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...People are using anti-diarrhea drugs (loperamide) to get high, and it’s becoming a serious problem...A growing number of people are using high doses of it to mimic an opioid-like high, or to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms...So why would anyone take 150 tablets of anti-diarrhea drugs in the first place?...Abuse of loperamide—often called the “poor man’s methadone”—is rising. From 2010 to 2015, there has been a 91 percent increase in loperamide overdose exposures reported to the National Poison Data System...when you take it in much-higher-than-recommended dosages, the drug can enter into your central nervous system, giving you a euphoric high. High doses can also cause constipation, but no worse than other opioids...taking too much of it can have deadly consequences, too: Research has shown that loperamide overdose can seriously hurt your heart, causing abnormal heart beat, rapid heart beat, or cardiac arrest...

Laura Joszt, assistant managing editor at The American Journal of Managed Care. Welcome to This Week in Managed Care from the Managed Markets News Network

The King Review has failed to acknowledge the role of hospital pharmacists, says the SHPA...The interim report of the Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation’s failure to acknowledge or leverage the “pivotal” role of hospital pharmacists in ensuring Australians have appropriate and convenient access to medicines, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia says...In its formal response to the interim report, SHPA highlighted managing transitions of care between hospitals and the community and prioritising the development of HMRs (Home Medicine Reviews) as key aspects of the King Review...It also reaffirmed what it sees as the “crucial” value of including SHPA in Agreement negotiations and decisions...SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels says SHPA’s response to the King Review was driven by the position of hospital pharmacists as progressive advocates for clinical excellence and committed to evidence-based practice...Ms Michaels says hospital pharmacists are equipped to influence a reduction in the 230,000 medicine-related hospital admissions per year in Australia, which cost the health budget $1.2bn annually...

Nicole Crisano, PTNN. This weekly video program provides our readers with an in-depth review of the latest news, product approvals, FDA rulings and more.

Prescription drug spending has skyrocketed over the past few years, with many Americans struggling to access proper treatment. Lawmakers have attempted to address this issue, but it is likely that the trend of escalating drug spending will continue as costly specialty drugs dominate the market...All of the drugs that had the highest sales in 2016 are for specialty conditions, including autoimmune disorders and hepatitis C virus; however, the emergence of biosimilars may threaten their revenue into the future...

• 5. Infliximab (Remicade) - Johnson & Johnson and Merck report a 10.6% decrease in revenue from 2015, with infliximab generating nearly $7.83 billion in 2016...
• 4. Rituximab (Rituxan) - Partners Roche and Biogen reported total revenue of $8.58 billion for rituximab in 2016, which is a 2.7% increase from 2015. The drug is approved to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis...
• 3. Etanercept (Enbrel) - This autoimmune disease drug treats rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. Amgen and Pfizer reported $8.87 billion in total sales for etanercept in 2016.
• 2. Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni) - When this drug hit the shelves, many patients with HCV and healthcare providers experienced sticker shock. The high cost of the curative drug and the prevalence of HCV have driven the $9.08 billion sales for the drug, according to the article.
• 1. Adalimumab (Humira) - In 2016, adalimumab grossed $16.08 billion in sales, which is a 14.7% increase in revenue for AbbVie, according to the article. The drug is approved to treat several autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis.

Nicole Crisano, PTNN. This weekly video program provides our readers with an in-depth review of the latest news, product approvals, FDA rulings and more.

In an effort to differentiate itself, CVS Health is looking to tap into the 24.8% of the workplace the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will be aged 55 years and older by 2024. The company — which currently has a workforce that is 24% older than 50 years of age — has announced that it’s actively recruiting older employees...Mature workers play an integral role in the culture at CVS Health by providing increased experience, dependability and a desire to learn new skills...the company’s efforts around mature workers is its Talent Is Ageless initiative, which was created to recruit and retain employees aged 50 years and older by cultivating public and private partnerships...9% of Americans aged 65 and older are using at least one prescription drug a month, and 40% use at least five...we see the baby boomer generation age, having colleagues across the company who can personally relate to these customers and patients is a differentiator for us...

Nicole Crisano, PTNN. This weekly video program provides our readers with an in-depth review of the latest news, product approvals, FDA rulings and more.

New legislation to deliver a real-time prescription monitoring system in Victoria has been welcomed by the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia...Legislation introduced into the Victorian Parliament...will establish the legislative framework for a Victorian real-time monitoring system...PSA Victorian President Benjamin Marchant said PSA welcomed the long-overdue system, which will support clinical decision-making by prescribers and pharmacists to optimise use of medicines and save lives in Victoria...“The system will allow timely and relevant information to be shared among prescribers and pharmacists, ensuring potent medicines are used safely,” Mr Marchant said. “The system will identify people at risk of harm and provide referral pathways for pharmacists to support our patients...“PSA supports the Victorian legislation’s mandatory requirements for prescribers and pharmacists. The system should be integrated and streamlined for prescribing and dispensing software to ensure it is effective and useable.”...

Not all drug prices are going up...the prices of generic drugs have been falling, raising fears about the profitability of major generic manufacturers...Teva Pharmaceuticals reported that it had missed analysts’ earnings estimates in the second quarter and planned to lay off 7,000 workers. Its share price plummeted 24 percent in one day...Share prices of other generic drugmakers also declined, as did those of wholesalers, which profit from the sales of generic drugs and have said they expect prices to continue declining...This may seem like good news for consumers, but it’s unclear how much they will save...Why are generic prices falling?