Recommended Tips for Treating Veterinary Patients.

These recommended tips can be set up as free-of-charge, attractive pamphlets, which can either be given to the veterinary patient's owner when medications are supplied or made available as a display.

Warts: Pathophysiology, Types, Treatments, and Pharmaceutical Compounds.

Warts are a benign skin growth caused by the deoxyribonucleic acid virus named human papillomavirus, which infects the top layer of the skin and penetrates epithelial cells. Warts shed human papillomavirus, which can then infect other sites in the region or spread to other people. Warts can be transmitted by close skin-to-skin contact; areas of skin that are broken or cut are more susceptible to being infected with the human papillomavirus virus. Warts can also be transmitted from contaminated objects or surfaces. Most adults have developed immunity to the virus that causes warts, but children are more susceptible to warts because their bodies are less likely to have built immunity to the virus. This article discusses the pathophysiology of warts, the different types of warts, the most common treatments for warts, and provides some compounded formulas for the treatment of warts.

The History, Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, Types, Diagnosis, Treatments, and Prevention of Gout, Part 2.

Gout, a common and complex form of inflammatory arthritis, is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. The most current estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows an increase from 52.5 million to 54.4 million people in the U.S. have arthritis or one of the rheumatic diseases. There are over 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions. In the U.S., the most common types of arthritis or rheumatic diseases are osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis, in that order according to prevalence. This article focuses on gout. Gout can be effectively treated and managed with a combination of medication (manufactured and/or compounded) and self-management strategies. Part 1 of this 2-part article provided the definition of gout and a brief history of gout. Part 2 continues the discussion of gout and includes examples of compounded formulations used in the treatment of gout.

Quality Control Analytical Methods: Method Validation.

To properly determine the accuracy of a pharmaceutical product or compounded preparation, tests must be designed specifically for that evaluation. The procedures selected must be verified through a process referred to as method validation, an integral part of any good analytical practice. The results from a method validation procedure can be used to judge the quality, reliability, and consistency of analytical results. The purpose of this article is to deliver the message of the importance of validation of a pharmaceutical product or compounded preparation and to briefly discuss the results of a lack of such validation.

Types of pharmacy/pharmacists.

There are many career opportunities for pharmacists, as well as many environments in which to practice pharmacy. Although pharmacy has changed throughout the years and will continue to change, one aspect of pharmacy remains constant and that constant is that compounding has been a part of pharmacy since the beginning of time and will remain an integral part of pharmacy. This article discusses some of the environments in which pharmacists can choose to practice their profession and discusses some of the types of pharmacists. If you searched vigorously for information about each of the different types of pharmacy/ pharmacists, you will find that very few of them are not in some respect involved in the compounding/ preparation of pharmaceuticals. It is not uncommon for pharmacists to specialize in specific aspects of drug therapy.

Pediatric health care: an introduction.

Pediatric healthcare, to include compounded medications, is a challenge for healthcare providers. Although current studies have provided important new information about drug safety and effectiveness for children, carrying out studies in children is difficult. Age-appropriate equipment and medical techniques, along with specialists who are sensitive to a child's concerns, are a must. Therefore, experts must build a foundation and resources that are needed to conduct studies involving pediatric patients. Compounding pharmacists welcome reliable data from which to use when compounding medications for such an elite group of patients.

A concise discussion of headache types, part 2: migraine.

Nearly one in four United States households includes someone with migraine. However, because migraines are unpredictable and the symptoms vary and mirror those of other headache types and other illnesses, diagnosis is difficult, but not impossible. Literature lays claim to seven migraine types, some of which are discussed within this article, and although they have similar symptoms, some types have very unique symptoms. This article represents the first part of a discussion of migraine. The continuation of the discussion of migraine includes a discussion of migraine triggers and treatments, as well as compounded formulations for the treatment of migraine.

Treatment and prevention of insect bites: mosquitoes.

Insect bites are a common complaint of patients during the summer months, when more time is spent enjoying the warm weather. While most reactions to insect bites are mild, in rare cases, a severe allergic reaction may occur. In addition, certain insects may transmit potentially serious diseases. Counseling patients on the proper use of insect repellants and good first aid techniques can significantly reduce the risks posed by the presence of summertime pests. This article focuses on mosquitoes, the diseases they spread, and suggested treatments.

The use of Pluronic lecithin organogels in the transdermal delivery of drugs.

This article provides a brief and basic discussion of Pluronic lecithin organogel to include its history, its components, its mechanism of action, the range of active pharmacological agents that can and cannot be incorporated into a Pluronic lecithin organogel, as well as important information for those pharmacists who compound Pluronic lecithin organogel.

A concise discussion of headache types, Part 1.

Except for head colds, headaches are probably the most common human ailment, and historical evidence supports the fact that earlier man suffered from ailments of the head. With over 150 diagnostic headache categories having been established, the diagnosis and treatment of headache is not a simple process. The severity, symptoms, and causes of headache vary. This article, which is Part 1 of a three-part article, provides a concise discussion about the types of headache, as well as brief discussions on some of the causes and treatments of headache.

A concise discussion of headache types, Part 3: Migraine.

Understanding the complexity of migraine is not a simple procedure. Migraine is a neurological disease, like epilepsy; an extremely debilitating collection of neurological symptoms. This article, which is a conclusion of a three-part article, discusses the triggers of and treatment for migraine, to include formulations. Also included in this article are brief introductory comments on the topic of pediatric headache. A more detailed article on pediatric headache/migraine will be published in a future issue of the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding.

Drug shortages & discontinued drugs: the effects on patients & healthcare providers.

Drug shortages, which are at an all-time high, and discontinued drugs have patients, physicians, and pharmacists scrambling for answers to the problem of unavailable drugs. Needless to say these problems have created unnecessary discomfort for patients and have put patients in life and death situations. This article discusses some of the possible reasons for the problems and how they affect patients and those healthcare providers who are dedicated to the medical treatment of patients.

Home infusion 101.

This article is a brief compilation of some of the information a compounding pharmacist should consider if they are interested in entering the home infusion therapy business. Home infusion therapy is a prevalent and growing business, wrought out of necessity, convenience, and effectiveness. A coumpounding pharmacist can assist in making the patient's transition from hospital to home infusion care go smoother and with minimum amount of stress. A treatment strategy that continues the healing process by taking place in a patient's home, keeps healthier patients from potentially contracting illnesses in a hospital setting. By working with a team made up of the physician, nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, and the patient, decision making for the appropriate care becomes an easier task.

Current concepts in the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers.

Recurrent aphthous ulcers are a common oral mucosal condition affecting about 20 percent of the general population and characterized by recurrent ulcers on the nonkeratinized mucosa. The majority of patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers tend to be healthy, although appropriate management of recurrent aphthous ulcers includes ruling out an oral manifestation of systemic disease. Management involves controlling active disease locally to reduce pain and maintain function and reducing the frequency and severity of recurrences, with a goal of a prolonged remission.

Proton pump inhibitors homogenous suspensions: a compounding solution to pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease.

In the pediatric patient, histamine2-receptor antagonist and/or proton pump inhibitors are recommended for effective therapy of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Proton pump inhibitors, a group of drugs whose main action is a pronounced and long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production, are more cost effective than histamine2-receptor antagonist because of long-term and enhanced treatment outcome. The compounding of proton pump inhibitors is an exacting procedure. Compounding pharmacists have the potential to provide optimal pharmacologic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease to a young population that requires special attention.

Congestive heart failure and other medical facts about ferrets.

Congestive heart failure, the most common form of heart disease in aged ferrets, is only one of the diseases to which ferrets are susceptible. Congestive heart failure is an insidious, progressive disease for which there is no cure. Once the diagnosis is made and the proper medication is determined, the ferret must remain on the medication. The case report included with this article, which was submitted by a pet owner, and the accompanying formula is an example of how a compounding pharmacist can work with the veterinarian to aid in the treatment of a small veterinary patient by preparing specific medications.

Recommended tips for treating veterinary patients.

This article contains recommended tips for treating veterinary patients. Included in the article is atable fo recommended flavors for common veterinary patients.

Azithromycin in the treatment of pneumonic foals.

Rhodococcus equi, one of the most common causes of pneumonia in foals between 3 weeks and 5 months of age, is a troublesome disease. For many years, Rhodococcus equi pneumonia carried a very poor to grave prognosis due to the lack of a good treatment protocol. However, antibiotics that are very good at treating the infection have been identified. Through research we have begun to further understand the epidemiology of the disease, acquired an arsenal of suitabe treatment options, and identified prevention strategies that are actively being studied. Oral erythromycin requires multiple daily dosing, has inconsistent absorption rates in foals, and a growing number of resistant Rhodococcus equi isolates have been identified. Azithromycin and clarithromycin have been proposed as alternatives to erythromycin for the treatment of Rhodococcus equi. Studies in other species have demonstated that azithromycin has better pharmacokinetics and is safer than erythromycin. Azithromycin has shown high and sustained intracellular and tissue concentrations with levels still high 48 hours after administation of the last oral dose. Azithromycin is commercially available in 250-mg and 500-mg tablets, and 100-mg/5 mL and 200-mg/5-mL oral suspensions. Oral pastes and powder feed additives in various concentrations and flavors can be formulated by compounding pharmacists.

Skin disorders in horses.

Many skin disorders in horses share the same appearance-hair loss of various degrees, itchiness, lesions that may or may not be painful to the touch, oozing sores, or skin that is reddened, crusty, scaly, flaky, thickened or swollen- making diagnosis sometimes difficult. A horse owner's documentation of a horse's medical history, the history of the skin disorder, and the horse's environment assists veterinarians and compounding pharmacists in their diagnosis and treatment. This article discusses some of the common skin problems that affect horses, takes a look at causes, and provides a case report of the treatment of a veterinary patient suffering from one of these common skin disorders.