Rhonda Cooper-DeHoff, PharmD

A few months ago, the American Heart Association published a scientific statement on the use of nonsteroidal antiinflamatory drugs in people with or at increased risk for heart disease.

In August 2004, the United Kingdom, through its Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, changed the status of simvastatin 10 mg from “prescription required” to “pharmacist directed.”

Tart, tangy and sweet, grapefruit has long been a popular citrus choice, especially during winter and spring, the fruit’s peak growing season.

In September, the FDA distributed communication to health care providers related to a potential drug interaction between low-dose aspirin (81 mg daily) and ibuprofen. This interaction could render low-dose aspirin less effective as a cardioprotective agent in those requiring secondary prevention. Although there are not a lot of published data, there is sufficient information to warrant educating our patients about the need to separate the administration of these frequently used drugs.