PharmaXtract: pharma

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Thursday, October 8, 2015

How to Make Career as Pharmacist Abroad

The pharmacy profession is highly demanding and rewarding profession for many years in USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, UK and all other first world countries. Pharmacist is the most important and positive contributing member of the health care system of any particular country. Health care sector is very important part of any particular country, in addition, developed countries give extra important to Health care sector and health care professionals. Thus, Pharmacist is an important and valuable member of health care system in Canada, USA, Aus, NZ, and UK etc.

The demand is continuously growing because of following reasons

· More than 47% of currently working Pharmacist are above age of 45 years

· Old age population is dramatically increase in developed countries due to long life expectance

· Increasing the rate and onset of chronic disease at early age

· Continually, increasing the responsibilities of pharmacist thus new era of pharmacy profession has evolved

o Registered Pharmacist

o Clinical Pharmacist

o Hospital Pharmacist

o Consultant Pharmacist

o Disease management Pharmacist

o MMR Pharmacist

o Nuclear Pharmacist

o Geriatric Pharmacist

o Industrial Pharmacist

o Prescribing Pharmacist

· Local students are not preferring to study Pharmacy courses

Pharmacist shortages are projected to increase over the next 20 years. Only strategic option to meet this shortage of Pharmacist can be achieved by offering Immigration to International pharmacist.

Pharmacists with specialized education and training become more versatile within the health care system to attain optimal health outcomes for patients through proper medication use.

These kind of intervention evolved new avenues of opportunities for pharmacist in developed countries. For Example

In Australia, Pharmacist receives wage from the Australian Government for conducting comprehensive Home Medicines Reviews.

In Canada, Pharmacists in certain provinces have prescribing rights (as in Alberta and British Columbia) or are salaried by their provincial

government for expanded services such as medications reviews (Meds checks in Ontario).

In United Kingdom , Pharmacists who undertake additional training are obtaining prescribing rights. They are also being paid by the government for

medicine use reviews.

In United States, Pharmaceutical care or clinical pharmacy has had an evolving influence on the practice of pharmacy.

In Scotland, Pharmacist can write prescriptions for Scottish registered patients of their regular medications, for the majority of drugs, except for Controlled drugs.

Thus, employment potential as a Pharmacist is very high in Canada, USA, AUS, NZ, and UK

To grab all this opportunities International Students must have to get “licence to practise as a pharmacist” In any particular country. In order to get Pharmacist licence, candidate must have to pass few steps.

Pharmacy Profession is regulated in all developed countries like USA, Canada, AUS, NZ and UK to practice as a Pharmacist.

Most important point, if any one wants to work as a Pharmacist they must have to get Pharmacist license from Pharmacy board of the respective country.

Eligibility to get License in all developed countries is 4 years Bachelor of Pharmacy (Note: Our 4 years Pharmacy Course is valid in all developed countries like Canada, Aus, NZ, UK and all gulf countries except for USA. USA is only accepting 5 years Bachelor ofPharmacy or PharmD Degree)

All developed countries have almost same licensing process to regulate Pharmacy profession by Conducting Examination as below.

Step - 1 : Pharmacist Evaluation Examination (Stage 1)

Step - 2 : Training as a Pharmacist

Step - 3 : Qualifying Examination (Stage 2)

source

http://www.mypharmavision.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=61

List of CROs in INDIA

List of CRO (Clinical Research Organisations) in INDIA

source

http://pharmaresearch.in/?page=72b32a1f754ba1c09b3695e0cb6cde7f

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Pharmacy : Career Options

After studying so much the main questions in the mind of everyone is what now what after I have completed my desired course of study. Same is the case with us who are in the pharmaceutical field, after completion of our degree or diploma we just keep on thinking which would be a better or great career to choose and start to have a bright future ahead.

So in this post I will try to summarize the relevant career paths available after degree/diploma/higher degree and hope it will be enough to guide you through to achieve what you aim for in future. I will be listing the careers whatever is relevant after degree or diploma in the options mentioned in the lower courses can also be taken by the higher degree professionals.

After D.Pharma

· Business development executive - marketing representative, MR, executive, sales personnel and many more names are available all are same and comprise of making sales and increasing the market share of the pharmaceutical company. The job comprises sales through one on one channels, direct or indirect sales, etc.

· Pharmacist – also known as chemists (Commonwealth English) or druggists (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), are healthcare professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use. Retail pharmacists might work in small, independent pharmacies or in the pharmacy departments within grocery stores or larger retail establishments, filling and dispensing patients' medicines as prescribed by their doctors.

· Pharmacy assistant - Assistant pharmacists work alongside licensed and pharmacist technicians to help process prescriptions.Assistants' duties are typically clerical and organizational in nature and might include answering phones, filling out and filing paperwork, running cash registers and stocking shelves.

· Pharmacy aide - Pharmacy Aides are responsible for storing merchandise, maintaining inventory, and recording drugs delivered to the pharmacy. The key difference between pharmacy aides and pharmacy technicians is that aides are not allowed to dispense prescriptions. Instead, they spend most of their time operating cash registers and accepting prescription orders from customers.

· In manufacturing - In a manufacturing environment a pharmacist would initially supervise one or more units (such as packaging or tablet manufacturing). The production pharmacist will also be responsible for the safety and health at work of their staff. He or she is expected to bring leadership to a group or department; this would include those individuals reporting directly to them as well as other groups.

· Lab technician – many academic institutes require lab assistants or technicians to get help in the research or lab work so it is also a bright option.

So these are a few career options after diploma in pharmacy (D.Pharma) or you can study further and take a bachelors degree (B.Pharma) and explore more options.

AFTER B.Pharma

· In QA department - QA department is to maintain an oversight function over Production, Analytical laboratory, Warehouse, Utilities/Water supply and the environment (hygiene)to assure that good manufacturing practices, good laboratory practices and good storage practices are in place.

· In QC department - Quality control is an essential operation of the pharmaceutical industry. Drugs must be marketed as safe and therapeutically active formulations whose performance is consistent and predictable. New and better medicinal agents are being produced at an accelerated rate. At the same time more exacting and sophisticated analytical methods are being developed for their evaluation.

· Academics – or you can also start as a lecturer in any diploma institute of pharmacy and help build the career of coming students.

· In FDA - Pharmacists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work in a variety of jobs at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, including positions in the Office of Drug Safety, the Office of Generic and Orphan Drug Products, the Division of Drug Information, and the Division of Metabolic and Endocrine Drug Products.

· In testing laboratory – also there is a bright scope of pharmacist in testing laboratories as trainees.

· IPR - Intellectual property rights (IPR) is prerequisite for better identification, planning, commercialization, rendering, and thereby protection of invention or creativity. Each industry should evolve its own IPR policies, management style, strategies, and so on depending on its area of specialty.

· Clinical pharmacist - As a clinical pharmacist, your opportunities to be a leader are greatly expanding. All pharmacists are leaders in their everyday practices by successfully influencing the behavior of physicians, nurses, pharmacy technicians, interns, support staff, and others to enhance medication safety and optimize patient outcomes.

· Bulk drug manufacturing and distribution - "Manufacturing" means the production, preparation, propagation, conversion or processing of a drug or device, either directly or indirectly, by large volume extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical or biological synthesis, and includes any packaging or repackaging of a substance or labeling or relabeling of its container, and the promotion and marketing of such drugs and devices. "Manufacturing" also includes the preparation and promotion of commercially available products from bulk compounds for resale by pharmacists to anyone other than a patient via a prescription, practitioners, or other persons. "Wholesaler" means a person with facilities in or outside this state who obtains drugs for distribution or delivery to persons other than consumers.

· Pharmaceutical consultancy - A consultant pharmacist is a who works as a consultant providing expert advice on the use of medications or on the provision of pharmacy services to medical institutions, medical practices and individual patients.

After bachelors degree you have two options either to take a master degree or opt for management studies.

After B.Pharma + MBA/MMS

· Management trainee in various departments of pharma industry.

· Product executive - same job role as a MR (discussed above under D.Pharma)

· Product manager - sales job with a higher managerial post like – area sales manager, district sales manager, regional sales manager, etc.

· Administrative manager – under this category you can make a career in hospital management or management of other administrative positions in pharmaceutical industries and institutions.

After M.Pharma

· Academics – work as lecturer in degree pharmacy institutes and with experience or PhD can be promoted to assistant professor/associate professor/ professor.

· In R&D – can work as JRF (junior research fellow) and then can be promoted to SRF (senior research fellow) within 2-3years of experience and then as scientist after completion of PhD.

· \In formulation and manufacturing – senior positions of supervisors or head of the department can be achieved with prior experience.

· In QA/QC – same as discussed in B.Pharm but getting a good position and good salary can be expected if you have some relevant experience.

· In marketing/sales – yes after masters you can go into sales and with relevant experience you can also go into product management (PMT).

· In regulatory affairs - Regulatory Affairs is involved in the development of new medicinal products from early on, by integrating regulatory principles and by preparing and submitting the relevant regulatory dossiers to health authorities. Regulatory Affairs is actively involved in every stage of development of a new medicine and in the post-marketing activities with authorised medicinal products.

Or after your masters you can move forward to PhD/doctoral/post doctoral studies and research work. And opt for careers such as scientist, senior positions in R&D and pharma industries.

So option are many and future is bright all you do is to choose the right career and make a start.

Reference

http://careers.abpi.org.uk/working-in-the-industry/manufacturingandsupply/manufacturing/Pages/pharmacists-manufacturing.aspx

study.com/.../Assistant_Pharmacist_Salary_Duties_and_Requirements.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacist

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › NCBI › Literature › PubMed Central (PMC)

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/547385_5

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217699/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consultant_pharmacist

https://www.pharmatching.com/inforena/the-role-and-responsibility-of-the-regulatory-affairs-department

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Hypertension : An overview

Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure or arterial hypertension, chronic abnormal increase in arterial blood pressure. Blood pressure (BP) is expressed by two measurements, the systolic and diastolic pressures, which are the maximum and minimum pressures, respectively, in the arterial system. The systolic pressure occurs when the left ventricle is most contracted; the diastolic pressure occurs when the left ventricle is most relaxed prior to the next contraction. Normal blood pressure at rest is within the range of 100–140 millimeters mercury (mmHg) systolic and 60–90 mmHg diastolic. Hypertension is present if the blood pressure is persistently at or above 140/90 mmHg for most adults; different numbers apply to children.

Increase in blood pressure can be seen during exercise, during endurance work or during heavy labored work but it gets normalized with time and is not harmful. But long term increase in BP can lead to hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm, peripheral artery disease, and chronic kidney disease. Evidence suggests that reduction of the blood pressure by 5 mmHg can decrease the risk of stroke by 34%, of ischaemic heart disease by 21%, and reduce the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and mortality from cardiovascular disease.

Hypertension can be mainly of two types – primary hypertension (or essential) maximum cases are of such types of hypertension and in this no underlying cause of the disease is known. And the rest of the other causes are of secondary hypertension which is caused due to an identifiable cause such as renal disease or adrenal hyperfunction, or an endocrine disorder such as excess aldosterone, cortisol, or catecholamines.

Systolic BP (mm hg) Diastolic BP (mm hg)

Normal 130-139 85-89

Mild 140-159 90-99

Moderate 160-179 100-110

Severe 180-209 110-119

Very severe >210 >120

Reno-vascular hypertension is mainly caused due to improper functioning of RAS (rennin-angiotensin system), which when functioning normally can regulate blood pressure and fluid balance. Angiotensinogen (in liver) is the starting inactive peptide which is converted to angiotensin-I (A-I) in presence of renin (kidney), which is then converted to angiotensin-II (A-II) by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) (thought to be found in lung capillary).

A-II is 100 times more biologically potent than A-I but has a very short t_1/2(1 min) and its first degradation product is termed as angiotensin-III (A-III) which is 3-9times less potent that A-II, except when secreting aldosterone it is equipotent. Angiotensin-I may have some minor activity, but angiotensin-II is the major bio-active product. So, whenever there is problem in the RAS cycle there is abnormality in blood pressure and fluid balance in our body.

Angiotensin-II increases sympathetic activity causes tubular Na⁺ Cl^-, K⁺ excretion and water retention,arteriolar vasoconstriction and increase in BP, ADH (antidiuretic hormone secretion) secretion which causes water absorption in collecting duct, enhancing adrenaline/nor-adrenaline release from adrenal medulla/adrenergic nerve endings and by increasing central sympathetic outflow. In addition to secreting aldosterone, A-III promotes Na⁺/H⁺ exchange in proximal tubule causing increased Na⁺ Cl^- and bicarb reabsorption. Vasodilators and diuretics stimulate rennin release by lowering BP.

Classification of antihypertensive drugs

1.Adrenergic receptor antagonists

a.Beta blockers

 atenolol

 metoprolol

 nadolol

 oxprenolol

 pindolol

 propranolol

 timolol

 b.Alpha blockers:

 doxazosin

 phentolamine

 indoramin

 phenoxybenzamine

 prazosin

 terazosin

 tolazoline

 c.Mixed Alpha + Beta blockers:

 bucindolol

 carvedilol

 labetalol

2.Diuretics

Diuretics help the kidneys eliminate excess salt and water from the body's tissues and blood.

 a.Loop diuretics:

 bumetanide

 ethacrynic acid

 furosemide

 torsemide

 b.Thiazide diuretics:

 epitizide

 hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide

 bendroflumethiazide

 c.Thiazide-like diuretics:

 indapamide

 chlorthalidone

 metolazone

 d.Potassium-sparing diuretics:

 amiloride

 triamterene

 spironolactone

3.Calcium channel blockers

Calcium channel blockers block the entry of calcium into muscle cells in artery walls.

 a.dihydropyridines:

 amlodipine

 felodipine

 isradipine

 lercanidipine

 nicardipine

 nifedipine

 nimodipine

 nitrendipine

 b.non-dihydropyridines:

 diltiazem

 verapamil

4.ACE inhibitors

ACE inhibitors inhibit the activity of Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), an enzyme responsible for the conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor.

 captopril

 enalapril

 fosinopril

 lisinopril

 perindopril

 quinapril

 ramipril

 trandolapril

 benazepril

Indomethacin (and other NSAIDs) attenuates the hypotensive action of captopril.

5.Angiotensin II receptor antagonists

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists work by antagonizing the activation of angiotensin receptors.

 candesartan

 eprosartan

 irbesartan

 losartan

 olmesartan

 telmisartan

 valsartan

Losartan is 10,000 times more selective for A-I than A-II still is its competitive antagonist but has partial activity. It causes fall in BP in hypertensives which lasts for 24hours.

6.Aldosterone antagonists

Aldosterone receptor antagonists:

 eplerenone

 spironolactone

Aldosterone antagonists are not recommended as first-line agents for blood pressure, but spironolactone and eplerenone are both used in the treatment of heart failure.

7.Centrally acting adrenergic drugs

Central alpha agonists lower blood pressure by stimulating alpha-receptors in the brain which open peripheral arteries easing blood flow. Central alpha agonists, such as clonidine, are usually prescribed when all other anti-hypertensive medications have failed. For treating hypertension, these drugs are usually administered in combination with a diuretic.

 Clonidine

 Guanabenz

 Methyldopa

 Moxonidine

Adverse effects of this class of drugs include sedation, drying of the nasal mucosa and rebound hypertension.

Some adrenergic neuron blockers are used for the most resistant forms of hypertension:

 Guanethidine

 Reserpine

8.Vasodilators

Vasodilators act directly on the smooth muscle of arteries to relax their walls so blood can move more easily through them; they are only used in hypertensive emergencies or when other drugs have failed, and even so are rarely given alone.

Sodium nitroprusside, a very potent, short-acting vasodilator, is most commonly used for the quick, temporary reduction of blood pressure in emergencies (such as malignant hypertension or aortic dissection). Hydralazine and its derivatives are also used in the treatment of severe hypertension, although they should be avoided in emergencies. They are no longer indicated as first-line therapy for high blood pressure due to side effects and safety concerns, but hydralazine remains a drug of choice in gestational hypertension.

9.Adrenergic receptor agonists

 Alpha-2 agonists:

 clonidine

 methyldopa

 Guanfacine

Referred from:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renin%E2%80%93angiotensin_system

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihypertensive_drug

http://studenttopics.blogspot.in/2011/03/antihypertensive-drug-classification.html

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