American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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The advantages and disadvantages of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (i.v. PCA) and epidural analgesia are discussed. New approaches to the management of patients with acute post-operative pain are described. The results of controlled clinical trials with these modalities are presented. ⋯ Recently approved agents and those in development may address a variety of unmet needs in the management of patients with post-operative pain.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Mar 2007
Stability of an extemporaneously prepared alcohol-free phenobarbital suspension.
The physical and chemical short-term stability of alcohol-free, oral suspensions of phenobarbital 10 mg/mL prepared from commercially available tablets in both a sugar and a sugar-free vehicle was assessed at room temperature. ⋯ An extemporaneously prepared alcohol-free suspension of phenobarbital 10 mg/mL in a 1:1 mixture of Ora-Plus and Ora-Sweet or Ora-Sweet SF was stable for at least 115 days when stored in 2-oz amber plastic bottles at room temperature.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Mar 2007
ReviewDietary supplements in patients with cancer: risks and key concepts, part 2.
The risks and key concepts regarding the use of dietary supplements in patients with cancer are described. ⋯ Counseling patients with cancer about dietary supplements requires a systematic thought process that considers the available theories and data, as well as the patients' views about the agents.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Mar 2007
ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: monitoring and patient education--2006.
Results of the 2006 ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings that pertain to monitoring and patient education are presented. ⋯ Pharmacists have made significant strides to increase the number of patients whose drug therapy is monitored. Electronic access to laboratory data by pharmacists greatly increased, as did the availability of information transferred between the inpatient and outpatient settings. Therapeutic drug monitoring by pharmacists increased, as did pharmacists' ability to order serum medication levels and adjust dosages. More pharmacists were notified when medication levels fell outside the therapeutic range. Internal and external reporting of ADEs has decreased. Documentation of patient education declined. A significant percentage of hospitals developed and implemented medication reconciliation programs. The number of pharmacists per 100 occupied beds has increased, and the number of pharmacist vacancies remained stable.