Almost two-thirds of women in British Columbia filled at least one prescription at some point in their pregnancy, including drugs with potential risks, according to a new study by University of British Columbia researchers.

The study, published online in the journal Clinical Therapeutics, is the first of its kind in Canada. Researchers analyzed population-based outpatient prescription claims data for patterns of prescription drug use during pregnancy in B.C. from 2001 to 2006.

The authors of a unique and revealing study of children in foster care receiving antipsychotic medication are calling for better oversight of such medications for youths.

A main finding from this research is that children in foster care were just as likely to be prescribed more than one psychotropic medication as were disabled youths, says Susan dosReis, PhD, an associate professor in the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research and the lead author.

In the study, researchers examined Medicaid records of 637,924 children less than 20 years old who were either in foster care, receiving disability benefits, or on a family assistance plan.

A regulatory bias against taking oral anti-cancer medications with food places many patients at increased risk for an overdose and forces them to "flush costly medicines down the toilet," argues Mark Ratain, MD, an authority on cancer-drug dosing.

A report of a study investigating over the counter medicine (OTC) abuse published by the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust provides evidence that there is a group of individuals experiencing a range of problems often with codeine-based medicines purchased from pharmacies, and for whom help and support varied.

A large proportion of teenagers regularly and frequently take some form of medication without receiving targeted information about the risks and benefits, according to a review of current research, to be presented at the annual congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) tomorrow (Tuesday).

Dr Priya Bahri will tell delegates that 35% of boys and 45% of girls in Europe and the USA take painkillers for headaches every month. In addition, they take a variety of other medicines for things like stomach aches, sleeping disorders, nervousness, asthma, infectious diseases and for pregnancy prevention. "Most teenagers take their medicines appropriately, but there is evidence of accidental or intentional inappropriate use or misuse," she says.