The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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To assess the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of lidocaine delivered via 4 lidocaine 5% patches applied for 18 h/d for 3 consecutive days in healthy volunteers. ⋯ The application of 4 lidocaine patches 5% for 18 h/d for 3 consecutive days is well tolerated; steady-state plasma concentrations are achieved within 3 days. Maximum plasma concentrations of lidocaine are similar to those reported in a previous study with 3 lidocaine patches 5% applied for 12 h/d for 3 consecutive days.
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To review opioid dependence (OD) and its treatment. Pharmacologic treatments, including the use of buprenorphine/naloxone, are presented. Pharmaceutical care functions for outpatient OD treatment are discussed. ⋯ OD is a critical unmet health problem in the US. Buprenorphine combined with naloxone represents an innovative treatment for OD in outpatient settings. This new treatment has advantages over MMT.
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The risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after gynecologic surgery remains high, despite effective prophylactic medications. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine whether standardized orders for the prophylaxis and treatment of PONV in gynecologic surgery patients (1) reduce PONV occurrence, (2) reduce total costs, and (3) influence the choice of medications used for PONV prophylaxis and treatment. ⋯ The implementation of preprinted order forms for PONV prophylaxis and treatment appears to be an effective and economically attractive strategy.
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To report a case of inhibition of the effect of warfarin during treatment with ribavirin. ⋯ During 4 weeks after starting or discontinuing treatment with ribavirin, prothrombin time may be affected in patients receiving warfarin for anticoagulation. It seems prudent to monitor warfarin therapy more frequently during those periods.
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Comparative Study
Correlation between activated clotting time and activated partial thromboplastin times.
To evaluate the correlation between clotting time tests and heparin concentration, the correlation between activated clotting time (ACT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) results, and to compare the clinical decisions based on ACT results with those based on aPTT results. ⋯ The laboratory-based aPTT has a stronger correlation to heparin concentration than the bedside-based aPTT and ACT. The correlation between ACT and aPTT was similar among 3 different aPTT instruments. Decisions to adjust heparin therapy based on ACT results differed from decisions based on aPTT results more than one-third of the time.