Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Mar 2017
Opioid exit plan: A pharmacist's role in managing acute postoperative pain.
The benefits of a pharmacist's involvement in medication reconciliation and discharge counseling are well documented in the literature as improving patient outcomes. In contrast, no studies have focused on the initiation of a pharmacist-led opioid exit plan (OEP) for acute postoperative pain management. This paper summarizes a pharmacist-led OEP practice model and the potential role that pharmacists and student pharmacists can have at the point of admission, during postoperative recovery, and on discharge in acute pain management patients. ⋯ A hospital pain management team operating a pharmacist-led OEP can be key to guiding the appropriate prescribing practice of opioids and assisting with transitions of care on discharge. Further outcomes-based evaluations of the practice model are planned and encouraged to validate and improve the pharmacist-led OEP practice.
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Morbidity and mortality associated with opioid use have increased across the nation, growing into what can only be described as an epidemic. ⋯ Take-home naloxone programs can be successfully implemented into community pharmacies to increase access and awareness of opioid overdose recognition and response.
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Mar 2017
Implementing an overdose education and naloxone distribution program in a health system.
To design and implement a health system-wide program increasing provision of take-home naloxone in patients at risk for opioid overdose, with the downstream aim of reducing fatalities. The program includes health care professional education and guidelines, development, and dissemination of patient education materials, electronic health record changes to promote naloxone prescriptions, and availability of naloxone in pharmacies. ⋯ Initiating and implementing an overdose education and naloxone distribution program is feasible in an academic health system.
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The epidemic of opioid prescription deaths in recent years resulted in the recent rescheduling of hydrocodone-containing products to restrict access to them. Opioid users have recognized that loperamide can ameliorate withdrawal symptoms and also produce euphoria in very high doses. This article discusses the potential for loperamide misuse and abuse and examines trends in the increasing number of published cases of loperamide toxicity. ⋯ Loperamide misuse and abuse is increasing in the United States, and pharmacists are encouraged to monitor and restrict their sales.
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Mar 2017
Development of a targeted naloxone coprescribing program in a primary care practice.
To develop a targeted naloxone coprescribing program in a primary care practice. ⋯ Pharmacists embedded in a primary care practice are well poised to develop a targeted naloxone coprescribing program to increase patients' access to naloxone.