The Annals of pharmacotherapy
-
To perform a qualitative systematic review of the evidence comparing traditional strategies against prolonged intermittent or continuous infusion strategies for piperacillin/tazobactam, based on clinical and pharmacodynamic outcomes. ⋯ The limited evidence available does not firmly support widespread adoption of administering piperacillin/tazobactam as prolonged intermittent or continuous infusions to improve clinical outcomes despite the achievement of higher pharmacodynamic targets in simulated studies. Retrospective studies indicate that critical care patients are the subgroup most likely to benefit from these dosing strategies. Well-designed prospective clinical trials are required to confirm potential benefits observed in retrospective studies.
-
To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, precautions, dosing recommendations, and patient counseling for gabapentin enacarbil for the treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in adults. ⋯ Clinical trials have evaluated gabapentin enacarbil for safety and efficacy in treating moderate-to-severe RLS symptoms for up to 64 weeks. It offers a pharmacokinetic advantage over gabapentin by having improved absorption and a longer duration of action, but clinically significant differences are yet to be determined. Potential disadvantages of gabapentin enacarbil include cost, concerns of suicide risk and pancreatic cancer, and a lack of data for the FDA-approved 600-mg dosage. Overall, gabapentin enacarbil is a viable therapeutic option for adults with moderate-to-severe RLS for whom more conventional therapies have failed.
-
To evaluate the pharmacology, microbiology, safety, and efficacy of fidaxomicin for treatment of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI). ⋯ Fidaxomicin appears to be an effective and safe alternative to oral vancomycin for treatment of mild-to-moderate and severe CDI. Data on its use compared to guideline-recommended therapies for mild-to-moderate and life-threatening CDI are needed. Further data assessing the cost-effectiveness of fidaxomicin are needed. Currently, it cannot be recommended over vancomycin for treatment of CDI. However, it may be considered for treatment of recurrent infections.