The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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To provide an overview of key pharmacotherapeutic issues in epilepsy for the woman of childbearing potential. ⋯ Drug interactions between enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs and contraceptives are well documented. Higher doses of oral contraceptives or a second contraceptive method are suggested if epileptic women use an enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drug. Planned pregnancy is highly recommended and counseling before conception is crucial. Prepregnancy counseling should include, but is not limited to, folic acid supplementation, optimal control of seizure activity, monotherapy with the lowest effective antiepileptic drug dose, and medication adherence. Patient information should be provided about the risk of teratogenicity and the importance of prenatal care. Antiepileptic drug dosage adjustments may be necessary and should be based on clinical symptoms, not solely on serum drug concentrations. While the future holds promise for many aforementioned women's issues in epilepsy, many questions remain to be answered.
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To assess the efficacy of using an iodized talc slurry as a sclerosing agent instilled into the pleural space via a 12-French pigtail catheter for controlling malignant pleural effusions. ⋯ Iodized talc slurry instilled through a small-bore pigtail catheter is a safe, economical, and effective treatment for malignant pleural effusion.
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To discuss the use of statistical graphics in the analysis of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics data. ⋯ Graphic techniques enable the data analyst to explore data thoroughly, look for patterns and relationships, confirm or disprove the expected, and discover new phenomena. An important element of statistical graphic techniques is flexibility, both in tailoring the analysis to the structure of the data and in responding to patterns that successive steps of analysis uncover. Statistical graphics can and should be used to enhance numeric statistical analyses.
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To determine whether the potentiation of warfarin's anticoagulation effect, which occurred in two patients, was due to an interaction with fenofibrate. ⋯ Fenofibrate potentiates the effect of warfarin. Serial monitoring of the INR, at least three times per week, is therefore strongly recommended when initiating fenofibrate therapy in patients receiving warfarin.
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To present an 8-year (1985-1992) cumulative analysis of the 12,743 calls received by the Medication Information Line for the Elderly (MILE), a consumer-oriented drug information service. ⋯ Many older drug consumers have medication information needs that are not being met. Since a large proportion of the callers appeared to be self-motivated women, MILE may not be accessing all older consumers in need of information. This analysis also suggests that many older consumers are not aware that the pharmacist is available and capable of providing drug information.