Pharmacist loses license for dispensing too-strong medications

AUSTELL - A Cobb County pharmacist has lost his license after compounding medications at strengths hundreds of times what a doctor ordered. <br> <br> Under an agreement Wednesday with the state Board of Pharmacy, John A. Marzullo will surrender his license but will maintain ownership of his Physicians Pharmacy in Austell. <br> <br> The board said Marzullo improperly filled prescriptions for six patients diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Three were hospitalized after taking the medications. <br> <br> The prescriptions dispensed to the six patients were labeled as containing up to 37.5 micrograms of the active ingredient. But lab tests showed the capsules contained thousands of micrograms. <br> <br> The pharmacy board also approved disciplinary action against pharmacist Julie Wellman, an employee of Marzullo who was involved in preparing the medications. Wellman agreed to a $500 fine and continuing education. She may only compound medications if supervised by a pharmacist approved by the board. <br> <br> Physicians Pharmacy is a ``compounding pharmacy&#39;&#39; that sometimes uses bulk ingredients to make medications. <br> <br> The pharmacy board has named a task force to develop regulations to govern compounding in Georgia. Currently, any licensed pharmacist may compound medications.