RedScrubs
The Resource for Medical Professionals

“Some pharmacists live for pharmacology. Then there are other pharmacists who just live to do drugs.”
A satire about pharmacists who sample their medications . . . too funny. But, not so funny for those who get caught and have to kiss their licenses goodbye.

According to a recent analysis, the pharmaceutical industry’s ethical reputation dropped from first to third when evaluated by Covalence, a Geneva Switzerland-based organization that tracks the ethical reputation of multinationals. Reasons for the downward spiral are hypothesized and a plan for improving the overall image of pharmaceutical companies is recommended.

Anti-depressants eventually can alleviate depression, but oft is the case where it is a trial and error process. NIH researchers used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to study insight into depression. They discovered that the use of a brain scan can predict reaction to an antidepressant. Perhaps the roller-coaster of trial and error with the use of a panorama of antidepressants to see which one works with which patient will finally become more of a quick and easy process. Future studies should be able to chart the wide variety of reactions and then use scans and other tests to skip blanket remedies and move directly to the most effective treatment for the individual.