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| MARKETING TIP | WOMEN’S HEALTH

RECOMMENDED OTC PRODUCTS BY PHARMACISTS
U.S. News, in collaboration with Pharmacy Times, used, whereby the investigators recruited all women undergoing • Medication fills- explain refill requirements and manage
presents Top Recommended Health Products. Women’s Health cesarean delivery during an eight-week period, excluding those expectations for refills as well as explain the importance of
Below are the OTC products that pharmacists with major postoperative morbidities or chronic opioid use. using one pharmacy for all medications
recommend for certain conditions, specific to Starting on postoperative day 14, women were queried weekly • Stockpiling medications- counsel patients about the dangers of
women’s heath. It is important to periodically regarding number of opioid pills used, amount remaining, and their saving unused medications
evaluate your OTC products and various displays. pain experience until they had stopped opioid medication. • Safe storage and disposal- explain how to safely store and
Demographic and in-hospital opioid use were also collected, and dispose of unused medication to prevent diversion or misuse
Creating an end-cap to highlight a certain OTC the state prescription drug monitoring program was used to White Paper on Women and Opioid Use, Office of Women’s Health, December 2016
assess prescription-filling patterns. 246 women participated in the
product during a season in which it is highly study. Most women (83%) used opioids after discharge for a https://www.womenshealth.gov/files/documents/white-paper-opioid-508.pdf
utilized may stimulate sales. Consumers may R median of 8 days, and the majority of womem had unused tablets.
also be looking for products to be recommended ISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ARTIFICALLY The majority of women stored tablets in an unlocked location. NO ADVERSE EVENTS WITH LONG-TERM
by the pharmacist so considering a special SWEETENED BEVERAGES The investigators concluded that most women, especially those DENOSUMAB TREATMENT
Women may be asking about the relationship between drinking diet sodas and
“pharmacist recommended” section may also health risks. Recently, an article was published in Stroke that provided further with normal in-hospital opioid use, are prescribed opioids in excess An open-label extension of the three-year FREEDOM trial shows
facilitate sales. evidence that the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages is linked to the of the amount needed. no increased risk of adverse events with an additional seven years
of denosumab treatment for osteoporosis. Participants in the
COUGH, COLD AND ALLERGY risk of stroke, particularly ischemic stroke. The Nurses Health Study and Health This study is a reminder of the number of women who are FREEDOM trial were given the opportunity to continue to
Professionals Follow-Up Study and the Northern Manhattan Study had previously
• Cold Remedies: Cepacol found a relationship between the consumption of artificially sweetened soft drinks prescribed opioids for pain management, and the possibility of participate in a seven-year extension study when the initial trial
• Oral Antihistamines: Claritin and vascular events. Using data from the community-based Framingham Heart women being prescribed more pain medication than needed. ended. Participants who opted to participate in the seven-year
• Oral Decongestants: Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) Study Offspring cohort, the investigators examined the relationship between Pharmacists play an important role in working with physicians to extension either continued on denosumab or switched to the drug
encourage appropriate opioid prescribing and monitoring and in
from placebo. The yearly exposure-adjusted incidence of adverse
PAIN AND INFLAMMATION beverage intake and the risk of stroke and dementia. After adjustments for age, sex, counseling patients about the appropriate use and storage of events dropped from 165.3 to 95.9 per 100 participant years,
education (for analysis of dementia), caloric intake, diet quality, physical activity, and
• Headache Products: Advil smoking, higher recent and higher cumulative intake of artificially sweetened soft opioids. while serious adverse event rates ranged from 11.5 to 14.4 per
• Migraine Headache Products: Excedrin Migraine drinks were associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, all-cause dementia, Osmundson SS, Schornack L, Grasch J, et al. Postdischarge Opioid Use After Cesarean 100 participant years. The findings did suggest that osteonecrosis of
• Anti-Inflammatory Products: Advil and Alzheimer’s disease dementia. When comparing daily cumulative intake to 0 per Delivery. Obstetrics and Gynecology. June 2017. doi: the jaw might increase with duration of denosumab therapy,
although the absolute risk remains low.
STOMACH AND GI week (reference), the hazard ratios were 2.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.26–6.97) 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002095
for ischemic stroke and 2.89 (95% confidence interval, 1.18–7.07) for Alzheimer’s
• Upset Stomach Remedies: Pepto-Bismol disease. Sugar-sweetened beverages were not associated with stroke or dementia. THE ROLE OF THE PHARMACIST IN COMBATING Bone HG, Wagman RB, Brandi ML, et al. 10 Years of Denosumab Treatment in
• Antacids: Tums The investigators concluded that artificially sweetened soft drink consumption was OPIOID ABUSE IN WOMEN Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis: results from the phase 3 randomized
FREEDOM trial and open-label extension. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2017. May 22,
• Nausea Remedies: Emetrol associated with a higher risk of stroke and dementia. Given this was an observation A White Paper on Women and Opioid Use was developed as part 2017. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30138-9
TOPICALS study, further prospective studies are needed to determine if of an initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health to examine the A REVIEW OF ROSACEA TREATMENTS
this is a causal relationship.
• Sunscreen: Neutrogena prevention, treatment, and recovery issues for women who misuse Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disorder that presents as
• Lip Balms: Carmex Given the varied studies that have shown that there may be a or abuse opioids. The Paper highlights the prevalence of prescription facial redness. The redness usually appears on the nose and
• Acne Products: Neutrogena relationship between artificially sweetened soft drinks and opioid use among women. Between 1999 and 2010, overdose cheeks, but may spread to the ears, chest, or back. It may also

VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS negative health outcomes, pharmacists should recommend deaths from prescription painkillers increased more than 400% cause flushing and visible blood vessels, acne-like breakouts, bumpy
texture to the skin, and red and irritated eyes.
among women, compared to an increase of 237% among men.
that women stop drinking diet drinks and instead consume
• Nutritional Supplements: Ensure more water or healthier drinks. It is important to This paper explores what is currently known about the opioid
• Multivitamins: Centrum encourage women to drink water. You may want to epidemic and describes practices for addressing opioid misuse and More than 14 million people have rosacea, with women slightly
• Prenatal Vitamins: One A Day Prenatal provide refillable water bottles with your pharmacy logo abuse in women. more likely to get rosacea. Most people who develop rosacea are
between 30 and 50 years of age, fair-skinned, and have blonde hair
WOMEN’S HEALTH or sell various water bottles to your women customers. Pharmacists play a key role in combating opioid abuse in women. and blue eyes. People with a history of acne are also more likely
Remind women that water is calorie-free, caffeine-free,
• Menstrual Pain Relief: Midol Complete and inexpensive. Women may want to try sparkling water The CDC has developed a brochure to provide information to to develop rosacea.
• Pregnancy Testing: First Response or sugar-free fruit beverages for something more tasty. pharmacists about opioid abuse. It can be found There is no cure for rosacea, but treatments can minimize
• Urinary Pain Relief: AZO Standard at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/pharmacists_brochure-a.pdf. flare-ups. Medications reduce inflammation and control bumps,
Pase MP, Himali AS, Beiser HJ, et al. Sugar- and Artificially Sweetened It is important the prescribers and pharmacists communicate lesions, swelling, and redness. Medscape has provided a table
MORE HEALTH PRODUCTS Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia: A about managing pain at the lowest effective dose, implementing
• Sleep Aids: Unisom Prospective Cohort Study. Stroke. April 20, 2017. treatment plans, monitoring signs of abuse or diversion, using the comparing oral and topical antibiotics as well as other topicals used
to treat rosacea. It is recommended to use a topical agent first
• Smoking Cessation Aids: NicoDerm CQ Patch https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.016027 prescription drug monitoring programs to identify patients at and as a maintenance medication. Oral medications should be for
• Aspirin for Heart Health: Bayer increased risk of overdose or overuse, and counseling patients. short-term use. Women with rosacea are also recommended to
The brochure also provides the following tips when communicating
POST-DISCHARGE OPIOID USE IN WOMEN with women about the safe use of opioids. wear sunscreen.
Pharmacists' Picks: UNDERGOING CESAREAN DELIVERY
Top Recommended Health Products U.S. News, Investigators conducted a study to describe the post- • Proper use – discuss how to take medications exactly as American Academy of Dermatology
June 13, 2017, http://health.usnews.com/ discharge opioid use among women undergoing cesarean prescribed and the risks of using medication inappropriately https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne-and-rosacea/rosacea
wellness/articles/2017-06-13/ pharmacists delivery. A prospective observational cohort study was Roseacea: A Side-by-Side Look at the Most Common Rosacea Treatment (Side Effects,
-picks-top-recommended-health-products • Side effects- review common side effects and explain when to Effectiveness, Dosage, and Costs) by Elizabeth Szaluta, MPH. May 17, 2017.
used, whereby the investigators recruited all women report side effects to the pharmacist/physician http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/880075_2

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