American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jul 2007
ReviewPregabalin: an antiepileptic agent useful for neuropathic pain.
The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, and dosage and administration of pregabalin are reviewed. ⋯ Pregabalin may be beneficial for the treatment of neuropathic pain or partial-onset seizures in patients who do not respond to conventional treatments or cannot tolerate their adverse effects.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jul 2007
Comparative StudyAdverse events involving intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.
This article systematically characterizes aspects of all Food and Drug Administration Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) reports associated with i.v. patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) postoperative use during a two-year index period. ⋯ Manufacturer-confirmed device malfunction was a major cause of reported ADE with i.v. PCA infusion pumps while operator errors were more likely to be associated with more serious adverse outcomes than device safety problems. To reduce the incidence of these problems, potential vulnerabilities in the design and manufacture of i.v. PCA pumps must be identified and addressed.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jul 2007
Potential drug-drug interactions within Veterans Affairs medical centers.
This study assessed the prevalence of 25 clinically important drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in the ambulatory care clinics of the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs). ⋯ The analysis of pharmacy records of veterans who filled prescriptions at the outpatient settings within VAMC found an overall rate of 2.15% for potential DDIs. Case-exposure rates were greatest for veterans receiving SSRIs and MAOIs, ganciclovir and zidovudine, anticoagulants and thyroid hormones, and warfarin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jul 2007
Comparative StudyResource use associated with topiramate in migraine prophylaxis.
The effect of topiramate prophylaxis on medication use and medical resource use for migraine patients was studied. ⋯ Migraine patients within commercially insured health plans incurred substantial resource use. Within six months following initiation of topiramate preventive therapy, reductions in acute migraine medication and medical resource use were observed among this population of migraine sufferers.