Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Dec 2012
Influence of prescription monitoring programs on analgesic utilization by an insured retiree population.
To estimate the association between prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) and the probability of analgesic use, overall and by analgesic type. ⋯ PDMPs are associated with reductions in utilization of targeted prescription OAs and increases in less scrutinized, lower scheduled OAs. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine how PDMPs shift analgesic prescribing and whether such shifts influence clinical care and economic outcomes.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Nov 2012
Seizure freedom is not adversely affected by early discontinuation of concomitant anti-epileptic drugs in the EULEV cohort of levetiracetam users.
Fear of discontinuing concomitant anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) may lead to potentially unnecessary and perhaps unsafe polypharmacy. The effect of withdrawing concomitant AEDs on epilepsy control was therefore studied in long-term users of levetiracetam. ⋯ Taking into account the various risk factors for seizures, the early reduction of concomitant AEDs was not associated with worse seizure rates during follow-up in real-life users of levetiracetam.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Nov 2012
Signals of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy for immunosuppressants: a disproportionality analysis of spontaneous reports within the US Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS).
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that has been reported as rare adverse drug reaction (ADR) of immunosuppressive drugs. We aimed to study signals of PML for immunosuppressants using a disproportionality analysis of spontaneous adverse event reports. ⋯ Our study revealed signals of PML for a substantial number of immunosuppressants, including some drugs less considered so far as a risk factor of PML, especially when used for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. These drugs and possible interactions between different immunosuppressants should be studied more closely in future studies.
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In this study, we analyzed the consumption trends of antihypertensives in Morocco during the 1991-2010 period and the impacts after the institution of Mandatory Health Insurance and the marketing of generic drugs. ⋯ Antihypertensive consumption increased between 1991 and 2010. However, despite the increase of generic drugs consumption, the levels of antihypertensive consumption remain lower than the needs of hypertensive patients.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Oct 2012
Comparative StudyPrescriptive contraceptive use among isotretinoin users in the Netherlands in comparison with non-users: a drug utilisation study.
To assess the compliance with the isotretinoin Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP) by evaluating the use of prescribed contraceptives among isotretinoin users. The PPP contains a requirement for the use of contraceptive methods for women of childbearing potential. ⋯ Compliance with the contraceptive use according to a PPP for a teratogenic drug such as isotretinoin is 52%-64%, which is lower than anticipated. Reasons for the low compliance will need to be clarified before further measures can be taken.