http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1236
Banning aspartame in New Mexico children's medications and vitamins,
petition to Board of Pharmacy on Nov 14-15:
Fox: Stoller: Murray 2005.10.16

From: "Stephen Fox" <stephen@...>
To: rmforall@...
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 8:58 AM

I am the petitioner who has asked the NM Environmental Improvement
Board to have a hearing to consider banning the sale of aspartame-containing
products throughout New Mexico, next July 2006.
Consumer protection and the health of all New Mexicans won this round,
when the Board voted 4-2 to convene the five-days of hearings in July.

After Governor Bill Richardson commented last week that he supports the
EIB's decision, I asked both him and Attorney General Patricia Madrid,
perhaps together, to issue a kind of Executive Order, to remove the
products containing Aspartame in the New Mexico schools, far in advance
of the EIB hearings, based on the mountain of prima facie medical
evidence to warrant getting it out of children's consumption, in toto.
Neither has yet replied.
(One or both could also ask for an injunction to do this).

One editorial writer at the Albuquerque Journal recently questioned the
legislative intent behind the Environment Improvement Board's decision;
they could more carefully examine the statute which created the EIB in
1978 before denouncing such a hearing as "ludicrous."

Some New Mexicans have been diagnosed with neurodegenerative afflictions
which disappeared when they stopped consuming aspartame.
These victims don't think EIB hearings on aspartame are a
"waste of taxpayer money."
Indeed, there are thousands of such New Mexicans, perhaps even more,
since 70% of adults and 40% of children are consuming aspartame daily!

I believe aspartame to be one of the major causes of increases in tumors
of the brain and of the pituitary, as well as the sharp increase in
Multiple Sclerosis in the USA, due to its metabolized byproduct,
formaldehyde.

The Journal's editorial asking for the EIB to "quickly reverse" its
decision is not going to sweep our urgent medical concerns under the rug.

If the product is so safe, why should Ajinomoto, the world's largest
manufacturer of aspartame and monosodium glutamate, be so intent
on quashing the hearings?

I doubt the NM Supreme Court would even consider such a writ, if these
Aspartame corporate attorneys were to ask any judge to deny an EIB
hearing before it is even held.
They have billions of dollars at stake,
both in profits and in potential punitive and exemplary damages.

On November 14-15, I and several physicians, led by Dr. Kenneth P. Stoller
M.D., Pediatrician, Founder of the New Mexico Hyperbaric Chamber, and
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico School
of Medicine, will present a similar petition to the New Mexico Board of
Pharmacy, to request a ruling to prohibit two neurotoxic additions to
pharmaceutical preparations consumed by in New Mexico:

1. Aspartame in hundreds of children's medications,
as well as children's vitamins

2. Thimerosol, the mercury preservative found in vaccinations.
Mercury's neurotoxic properties are very well known.

New Mexico statutes delineate precise powers to the Pharmacy Board to
promulgate rules in this realm of poisonous and deleterious additives to
pharmaceutical preparations, in NMSA 26-1-3 and NMSA 26-1-9,
even when there is prior FDA approval thereof.

In California, the move to require a warning label on French Fries
because of carcinogenic acrylamide (resulting from high temperatures on
starch) is a brilliant effort by Attorney General Bill Lockyer and Chief
Deputy Attorney General Ed Weil,
which I strongly commend to New Mexico Attorney Generals Madrid and
Bluestone as exemplary.

We are not asking for more labels on aspartame;
the grim medical realities of this formaldehyde cocktail warrant that it be
taken off the market entirely.

In this era of disastrous medical results and lethal blunders from the
growing corporate control of the FDA, states must take very strong steps
to protect the health of their citizens.

Stephen Fox
Santa Fe, New Mexico (505) 983-2002 stephen@...

If you as a concerned consumer want to know what Gov. Richardson or
Attorney Gen. Madrid are doing about getting aspartame out of New Mexico
schools' cafeterias and vending machines, please contact:

Billy Sparks, Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications for Governor
(505) 827-3000
Stuart Bluestone, Deputy Attorney General of New Mexico (505) 827-6004
***********************************************************

[ To help interested citizens contact the nine members of the Pharmacy
Board, and provide some basic information about their occupations, I have
provided this information, including the minutes of their March 2005
session. I also give an up-to-date summary of recent public action and
research. ]

New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Bill Harvey, R.Ph. Director
5200 Oakland NE Suite A Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113
Phone: (505) 222-9830 Fax: (505) 222-9845 Toll Free: (800) 565-9102

William Harvey William.Harvey@...
Executive Director/Chief Drug Inspector
5200 Oakland NE, Suite A Albuquerque, NM 87113
Phone: 505/222-9830 Fax: 505/222-9845 www.state.nm.us/pharmacy

http://www.state.nm.us/pharmacy/staff.html

Woodrow Storey, R.Ph. Board Chairman Albuquerque, NM
Bus: 505-761-8005 Fax: 505-761-8030 wstorey1960@...
Central District Appointed: 03/05/2003 Expires: 12/31/2007
[ has been eminent UNM HSC College of Pharmacy faculty ]

Amy Buesing, R.Ph. Board Vice-Chairman Hospital Representative
La Mesa, NM Bus: 505-222-9830 ABuesingRPh@...
Appointed: 03/07/2003 Expires: 12/31/2007
[ president of the New Mexico Society of Health-System Pharmacists and
pharmacy director for Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces
ajhp@... http://www.ashp.org ]

Danny Cross, R.Ph. Board Secretary
Carlsbad, NM Bus: 505-887-6611 cross@... Southeast
District Appointed: 03/05/2003 Expires: 12/31/2007
[ owner of Southwest Pharmacy of Carlsbad, New Mexico ]

Howard Shaver Public Member Albuquerque, NM
Bus: 505-998-3273 Fax: 505-998-3333 hshaver@...
Appointed: 03/07/2003 Expires: 12/31/2007
[ http://www.redw.com/ The Rogoff Firm
We've been around for more than 50 years and our name is an integral part of
the community. REDW (formerly Rogoff Erickson Diamond & Walker) has grown
into the largest certified public accounting firm in New Mexico.
As you might expect from a CPA firm, REDW offers a variety of expertise and
products related to accounting and auditing. While we're known for being
some of the best accountants in the Southwest, we also have embraced a
complete service philosophy to give our clients added value: technology,
financial planning, asset management, trust services, retirement plan
administration, employee recruiting, business valuation and litigation
support, to name a few.
REDW The Rogoff Firm
6401 Jefferson Street NE Albuquerque, NM 87109
Mailing Address P.O. Box 93656 Albuquerque, NM 87199-3656
Phone: (505) 998-3200 Fax: (505) 998-3333 ]

Buffie Saavedra Public Member Albuquerque, NM
Bus: 505-255-0971 ext. 119 Fax : 505-255-5602
buffie.saavedra@...
Appointed: Expires: 07/01/2006
[ Buffie Saavedra of the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department
said that seniors should take their time in choosing a plan that is right
for them.

Although Medicare won't unveil the drug plans until Sept. 15, the New Mexico
Aging & Long-Term Services Department is educating people on the changes
this summer.

"Right now, it's good to find out the basics," Buffie Saavedra, director of
Health Insurance and Benefits Assistance Corps, said in an interview
Thursday. "The fear leaves once they know a little bit."

Since July, she has been meeting with New Mexicans to discuss Medicare
prescription drug coverage at town hall meetings around the state.
Representatives from AARP, New Mexico Aging & Long-Term Services Department
and Social Security are present to answer questions. ]

Rudy Nolasco, R.Ph. Las Vegas, NM
Cell: 505-617-1047 Bus: 505-425-8962
Fax: 505-425-8510 delnortelvnm@...
Northeast District Appointed: 03/05/2003 Expires: 12/31/2007
[ www.delnortepharmacy.com Del Norte Pharmacy
604 University Las Vegas, NM
Tel # 505-425-6241 1-800-677-0852 ]

Brenda Padilla, R.Ph. Las Cruces, NM Bus: 505-525-8713
IBGEM66@...
Southwest District Appointed: 07/01/2004 Expires: 06/30/2009

Thomas Ortega, R.Ph. Grants, NM
Cell: 505-470-2390 Bus: 505-287-4641 Fax: 505-287-7160
Weekends: 505-257-6987
Northwest District Appointed: 07/01/2002 Expires: 07/01/2007
[ Mayor of Village of Milan, NM 87021]

Allen Carrier Santa Fe, NM Public Member
Cell: 858-243-7376 Fax: 505-984-1600
Appointed: Expires: 07/01/2008
[ Adler Advisory Services is pleased to welcome Mr. Allen Carrier to our
Board of Directors.
Mr. Carrier is Senior Managing Partner of
Michael Darling & Associates Communications
and manages the Los Angeles operation, opened in 1997.
Prior to joining MDAC he worked
as Senior Vice President for Kaufman Public Relations in Washington, owned
by the London-based Shadwick North American.
Prior to his public relations career, Mr. Carrier served as a Congressional
Press Secretary to Norman Mineta, U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
The news organizations where he has been a reporter and an editor include
the Arizona Daily Star and United Press International.
He is recipient of numerous public relations awards, including three Siver
Anvil Awards presented by the Public Relations Society of America.
He is a White House appointee to the Institute of American Indian Art and
serves on New Mexico Governor's Mansion Foundation Board.
Mr. Carrier received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from American
University.
In addition to the Los Angeles operation, Mr. Carrier and MDAC
have offices in Santa Fe, NM and Washington, DC.
Mr. Carrier and MDAC's healthcare clients include:
American Academy of HIV Medicine
American Society of Internal Medicine
American Health Care Association
Baxter Healthcare International
Bristol-Myers Squib
DuPont Pharmaceuticals
Eli Lilly and Company
George Washington University Hospital
Health Net
National Foundation for Cancer Research
Thomas Jefferson University Medical Center
While House Council on HIV/AIDS
Mr. Carrier can be reached via email at: acarrier@... ]
[ Allen Carrier, Michael Darling & Associates Communications, 1400 20th
St., Ste. 504, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036; call 202-232-4039; fax
202-232-4089; or e-mail mdarlingbox@... ]

Staff

Bill Harvey, R.Ph. William.Harvey@...
Executive Director/Chief Drug Inspector Telephone: 505-222-9837

Ben Kesner, R.Ph.
Inspector Telephone: 505-222-9838 Ben.Kesner@...

Larry Loring, R.Ph.
Inspector Telephone: 505-222-9839 larry.loring@...

Mike Lyons, R.Ph.
Inspector Telephone: 505-222-9840 mike.lyons@...

Paul Therkildsen
Inspector Telephone: 505-222-9836 Paul.Therkildsen@...

Bill Weast, R.Ph.
Inspector Telephone: 505-222-9841 bill.weast@...

Sarah Trujillo Licensing Manager
Telephone: 505-222-9833 sarah.trujillo@...

Rocio Cruz-Tapia Licensing Clerk
Telephone: 505-222-9878 rocio.cruz-tapia@...

Cynthia McCormick Administrator III
Telephone: 505-222-9843 Cynthia.McCormick@...

Janelle Sanchez Administrative Secretary
Telephone: 505-222-9835 Janelle.Sanchez@...

Debra Wilhite Administrative Assistant
Telephone: 505-222-9830 Debra.Wilhite@...

Board Extern Telephone: 505-222-9834 ph.intern@...
**********************************************************

http://www.state.nm.us/pharmacy/noticetothepublic.htm

Notice To The Public New Mexico Board of Pharmacy

The New Mexico Board of Pharmacy will convene
on August 29 & 30, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.
in the Pharmacy Board Conference Room, 5200 Oakland Ave., NE,
Albuquerque, New Mexico for the purpose
of conducting a regularly scheduled Board meeting.
The Board will also be conducting disciplinary hearings for the following
individuals or facilities:
Colin Bayliss, new applicant
The Board will also have a regulation hearing to amend 16.19.12 NMAC,
16.19.30 NMAC, 16.19.8 NMAC, 16.19.9 NMAC and 16.19.2 NMAC.
Interested persons may contact Janelle R. Sanchez, Administrative Secretary,
5200 Oakland Ave., NE, Suite A, Albuquerque, NM 87113, (505) 222-9830 or
fax (505) 222-9845, e-mail janelle.sanchez@... to receive copies of
the agenda, which will be available August 15, 2005.
The Board may go into executive session at any time to discuss licensee
and/or personnel matters.
Anyone who needs special accommodations for the meeting
should contact the Board office at (505) 222-9830 as soon as possible.
Available at www.state.nm.us/pharmacy on August 15, 2005 will be all
proposed regulations, notices and tentative agenda.
Published Albuquerque Journal and Tribune - July 26 & 27, 2005.

http://www.state.nm.us/pharmacy/minutesmarch05.html

New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Regular Board Meeting
March 21 & 22, 2005

Monday, March 21, 2005

PLACE AND TIME: The meeting was held at the
Pharmacy Board Conference Room
at 5200 Oakland Ave., Albuquerque, NM.

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order
by the Chairman, Woodrow Storey, R.Ph., at 9:00 am

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Howard Shaver, Public Member

Woodrow Storey, R.Ph., Chairman

Amy Buesing, R.Ph., Vice-Chairman

Tom Ortega, R.Ph., Member

Danny Cross, R.Ph., Secretary

Brenda Padilla, R.Ph., Member

Buffie Saavedra, Public Member

Allen Carrier, Public Member

Rudy Nolasco, R.Ph., Member

MEMBERS ABSENT:

STAFF ATTENDING:

Kathy Kunkle, Assistant Attorney General

William Harvey, Executive Director

Janelle Sanchez, Administrative Secretary

Larry Loring, Inspector

Bill Harvey, Inspector

Mike Lyons, Inspector

Ben Kesner, Inspector

Paul Therkilsden, Inspector


http://www.nabp.net/

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
1600 Feehanville Drive . Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Tel: 847/391-4406 Fax: 847/391-4502
Carmen A. Catizone, MS, RPh, DPh
Executive Director/Secretary exec-office@...
Customer Service custserv@...

site links to pdf of New Mexico BOP Newsletters:

NM Vol. 8, No. 1 Page 1 September 2005

New Mexico Board of Pharmacy
5200 Oakland NE, Suite A Albuquerque, NM 87113
Tel: 505/222-9830 Fax: 505/222-9845
In-State only Toll Free: 1-800/565-9102

Regulation Changes

During the June 6-7, 2005 New Mexico Board of Pharmacy meeting,
there were three regulation hearings.

Regulation Hearing #1, part 16.19.27.7.B.16 NMAC was added.
This regulation is about dishonorable conduct by a pharmacy.
A pharmacy shall not have a policy or procedure that hinders the
apprehension and/or prosecution of individuals who the pharmacist suspects
is presenting a forged or fraudulent prescription.

Regulation Hearing #2, part 16.19.12.12 NMAC was revised.
his regulation is about the renewal registration fee for a pharmacist
license. Pharmacists with 50 or more years of service as a pharmacist can
renew their license for $70 biennially instead of $200.

Regulation Hearing #3, part 16.19.21.23.2 NMAC was revised.
This regulation denies the security requirements for retail distributors of
pseudoephedrine (PSE)-containing products, eliminating the need for the
Board to grant waivers. PSE-only products must be stored in a locked case
accessible only by an employee or must be displayed behind a store counter
in an area not accessible to customers. A retail distributor of a
PSE-containing combination product with PSE as an active ingredient,
may display PSE-containing products with customer access if
1) a reliable anti-theft device that uses special tags and detection alarms
to prevent theft is used. This device must be in at least one out of every
four packages; or
2) packages are kept under constant video surveillance. If using video
surveillance, video must be able to allow for real-time playback. The video
recording must be preserved for at least 21 days and made available to law
enforcement within 72 hours of a request. A sign must be posted with letters
at least one inch in height with the words "For your protection, New Mexico
Board of Pharmacy Regu-lations require that certain products containing
pseudoephedrine be displayed in an area under constant video surveillance."

Pseudoephedrine-containing Products

When you read the article on Regulation Changes above, there was a change on
the security requirements for pseudoephedrine (PSE) product storage.
There is much confusion with this regulation. This article will give a brief
summary of the regulation and point out some of the differences in the
Council Bill (CB) 0-05-115.

PSE products may be sold to a customer only by a facility with a license
issued by the Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacies are already licensed and do not
need any additional licensure. Stores such as 7-Eleven® will need to get a
license. In addition, the wholesaler of the PSE product will need a license
to ship to or within New Mexico. A pharmacy wholesaler is already licensed
and does not need any additional license. Even though you are working in a
licensed pharmacy and do not need an additional license, you are not exempt
from the regulation.

You must keep an invoice record of PSE products you receive. You must keep a
record of the name, address, and phone number of the purchaser; including
the date and quantity purchased. During a seven-day period, you may not sell
more than two blister packages and/or sell more than 6 grams of PSE. Any
employee that sells PSE products must be made aware of the current
regulations.

CB 0-05-115 says you may not sell more than 100 tablets, two boxes, or 6
grams in a single transaction in a single day per customer. The Board of
Pharmacy rule is every seven days. CB 0-05-115 requires that a photo
identi.cation be produced.

Fraudulent Prescriptions

If you receive a prescription, and after reasonable inquiry, suspect the
prescription is forged, altered, fraudulent, misrepresented (false name), or
a prescription transaction that is not otherwise in accor-dance with the
law, it is dishonorable conduct for the pharmacy or pharmacist to have a
policy or procedure that hinders the apprehen-sion and/or prosecution of the
individuals responsible.

Report unlawful prescriptions to State Drug Inspector Bill Weast. The Board
of Pharmacy has an inspector on-call 24 hours a day/365 days a year.
Please save the following contact numbers for your use:

Office Direct: 505/222-9841 Mobile Phone: 505/980-4036
Pager: 505/931-9500

Law Updates for the Rest of 2005

At the Board of Pharmacy Of.ce, a law update will be offered on Fridays
September 16, October 21, November 18, and December 16.
These updates will be from 3-5 PM.

A specialized legal update will be held for current or future con-sultant
pharmacists. This update will be held Friday, September 30, from 1-3 PM.
Please note the time is from 1-3 PM.

A law update will be held from 7-9 PM on:

* Tuesday, September 13, at Carver Library in Clovis.

* Tuesday, October 4, at Lea Regional Hospital in Hobbs.

* Wednesday, November 30, at Gerald Champion Hospital in Alamogordo.
* Tuesday, December 13, at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces.

Continued on page 4

(Applicability of and can only be ascertained by examining the
New Board Will Oversee Management of Drug Safety Monitoring

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unveiled a program that aims to
improve oversight of drug safety monitoring and to bolster openness in
agency product review and decision making. Included is the creation of an
independent Drug Safety Oversight Board,
made up of medical experts from FDA and other government agencies.
Also planned are Web postings of emerging drug data and risk information as
well as written materials that provide targeted drug safety information to
the public. For more information, see
ww.fda.gov/oc/factsheets/drugsafety.html

ACPE Changes Provider Criteria Regarding Drug and Device Manufacturers

In early 2005, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Educa-tion (ACPE)
ceased accepting applications from pharmaceutical and biomedical device
manufacturers seeking accreditation as providers of continuing education
(CE). Effective July 1, 2005, the organization will no longer recognize
pharmaceutical and biomedical device manufacturers as accredited providers.
In addition, any CE issued by a pharmaceutical or device manufacturer after
June 30, 2005, is not valid.
These changes were approved by the ACPE Board
of Directors at its January 2005 meeting after the organization determined
that manufacturers could not meet both ACPE's requirements and the
recommended restrictions as stated in a Compliance Program Guidance for
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers published by the
Office of the Inspector General of the United States (OIG).

In 2003, OIG stated that manufacturers could be subjected to liability under
federal statutory provisions if they maintain any influence over CE subject
matter or presenters, or provide funding for attendees or other incentives
with respect to CE attendance.
Strict compliance with OIG's guidelines would
relegate manufacturers to solely providing educational grants to CE
providers in order to be free of liability. Meanwhile, ACPE's Criteria for
Quality require that the CE provider control the content speakers or authors
of a CE program, putting ACPE's requirements in opposition to OIG's
guide-lines; hence, ACPE, out of responsibility to health regulatory boards,
the profession, and the public, must now accredit only those providers who
are in compliance with the ACPE criteria and the OIG guidelines.

In accordance with ACPE's new policies, organizations with a commercial
interest and any proprietary entity producing health care goods or services,
with the exception of nonpro.t or govern-ment organizations and non-health
care-related companies, will not be eligible for ACPE accreditation status.

For more information, contact ACPE Executive Di-rector Peter Vlasses at
312/664-3575, or via e-mail at pvlasses@... .

Let's Get to the 'Point': Prescription Misinterpretations Due to Decimal
Points

This column was prepared by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices
(ISMP). ISMP is an independent nonpro.t agency that works closely with
United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and FDA in analyzing medication errors,
near misses, and potentially hazardous conditions as reported by pharmacists
and other practitioners.
ISMP then makes appropriate contacts with companies
and regulators, gathers expert opinion about prevention measures, then
publishes its recommendations. If you would like to report a problem
con.dentially to these organizations, go to the ISMP Web site (www.ismp.org)
for links with USP, ISMP, and FDA. Or call 1-800/23-ERROR
to report directly
to the USP-ISMP Medication Errors Reporting Program.
ISMP address: 1800 Byberry Rd, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
Phone: 215/947-7797. E-mail: ismpinfo@... .

Problem:
Numbers containing decimal points are a major source of error and,
when misplaced, can lead to misinterpretation of prescriptions. Decimal
points can be easily overlooked, especially on prescriptions that have been
faxed, prepared on lined order sheets, or written or typed on carbon and
no-carbon-required (NCR) forms
(often used in hospitals and long-term care facilities).
If a decimal point is missed, an overdose may occur.
The importance of proper decimal point placement and prominence cannot be
overstated.

For one, a decimal point should always be preceded by a whole number and
never be left "naked." Decimal expres-sions of numbers less than one should
always be preceded by a zero (0) to enhance the visibility of the decimal.
For example, without a leading zero, a prescription for "Haldol® .5 mg" (see
image shown on next page) was misinterpreted and dispensed as "Haldol 5 mg."
We have received similar reports with Risperdal® (risperidone) in which
"Risperdal .5 mg" was prescribed (instead of Risperdal 0.5 mg), but the
patient received several 5 mg doses because the decimal point was
overlooked.

In addition, a whole number should never be followed with a decimal point
and a zero. These "trailing zeros" (eg, "3.0") are a frequent cause of
10-fold overdoses and should never be used.
For example, when prescriptions
have been written for "Coumadin® 1.0 mg," patients have received 10 mg in
error. Similarly, a prescription for "Synthroid® 25.0 mcg" could be misread
as "Synthroid 250 mcg."

Dangerous use of decimals can also be problematic if they appear in
electronic order entry systems or on computer-generated labels. A newly
admitted hospital patient told her physician that she took Phenobarbital®
400 mg PO three times daily. Subsequently, the physician wrote an order for

Page 2

National Pharmacy Compliance

the drug in the dose relayed by the patient. A nurse saw the prescription
vial and verified that this was the correct dose. However, prior to
dispensing, a hospital pharmacist investi-gated the unusually high dose.
When he checked the prescrip-tion vial, he found that it was labeled as
"phenobarbital 32.400MG tab-let." The label indicated that 30 tablets were
dis-pensed with instructions to take one tablet three times daily. The
hospital pharmacist contacted the outpatient pharmacy and suggested that the
computer expressions including trailing zeros be changed to avoid serious
medication errors. The pharmacy management agreed that trailing zeros
ap-pearing on labels might pose a risk and made the change immediately.

Safe Practice Recommendations

In order to avoid misinterpretations due to decimal point placement,
pharmacists should consider the following:

* Always include a leading zero for dosage strengths or con-centrations less
than one.

* Never follow a whole number with a decimal point and a zero (trailing
zero).

* Educate staff about the dangers involved with expressing doses using
trailing zeros and naked decimal points.

* Eliminate dangerous decimal dose expressions from pharmacy
and prescriber electronic order entry screens, computer-generated labels,
preprinted prescriptions, etc.

* Avoid using decimals whenever a satisfactory alternative exists. For
example, use 500 mg in place of 0.5 gram,
125 mcg instead of 0.125 mg, or 2 ½ mg instead of 2.5 mg.

* Identify drugs with known 10-fold differences in dosage strength (eg,
Cytomel® 5 mcg and 50 mcg, Coumadin 1 mg and 10 mg, levothyroxine 25 mcg and
250 mcg)
and place reminders in electronic order entry systems and on
pharmacy shelves to alert practitioners to double-check the dosage strength.

* When sending and receiving prescriptions via fax, health care
practitioners should keep in mind that decimal points can be easily missed
due to "fax noise." Whenever possible, encourage prescribers to give
original prescriptions (with an indication that it has been faxed) to their
patients to take to the pharmacy for veri.cation. Pharmacists should
carefully review faxed prescrip-tions and clarify prescriptions that contain
fax noise.

* Eliminate the lines on the back copy of NCR forms so that a person
receiving can clearly see decimal points or other marks that were made on
the top copy.

* Notify prescribers of the potential for error if misinterpreta-tions due
to decimal point usage are discovered.

DEA Issues Final Rules for Electronic Orders for Controlled Substances

On April 1, 2005, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued final rules
regarding electronic orders for controlled substances. DEA revised its
regulations to provide an electronic equivalent to the DEA of.cial order
form (Form 222), which is legally required for all distributions involving
Schedule I and II controlled substances. The regulations will allow, but not
require, registrants to order Schedule I and II substances electronically
and maintain the records of these orders electronically. The regulations
will reduce paperwork and transaction times for DEA registrants
who handle, sell, or purchase Schedule I or II controlled sub-stances.
The effective date of the final rules was May 31, 2005.

The final rules were issued via the Federal Register on April 1, 2005, and
may be downloaded from the fol-lowing Web site address:
www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/ fedreg/a050401c.html.

FDA Publishes Final Rule on Chloro.uorocarbons in Metered Dose Inhalers

FDA announced that albuterol metered-dose inhalers (MDI) using
chlorofluorocarbon propellants must no longer be pro-duced, marketed, or
sold in the US after December 31, 2008.

The Health and Human Services (HHS)
is encouraged that the manufacturers of
three environmentally friendly albuterol inhalers are implementing programs
to help assure access to these albuterol MDI for patients for whom price
could be a significant barrier to access to this important medicine. These
programs include MDI giveaways, coupons for reducing the price paid, and
patient assistance programs based on financial need.

In a final rule, published March 31, 2005, in the Federal Register, HHS
stated that sufficient supplies of two approved, environmentally friendly
albuterol inhalers will exist by December 31, 2008, to allow the phasing out
of similar, less environmentally friendly versions.

FDA Develops PSAs to Educate Consumers About Purchasing Medications Online

FDA recently released
two public service announcement (PSA) brochures, which
educate consumers about the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing
medication online.fiThe brochures also advise consumers to ensure a Web site
is a US-licensed pharmacy by contacting their state board of pharmacy.
Consumers may want to refer to the list of Veri.ed Internet Pharmacy
Practice SitesT (VIPPS®) on www.nabp.net to find out
if a Web site has been checked to make sure it it has met state and federal
rules. Consumers also will know if an online pharmacy is VIPPS-accredited
when they notice the VIPPS Seal on that particular Web site.

For more information on these PSAs visit
www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/meds_online_all_resources.htm.

Page 3 Compliance Newsthe law of such state or jurisdiction.)

Buy_

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Chicago, Illinois
Permit No. 5744

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Foundation, Inc
1600 Feehanville Drive Mount Prospect, IL 60056

NEW MEXICO BOARD OF PHARMACY

Please be sure to sign up for the review. Our room in Albuquerque will only
hold 60 people.
There have been numerous persons who have shown up without
pre-registering and we unfortunately had to send them away.
To register, please contact Debra Wilhite at 505/222-9830 or e-mail
debra.wilhite@....

Disciplinary Actions

Elayne Biscamp, RPh - License RP-5184.
Admitted to taking fentanyl for her own use.
Pharmacist license suspended for three months. Must complete
five-year contract with Monitored Treatment Program (MTP).
Must complete a course in pharmacy ethics.
Must take and pass Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE® ).
Must pay Board cost of $517.

David Wales, RPh - License RP-6592. Admitted to taking hydrocodone products
from pharmacy where he worked.
Pharmacist license suspended for three months.
Must complete five-year contract with MTP. Must take and pass MPJE.
Must pay Board cost of $650.

Controlled Substances Monitoring Program

Pharmacies dispensing controlled substances (CS) to New Mex-ico patients
began transmitting information to the Board in August 2005.
An implementation guide and letter containing user name and password for
access to the Web site were mailed to each pharmacy.
Pharmacies not only may upload data directly through the Web site
but can also request information about
their patients through the secure Web site. The Board will also be able to
issue alerts through the Web site and deliver these to each Web account.

Starting in October 2005, practitioners with valid Drug Enforce-ment
Administration (DEA) registrations will be able to establish accounts on the
Web site to request CS prescription information on their patients.

If practitioners contact you asking about any prescriptions you dispensed to
a patient, please inform them of the service provided by the Board. Ask them
to contact Larry Loring at 505/222-9839 or larry.loring@... for
information on signing up.

All information in the system is con.dential and the Board will post
requested information to user accounts on the secure Web site.

DEA - Controlled Substance Ordering System

DEA has recently revised their rules. The revision allows for the electronic
equivalent to the DEA of.cial order form called DEA Form 222.
DEA Form 222
was required for all distributions involving Schedule I and II CS. The new
regulations will allow, but not require, registrants to order Schedule I and
II CS electronically.
The new program is called CSOS (Controlled Substance
Ordering System). This is a program that a registrant must be enrolled in to
participate. For information, go online to www.deaecom.gov.

During the 2005 Legislative Session,
the Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act was revised.
The revision allows for the Board of Pharmacy to make regulations
to permit computer systems to store additional records. Currently, a
computer may maintain a record of prescription records for the purpose of
re.lling a prescription. The revision will allow a computer to maintain
records such as receipt records, drug distribution records, drug withdrawals
from stock, drug compounding records, drug disposition records, and drug
disposal records.

Remember, these are changes that may occur in the future.
For today, you must maintain your records the old fashioned way, with lots
of
paper and files.

Uncle SBOP is Looking for You

The New Mexico Board of Pharmacy has a position opening for State Drug
Inspector I. Job duties include conducting inspections, investigations,
audits, and arrests in enforcement of State drug laws. You must have three
years experience as a registered pharmacist with a current registration in
New Mexico. After you are hired, you will be sent to the Law Enforcement
Academy in Santa Fe. The starting salary is about $35/hour but this can be
negotiable. If you are interested, contact Chief Drug Inspector/Executive
Director Bill Harvey direct at 505/222-9837.

Continued from page 1

Page 4 - September 2005

The New Mexico Board of Pharmacy News
is published by the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy
and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Foundation, Inc,
to promote voluntary compliance of pharmacy and drug law.
The opinions and views expressed in this publication do not necessarily
reflect the official views, opinions, or policies of the Foundation or the
Board unless expressly so stated.

Bill Harvey, RPh - State News Editor

Carmen A. Catizone, MS, RPh, DPh - National News Editor & Executive Editor

Larissa Doucette - Editorial Manager
***********************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/846
aspartame in Merck Maxalt-MLT worsens migraine,
AstraZeneca Zomig, Eli Lilly Zyprexa,
J&J Merck Pepcid AC (Famotidine 10mg) Chewable Tab,
Pfizer Cool Mint Listerine Pocketpaks: Murray 2002.07.16

Migraine MLT-Down: an unusual presentation of migraine
in patients with aspartame-triggered headaches.
Newman LC, Lipton RB Headache 2001 Oct; 41(9): 899-901.
[ Merck 10-mg Maxalt-MLT, for migraine, has 3.75 mg aspartame,
while 12 oz diet soda has 200 mg. ]
Headache Institute, St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY
Department of Neurology newmanache@...
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Innovative Medical Research RLipton@...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/855
Blumenthall & Vance: aspartame chewing gum headaches Nov 1997:
Murray 2002.07.28

Harvey J. Blumenthal, MD, Dwight A Vance, RPh
Chewing Gum Headaches. Headache 1997 Nov-Dec; 37(10): 665-6.
Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine,
Tulsa, USA. neurotulsa@...
Aspartame, a popular dietetic sweetener, may provoke headache in some
susceptible individuals. Herein, we describe three cases of young women
with migraine who reported their headaches could be provoked by chewing
gum sweetened with aspartame. [ 6-8 mg aspartame per stick chewing gum ]
***********************************************************


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1230
recent research re aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde)
toxicity: Murray 2005.10.16

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@...
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 148 members, 1,236 posts in a public, searchable
archive http://RoomForAll.blogspot.com
http://AspartameNM.blogspot.com

Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide
similar levels of methanol, above 100 mg daily, for
long-term heavy users, 2 L daily, about 6 cans.

Methanol is inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde,
and thence largely into formic acid.
It is the major cause of the dreaded symptoms of "next
morning" hangover.

Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame
in 2 L diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg
methanol (wood alcohol). If 30% of the methanol is turned
into formaldehyde, the amount of formaldehyde, 37 mg,
is 18.5 times the USA EPA limit for daily formaldehyde in
drinking water, 2.0 mg in 2 L average daily drinking water,

185 times the New Jersey limit,
615 times the California and Maine limits,
1850 times the Maryland limit.

The 1999 July EPA 468-page formaldehyde profile admits that
four states substantially exceed the federal EPA limit:

Environmental Protection Agency 2.00 mg in 2 L daily
drinking water

California and Maine------------ 0.06 mg
Maryland---------------------- 0.02 mg
New Jersey-------------------- 0.20 mg

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1108
faults in 1999 July EPA 468-page formaldehyde profile:
Elzbieta Skrzydlewska PhD, Assc. Prof., Medical U. of
Bialystok, Poland, abstracts -- ethanol, methanol,
formaldehyde, formic acid, acetaldehyde, lipid peroxidation,
green tea, aging: Murray 2004.08.08 2005.07.11

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/835
ATSDR: EPA limit 1 ppm formaldehyde in drinking water July
1999: Murray 2002.05.30 rmforall

Aspartame is made of phenylalanine (50% by weight) and
aspartic acid (39%), both ordinary amino acids, bound
loosely together by methanol (wood alcohol, 11%).
The readily released methanol from aspartame is within hours
turned by the liver into formaldehyde and then formic acid,
both potent, cumulative toxins.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1106
hangover research relevant to toxicity of 11% methanol in
aspartame (formaldehyde, formic acid): Calder I (full text):
Jones AW: Murray 2004.08.05 2005.09.28

Since no adaquate data has ever been published on the exact
disposition of toxic metabolites in specific tissues in
humans of the 11% methanol component of aspartame, the many
studies on morning-after hangover from the methanol impurity
in alcohol drinks are the main available resource to date.

Jones AW (1987) found next-morning hangover from red wine
with 100 to 150 mg methanol (9.5% w/v ethanol, 100 mg/L
methanol, 0.01%, one part in ten thousand).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1182
Joining together: short review: research on aspartame
methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray
2005.07.08 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1071
research on aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid)
toxicity: Murray2004.04.29 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1189
Michael F Jacobson of CSPI now and in 1985 re aspartame
toxicity, letter to FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford;
California OEHHA aspartame critique 2004.03.12; Center for
Consumer Freedom denounces CSPI: Murray 2005.07.27


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1143
methanol (formaldehyde, formic acid) disposition: Bouchard M
et al, full plain text, 2001: substantial sources are
degradation of fruit pectins, liquors, aspartame, smoke:
Murray 2005.04.02 rmforall


Famous Americans who drink a dozen cans daily of diet sodas
for years include John Edwards, vice-presidential candidate,
Joe Trippi, Howard Dean's campaign manager, and Harvey
Weinstein, movie producer.

Both President George W. Bush and Governer Bill Richardson
of New Mexico are users.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1065
politicians and celebrities hooked on diet sodas
(aspartame): Murray 2004.03.24 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1223
complete info on NM EIB aspartame ban meeting, Oct. 4, Santa
Fe, Leland Lehrman, www.MotherMedia.org: Murray 2005.09.30

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1224
Aspartame disease: an FDA-approved epidemic, H. J. Roberts,
MD 2004: Murray 2005.09.30

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1233
Aspartame -- the shocking story, The Ecologist, 2005 Sept.,
p. 35-51, full text: Murray 2005.09.30:
thanks to Betty Martini for giving the correct author, Pat Thomas,
What Doctors Don't Tell You www.wddty.co.uk : 2005.10.11

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1226
USA National Institutes of Health National Toxicology
Program aids eminent Ramazzini Foundation, Bologna, Italy,
in more results on cancers in rats from lifetime low levels
of aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde), Felicity Lawrence,
www.guardian.co.uk: Murray 2005.09.30

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1227
New Mexico EIB should use its authority to ban aspartame,
a methanol (formaldehyde) source, Gail Chasey Beam, NM CPAC:
California, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey set stronger limits
than the EPA, 468-page 1999 EPA formaldehyde profile,
Murray 2005.10.02

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1228
NM EIB votes 4-2 for 5-day aspartame toxicity hearing July,
2006, requesting a Hearing Officer and a medical expert from
Environmental Dept. and legal advice from NM Attorney
General: Murray 2005.10.04

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1229
(New Mexico) State plans sweetener (aspartame) hearings;
critics -- aspartame linked to cancers, Jackie Jadrnak,
Albuquerque Journal, Santa Fe North: Murray 2005.10.05

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1231
New Mexico's aspartame hearings, Albuquerque Journal
editorial, Steve Mills, Editor: comments by Steve Trinward
www.freemarketnews.com : Murray 2005.10.08

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1232
great problems are opportunities for service -- aspartame (methanol,
formaldehyde) toxicity: Rawlings: Murray 2005.10.10

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1234
Not so sweet (aspartame): Jerry Ortiz y Pino, NM State Senator,
D-Albuquerque: Fox: Murray 2005.10.14

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1236
Banning aspartame in New Mexico children's medications and vitamins,
petition to Board of Pharmacy on Nov 14-15:
Fox: Stoller: Murray 2005.10.16
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