin XL 12/24/02 More Info....

- ClingZ® with information on Evista® 12/02/02 More Info...

- Novartis presents - Diovan HCT 160/25mg 04/03/01 More Info...

- Retail pharmacies that manage pharmacy risk through a formulary on behalf of health plans or other entities offering pharmacy benefits may earn rebates on managed scripts if they can meet the following criteria: (1) they manage the pharmacy benefit and the financial risk for the bnefit, and (2) they manage drug utilization through a formulary.

- To learn more about the opportunity to earn rebates, contact a Pfizer representative at 1-800-276-7194.

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From: Pfizer                                                                                   03-15-05 Important Information Regarding new Packaging Pfizer is committed to making improvements in packaging in order to protect the integrity of our products against counterfeiting. Over the next several months, we will be introducing a new security, color-shift logo to the packaging of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), Norvasc (amlodipine besylate), and Zoloft (sertraline HCl). The purpose of the new color-shift logo is to help ensure product authenticity and deter counterfeit versions. The new security packaging will feature a Pfizer logo that changes from blue to purple when examined from various angles. We will be introducing the new packaging in a phased approach beginning in the first quarter of 2005, so you may see the new packaging for certain package sizes before others. We expect to complete this transition over the next several months. This new security packaging will help ensure that you are receiving authentic Pfizer products, approved by regulatory authorities and formulated and packaged to the highest standards. If you have any questions regarding this new packaging, please refer to our FAQs on the other side of this letter or call Pfizer at 1-800-438-1985. (diltiazem HCl) is now approved for the treatment of chronic stable angina in addition to hypertension. FAQs WHY IS PFIZER USING A COLOR-SHIFT LOGO ON THESE PACKAGES? As counterfeiting becomes a more serious concern to the pharmaceutical industry, we are taking steps to ensure the integrity of our products and the safety of our patients. The color-shift logo is part of an initiative to deter counterfeiters of Lipitor, Norvasc, and Zoloft from copying these products and packages. This new packaging will enable pharmacists to check that the product they receive is authentic. WHAT ARE THE SECURITY FEATURES OF THE NEW PACKAGING? The Pfizer logo will appear on the label and will change color when the bottle is tilted. The color of the logo shifts form blue to purple when viewed at different angles. HOW DOES ONE VIEW THE COLOR-SHIFT LOGO? View the Pfizer logo with the color-shift feature in a well-lit area, preferably with natural light. If no natural light is available, view in an area with sufficient white light. Hold the bottle horizontally at eye level to note the blue color. As you rotate the bottle away form you at a slight angle, you will notice the logo will change form blue to purple. IF ONE OF THESE PRODUCT BOTTLES DOES NOT HAVE THE COLOR-SHIFT LOGO, DOES THAT MEAN IT IS COUNTERFEIT? No, it will take us some time to deplete older inventory already in distribution so there will be authentic product available during the transition without the new packaging. Purchasing these products without the Pfizer color-shift logo does not mean the product is counterfeit, though it is still important to purchase all Pfizer products from an authorized wholesaler. HOW BIG A PROBLEM IS COUNTERFEITING? The United States has a very safe distribution system that is generally considered to be the gold standard in the world. While US consumers can rest assured that the vast majority of the prescription drugs they but are authentic, safe and effective, counterfeiting is increasingly becoming a more serious problem. Pfizer is working with the FDA, wholesalers, the pharmacy community, and others to determine how best to keep America's drug distribution system safe for patients. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF COUNTERFEIT PRODUCT? It is impossible to know whether counterfeit products contain ingredients that are hazardous to the health of consumers. This is why we stress the importance of buying prescription medicines form licensed and regulated sources. ARE OTHER PFIZER PRODUCTS EXPECTED TO HAVE A COLOR-SHIFT LOGO? Pfizer continues to explore and implement new technologies to deter counterfeiting. At this time, Pfizer is considering plans to expand the use of color-shifting ink technology to other Pfizer products. For questions concerning Pfizer prescription products Call 1-800-438-1985.