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capsule moments

May 27, 2018

DIGICEUTICALS:

This word is a short form for “digital therapeutic”.  At the beginning of this year, I started subscribing to The Economist, a weekly magazine that covers the world of current events.  This topic was in a February 2018 edition.  There are over 150 companies worldwide working on apps of this type and the FDA in the U.S. is very encouraging in trying to get them into the U.S. market. There is a realization that these applications have the potential to improving health and reduce the costs of healthcare. The diabetes app is called BlueStar but I couldn’t find it yet on my phone.  There is another called Pears RESET app which treats disorders involving the misuse of alcohol.  This is supposed to be on the market soon.  One other app that is getting a lot of interest is one to treat ADHD, purporting to improve attention and inhibitory control in children.

I’m sure there will be hundreds of these apps hitting the market in the next few years and I’m sure I’ll read about it in The Economist.  Now if I only can make time to read it every week.  It’s a lot of reading!

SMOKING AND ANESTHESIA:

Anesthesiologists will agree it is easier to work with non-smokers than smokers.  Smokers by nature have compromised respiratory function both before and after anesthesia.  If people don’t quit prior to surgery, there will increase anaesthetic risks as well as risks of complications during surgery and recovery.  This is good information for pharmacists to pass on to their smoking patients and may just be the motivation they need to quit.

ADRs AND HEALTH CANADA:

Health Canada also keeps a publicly-accessible database on all reported adverse drug reactions.  It’s available on the Health Canada website.  It has information from January 1, 1965 to September 30, 2017.

EYE DROPS IN CHILDREN:

A few years ago, there used to be a small gadget that fit over the eye.  It had a small hole in it where you put the eye dropper tip.  It positioned the dropper right in the centre of the eye and it seemed that it might work more easily.  Haven’t seen them around for while so not sure if they are still made.