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 · Aug 2007
ReviewTrends in the prescription drug plans delivering the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.
The potential impact of the Democrat-proposed Medicare drug program reform plan; possible Congressional actions in 2007; the standard Medicare prescription drug benefit; the use of low-income subsidies (LIS); and trends in 2006 and 2007 Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP) offerings, coverage, deductibles, premiums, cost-sharing practices, and utilization management strategies are described. ⋯ The PDPs delivering the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit have been and continue to be subject to change. High Medicare prices and a lack of gap coverage for enrollees remain concerns that may be addressed by Congressional action in 2007.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Aug 2007
Prescribing patterns and purchasing costs of long-acting opioids over nine years at an academic oncology hospital.
The prescribing patterns and purchasing costs of long-acting opioids over nine years at an academic oncology hospital were studied. ⋯ Long-acting opioid use increased and cost per MEDD decreased at an academic oncology hospital between 1996 and 2004. The decreased cost of purchasing opioids was attributed to the increased proportional use of methadone.
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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.