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Pharmacists and other health-care professionals are among the highest risk occupational groups for the development of alcohol- or drug-dependency problems. To combat such problems, pharmacists who are dependent on substances should undergo a treatment program. One of the most common is a recovery-oriented, multidisciplinary program. The goal should be to rehabilitate rather than to terminate those with such problems., It started innocently, with B.J. having a few beers on the weekends at college. Occasionally, the couple of beers turned into a few beers too many--especially when the pressure to [...]

Infectious diseases affect very old and young patients more severely than the general population, but the prescription of proper antibiotic regimes require great care and awareness of potential complications. This has become even more complex as new medications have been introduced. The development of drug-resistant bacteria can be minimized by proper care regimes and careful drug selection. The article includes a test and answer form., Introduction Since the 1950s, the few available antimicrobial compounds have evolved into a broad spectrum of choices. Initially, the newer agents developed from the need for an extended breadth of [...]

Osteoporosis is a bone disease which is prominent in elderly populations. The disease decreases bone mass and density resulting in fractures of the vertebrae, hips and distal radius. Risk factors for osteoporosis include, small, thin bone frame, early menopause, low-calcium diet, cigarette smoking and anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The disease is incurable and can only be slowed by lifestyle modifications., Osteoporosis is one of the few diseases that characterize the elderly population. Its slow, insidious onset occurs over a lifetime. Lifestyle modifications and prevention of the disease are integral parts [...]

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease that affects primarily Africans or people of African descent. It is caused by abnormal hemoglobin, which leads to deformation of red sickle cells, and is characterized by chronic anemia, abdominal pain, weakness and fever. Treatment usually involves many different health professionals, with the primary drugs used being acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, codeine or opioids, depending upon the pain level and duration., Introduction Long before its discovery, sickle cell disease was recognized by numerous African tribes. Many onomatopoeic names were bestowed upon it, representing the painful nature of its presence. The first [...]

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The first HIV infections, previously synonymous with AIDS, were seen in 1981 and it is estimated that 15-20 mil people worldwide may be infected with HIV by the year 2000. Several drug therapies have been developed to treat HIV- and AIDS-infected patients including reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors and immunotherapies., By Natalia Kujdych, Pharm. D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi Introduction In 1981, the first cases of symptomatic HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection [...]