Pharmacotherapy
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Serotonin syndrome is a syndrome identified by a triad of altered mental status, neuromuscular overactivity, and autonomic instability caused by the overstimulation of serotonin in the central nervous system and periphery. Serotonin syndrome may be provoked with the addition or increase in serotonergic agents such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors as well as other agents with serotonergic properties. Some narcotics, including fentanyl and methadone, have these properties and may be associated with the development of serotonin syndrome when used in conjunction with other agents. ⋯ This report provides a brief overview of serotonin syndrome, particularly with cases involving administration of narcotics such as fentanyl and methadone. The case described is the first report associated with fentanyl and methadone without the coadministration of other serotonergic agents, and a possible drug interaction with voriconazole is discussed. This raises awareness of using multiple serotonergic narcotics and the potential precipitation of serotonin syndrome.
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A hiccup is a myoclonic jerk of the diaphragm, and cases of hiccups may last for more than 48 hours (persistent hiccups) or even more than 2 months (intractable hiccups). Current pharmacologic treatment of persistent or intractable hiccups mainly includes antidopaminergic drugs. We describe the case of a 60-year-old man with a recent diagnosis of right insular ischemic stroke who presented with frequent, intense, and disabling hiccups for more than 1 month. ⋯ We therefore hypothesize that a supratentorial lesion may disrupt the modulation of dopaminergic pathways involved in the regulation of medullar centers responsible for the hiccup reflex. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of poststroke hiccups responding to tetrabenazine. The dramatic response of our patient to tetrabenazine monotherapy suggests that this drug may be a valuable pharmacologic alternative for patients with hiccups after stroke who are intolerant or unresponsive to classic antipsychotic agents.
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Vancomycin has been in clinical use for over 60 years, during which time renal toxicity has been well documented. Multiple risk factors and outcomes are associated with vancomycin-related nephrotoxicity. ⋯ To what degree vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity exacerbates these adverse clinical outcomes remains unclear. This article reviews the current evidence on vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity and explores future research directions with potential implications for improved patient safety.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Opioid use in knee arthroplasty after receiving intravenous acetaminophen.
Intravenous (IV) acetaminophen may be an effective component of multimodal postoperative pain management. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of IV acetaminophen on total opioid use in postoperative patients. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of IV acetaminophen on hospital length of stay. ⋯ IV acetaminophen did not significantly decrease postoperative opioid use in patients who underwent surgical knee procedures. In addition, there was a nonsignificant trend toward increased opioid use in the IV acetaminophen group. There was no significant difference in hospital length of stay between the IV acetaminophen group and the control group. These findings require further study in larger patient populations and in other orthopedic procedures that typically require longer hospital stays.