The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of milnacipran and evaluate relevant clinical trial data. ⋯ Milnacipran is an effective treatment option for patients with fibromyalgia. More head-to-head clinical trials are necessary to assess its ultimate place in therapy.
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With one of the highest rates of tobacco dependence in the nation, Louisiana has been searching for economical and effective methods for assisting patients in cessation efforts. Community pharmacists are in an excellent position to promote tobacco cessation due to their availability to patients. The "Ask-Advise-Refer" model is a short intervention in which patients desiring to quit smoking are referred to free tobacco cessation telephone counseling services. ⋯ Louisiana community pharmacists have the ability to screen and identify tobacco-dependent patients ready to quit tobacco use, but barriers exist that prevent a large number of these patients from being referred to available, free cessation counseling.
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To evaluate the available treatment options for pediatric atopic dermatitis. ⋯ Emollients are recommended in pediatric patients with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis regardless of symptoms. Topical corticosteroids reduce the inflammation and pruritus associated with atopic dermatitis and are available in several formulations and strengths. Calcineurin inhibitors may be an alternative in children older than 2 years of age who do not respond to topical corticosteroids.
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To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cost of alternate-day statin therapy in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. ⋯ Alternate-day statin therapy may decrease cost and therapy-limiting adverse reactions while potentially increasing regimen adherence and positively affecting the lipid panel. Further research is needed to determine whether this alternative regimen produces similar cardiovascular outcomes as those with daily statin therapy.
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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will not prove to be the reform for which physicians were long hoping. Private insurance rates will climb sharply, forcing people onto government programs; physician reimbursement will plummet; the physician shortage will worsen; rationing in the form of waiting lists is certain; health care as a whole will worsen; and once fully engaged, nationalization of health care will be irreversible.