The Annals of pharmacotherapy
-
Multicenter Study
Multicenter postmarketing surveillance of ondansetron therapy in pediatric patients.
To identify prescribing patterns of ondansetron, to provide a general overview of the therapeutic responses and possible adverse effects to ondansetron in selected children's hospitals, and to evaluate this methodology of surveillance and assess its effectiveness as a means to collect postmarketing experience with a drug in pediatric patients. ⋯ This study documents off-label use of ondansetron in children. Further study of ondansetron use in children less than four years of age, and for indications other than chemotherapy-induced emesis, is needed. Additional evaluation into the most cost-effective dosing of ondansetron would also be valuable.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Rapid determination of maintenance heparin infusion rates with the use of non-steady-state heparin concentrations.
To compare heparin dosage adjustment using only activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) with a method using non-steady-state heparin concentrations (HCs) to rapidly achieve and maintain an APTT ratio greater than or equal to 1.5 times baseline throughout the first 24 hours of therapy. ⋯ This study demonstrates that, in contrast to standard heparin dosing methods, the use of non-steady-state HCs allows patients with deep venous thrombosis to rapidly achieve and maintain therapeutic APTT ratios throughout the critical first 24 hours of therapy.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Randomized, controlled trial of transdermal clonidine for smoking cessation.
To determine the efficacy and safety of clonidine versus placebo in smoking cessation. ⋯ Clonidine is probably not effective as a pharmacologic adjunct to behavior modification in smoking cessation. It may have a potential role in women smokers who do not respond to or cannot tolerate more traditional smoking-cessation therapies.
-
To evaluate reports of renal toxicity associated with intramuscular ketorolac tromethamine. Medical charts were reviewed for all cases of renal toxicity associated with ketorolac therapy. ⋯ Short-term administration of ketorolac can be associated with reversible oliguric renal insufficiency. Indiscriminate use of ketorolac for pain management in place of narcotic analgesics should be avoided, especially in patients at high risk for toxicity induced by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.