Louisiana gets ball rolling on stricter medication rules By Matt Hegarty

The Louisiana Racing Commission has formally begun a process to adopt a set of new medication rules that are being supported by a number of national racing organizations as a way to align the country’s racing jurisdictions.

Last week, the commission approved a “notice to adopt” the rules, which provide for the regulated use of 26 therapeutic medications but ban all other drugs. The notice could lead to the adoption of the rules as early as six months from now, according to the commission’s executive director, Charles Gardiner.

“This sets the administrative process in motion,” Gardiner said.

Louisiana has been considered a longshot by many of the groups leading the effort to get the uniform rules adopted in the U.S.’s 38 individual racing jurisdictions. The state has some of the most liberal medication policies in the U.S., and horsemen in the state, both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse, have not been openly supportive of the uniform-rules effort.

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Compounding Pharmacies Even nurses may not realize the important role compounded medications play in their everyday lives. By Elizabeth Rosto Sitko Posted on: November 26, 2014

Today, the vast majority of medications are mass-produced by pharmaceutical drug companies. They are designed to treat specific medical conditions for a large segment of people. 

But, what happens when a patient has a medical condition that can't be treated by one of these mass-produced pills?

For example, someone might be allergic to a dye in a commercial tablet, or a child may not be able to take a medication if the capsule is too large, or the dose is too high. 

These are the situations where pharmacists and pharmacies that perform compounding can play a vital role in helping healthcare practitioners find appropriate treatments for their patients. 

A recent meningitis outbreak from contaminated compounded drugs raises questions about what compounding pharmacies do and how they are regulated? 

Many people, even nurses and other healthcare professionals, may not realize the important role compounded medications play in their everyday lives. In fact, any time a nurse mixes two medicines to give to a patient on the floor, that's a compound.

Even the act of splitting tablets or reconstituting antibiotic liquid for a child is considered compounding. This article seeks to clear up some of the confusion.

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Third Question of the Day November 25, 2014 One of the compounding industry's argument against the FDA having any authority over compounding pharmacies is that it should be left to the states to decide how to regulate this area, but in a list of things that IACP wants fixed

they say, "Clear distinction that any proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the FDA and the states must focus on communication about issues related to compounded preparations and not the fulfillment of prescription dispensing nor arbitrary limits on quantities."   Isn't this totally contrary to what IACP has consistently said especially if a state wants the MOU to cover these topics and areas?  The state doesn't have to enter into the MOU if it doesn't wanted to do so.  So what the compounding industry is really asking is that Congress to dictate to the states what any MOU's with the FDA can state?