Group purchasing of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies by the Gulf cooperation council states

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Email: [email protected] An important issue in health care today is the cost of essential pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. To control the increase of health care expenses, in 1976 the Gulf Cooperation Council states began to study the idea of establishing a group purchasing programme for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. This paper demonstrates the elements of the programme, how it works, what obstacles it faces and how other countries can profit from this experience. It also discusses the future of the group purchasing programme in the light of globalization and how the international changes under the World Trade Organization agreements will affect the programme in future

Effect of lamotrigine on the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine and its active metabolite in dogs

The effect of lamotrigine (LTG) on the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its active metabolite; carbamazepineepoxine (CBZ-E), was investigated in dogs. Five male dogs received CBZ (2 x 200mg tab. p.o.) daily for a period of 1 week. After the end of this period, blood samples were collected serially for up to 24 hrs. After a wash-out period of 1 week, LTG (100 mg tab, p.o.) was coadministered with the CBZ dose (2 x 200 mg tab, p.o.) for 7 days. Blood samples were again serially collected and plasma levels of CBZ and CBZ-E were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Concurrent administration of LTG with CBZ did not have any significant effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters of CBZ. There was also no significant difference between the plasma concentration ratio (CBZ-E to CBZ) vs time profiles in the two schedules of drug administration signifying the absence of pharmacokinetic interaction between LTG and C B Z or its active metabolite in this animal model