Complaints About Apo-Salvent 100 µG CFC Free Brand of Salbutamol Inhaler

According to the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary, Apo-Salvent brand of salbutamol inhaler is considered "interchangeable" to the Ventolin brand. Therefore, in Ontario, when a doctor prescribes Ventolin, Apo-Salvent can be dispensed instead since the Ontario government has deemed both equivalent in active ingredient, mechanism of action, and most inportantly effectiveness within a small margin of error.

However, when I am working at my full-time store or my part-time stores, I encounter numerous complaints about the Apo-Salvent brand of salbutamol inhaler relative to the Ventolin brand. In a nutshell, patients complain that it does not work as effectively per puff as the Apotex brand does not relief their asthma symptoms as well. Patients also complain of failing mechanisms preventing the puffs from being dispensed properly as well as having the puffer run out of puffs well before the number marked on the box. Interestingly, patients have never compained about the Ratio brand of salbutamol inhaler.

Whether these reports are true or not, a simple solution for patients complaining about the Apotex brand is to purchase the Ventolin brand of inhaler since the cost difference is negligible. Please post your comments if you have had issues with this Apotex brand!

iPhone Alarm Clock Glitch to Ring in the 2011 New Year

Despite being one of the few individuals who had to work New Year's Eve to 10pm this year as well as the morning shift the next day at 9am, I was still determined to ring in the New Year with friends and a couple of drinks.

My only saving grace was an iPhone that would wake me up after only a couple hours of sleep to get ready for my shift on the morning of January 1st. But to my dismay, my iPhone alarm clock did not activate!!! Luckily, I slept over at a friend's with my fiancee on an uncomfortable twin bed. I woke up almost hourly that night and my internal clock sensed something was wrong.

Furious at Apple, I googled, "iPhone alarm clock not working" and to my surprise there was already a post on PC Magazine outlining the issue. Apparently there is a glitch on iPhones running firmware 4.0 or later for the alarm clock where the alarm does not activate on January 1st or 2nd, 2011 unless a reoccurring alarm is set. How is this possible?

I work as a pharmacist and if I missed work, they would not be able to open the store at all let alone the pharmacy in our jurisdiction. There would have be a lot of explaining to do to my employer from all the lost revenue!

Damn you Apple!