Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a severely debilitating neurodegenerative disorder in which sufferers exhibit different combinations of movement disorders, dementia, and behavioral or psychiatric abnormalities. The disorder is a result of a trinucleotide repeat expansion mutation that is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. While there is currently no treatment to alter the course of HD, there are medications that lessen abnormal movement and psychiatric symptoms. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched to identify drugs that are currently in or have completed phase III drug trials for the treatment of HD. The described phase III trials were further limited to interventional studies that were recruiting, active not recruiting, or completed. In addition, all studies must have posted an update within the past year. PubMed was used to gather further information on these interventional studies. Of the nine clinical trials that met these criteria, eight involved the following drugs: metformin, dextromethorphan/quinidine, deutetrabenazine, valbenazine, Cellavita HD, pridopidine, SAGE-718, and RO7234292 (RG6042). Of these drug treatments, four are already FDA approved. This systematic review provides a resource that summarizes the present therapies for treating this devastating condition that are currently in phase III clinical trials in the United States.

Background: As part of self-care, patients prevent diseases or conditions, maintain, or enhance their current health status, and address current health challenges. As a key member of the healthcare team, the role of the pharmacist in relation to self-care is important, given the ease of access to pharmacists in a variety of care settings.Objectives: To describe the structure and function of self-care within community pharmacies throughout the United States (U.S.). Methods: The literature within the U.S. was reviewed related to self-care definitions and practice, the role and training of the pharmacist, and challenges and opportunities for pharmacists.Results: Within the U.S., self-care is broader than simply products found in the "over-the-counter" (OTC) section of pharmacies; it includes pharmacists involvement in disease prevention, evaluation and maintenance of current health status, and assistance in managing health challenges. There is growing recognition of the significance of pharmacists in aiding patients in self-care, due to publication of outcomes related to pharmacist-provided self-care support. Accreditation standards require student pharmacists to develop knowledge and competency related to the broadest definition of self-care; resources exist related to curricular content and student evaluation and assessment support. The evolving role of the pharmacist in relation to self-care has presented challenges in terms of recognition and renumeration for services and workload issues. Efforts are currently underway to address these challenges. Conclusions: Spiraling health care costs, poor health outcomes, and continued health disparities indicate a need to better support U.S. patients on their health care journey, which often begins with self-care. There is a plethora of opportunities for pharmacists to advocate for expanding roles related to self-care, including participation in national efforts to recognize the outcomes of pharmacists in self-care.