The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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To report a case of delirium probably caused by the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine in a 74-year-old man with dementia. ⋯ Although olanzapine is useful in the treatment of delirium, elderly patients treated with this drug can develop delirium and hence should be closely monitored.
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To report a case of severe serotonergic symptoms following the addition of oxycodone to fluvoxamine. ⋯ Monitoring for serotonergic adverse events should be done when oxycodone is given to patients receiving serotonin-reuptake inhibitors.
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Review Comparative Study
Epoetin alfa versus darbepoetin alfa in chemotherapy-related anemia.
To review and compare the data concerning the clinical activity of epoetin alfa versus darbepoetin alfa when administered to patients with cancer who are experiencing treatment-related anemia. ⋯ Epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa have identical indications for treatment of anemia in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Clinical trials have demonstrated similar activities with both agents. Darbepoetin alfa, with a longer half-life, can be administered less frequently, saving costs as well as reducing patient office visits.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Medication utilization patterns and methods of suicidality in borderline personality disorder.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by suicidal thoughts/attempts and instability of mood, interpersonal relationships, and self-image. Patients with BPD engage in manipulative acts in apparent attempts to exert control in their interpersonal relationships. This issue of control may also be exhibited in their manner of self-medication. ⋯ As patients with BPD receive more medications than patients without the disorder and often exhibit suicidal thoughts/attempts, clinicians should closely monitor the use of all medications.
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To evaluate the literature on supplemental vitamin C and vitamin E therapy in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). ⋯ In the absence of prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials documenting benefits that outweigh recently documented morbidity and mortality risks, vitamin E supplements should not be recommended for primary or secondary prevention of AD. Although the risks of taking high doses of vitamin C are lower than those with vitamin E, the lack of consistent efficacy data for vitamin C in preventing or treating AD should discourage its routine use for this purpose.