February 2012 Drug Update Information - Pharmacy Benefits ...

hypertension. Researchers have long suspected a link between the use of selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, and the condition, but previous studiess have been small and
inconclusive (with results ranging from theree being no link to a six times greaterr risk).
Article link: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/antidepressant-use-linked-
toincreased-pulmonary-hypertension-risk-in-infants/
CDC Warns Against Sharing Insulin Pens
January 13, 2012
Source website: http: ://www.nytimes.com/
Due to a growing number of reports about improper use of insulin pens, the U.S. . Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention has issued a reminder that the devices must never be used on
more than one person. Using insulin pens on more than one person puts people at risk for
infectionn with blood-bornwarns. Infection can occur even if an
insulin pen' 's needle is changed.
pathogens such as hepatitis viruses and HIV, which causes AIDS, the
agency
Article link: http://news.yahoo.com/cdc-warns-against-sharing-insulin-pens-190308004.html
Source website: http: ://news.yahoo.com/
Drug Shortages Raise Risk of Cancer Counterfeits, U.S. Says
January 13, 2012
Shortages of some injectable cancer drugs have created an opening for dangerous unapproved
versions of Roche’s Herceptin and Amgen’s Neupogen to be sold to clinics and other health-care
providers, the U.S. said. The Food and Drug Administration issued a notice today warning
providers
to avoid direct solicitations from unproven sources and only buy drugs
through
approved
channels.
Article link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-13/drug-shortages-raise-the-risk-
risk. Some pediatricians
continue to do electrocardiograms (EKGs) on
children before starting them on medication for
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, new research suggests, even though many experts say the
ofcounterfeit-cancer-medicines-u-s-says.html
website: http: ://www.bloomberg.com/
Pediatricians Split on Heart Tests Before Kids
January 16, 2012
Source
About 15
percent order EKGs; recent studiess say drugs don't pose heart
latest evidence shows it isn't really necessary.
Article link: http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=660668
Source website: http: ://consumer. healthday.com/
Glaxo, Roche Breast-Cancer Treatments Work Better Combined, Study Shows
January 16, 2012
Combining GlaxoSmithKline’s Tykerb drug with Roche’s Herceptin
to treat breast cancer was
almost twice as effective as single-drug therapy, according to researchers in a 23-country clinical
trial.
Article link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-17/glaxo-roche-breast-cancer-
treatmentswork-better-combined-study-shows.html
Source website: http: ://www.bloomberg.com/
Study Disputes Finding That Hormone Therapy Causes Breast Cancer
January 16, 2012
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