The sky's not the limit

Within the profession of Pharmacy, there is so much potential that one could argue that ‘the sky’s the limit!’ Well I would have to disagree; I think the universe is the limit. Space exploration is advancing and more people are visiting space and staying there for prolonged periods of time. It is possible for astronauts to become ill and so in the future it will become necessary for pharmacists and scientists to examine the use of drugs in space.

The obvious difference is that there is no gravity in space, would this affect the way drugs work in ourbodies if we took them in space? There are teams of scientists who have begun to test this and are launching nano-satellites into the Earth’s orbit where antibiotics will be tested. This is the first step in uncovering the potential of a common drug in space. It may also affect the way astronauts administer drugs, which would be the most effective in zero gravity? Once new space stations are built,drugs can be tested and manufactured in space and new ways of disease management can be discovered. Time and money are major disadvantages of this.

               However, I am certain that in the not too distant future this new field of science will take off and create a new species of healthcare professional; the astro-pharmacist.