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 · Feb 2015
Major publications in the critical care pharmacotherapy literature: January-December 2013.
Ten recently published articles with important implications for critical care pharmacotherapy are summarized. ⋯ There were many important additions to the critical care pharmacotherapy literature in 2013, including an updated guideline on the management of myocardial infarction and reports on advances in research focused on improving outcomes in patients with stroke or cardiac arrest and preventing the spread of drug-resistant pathogens in the ICU.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Feb 2015
Antiinfective therapy for pregnant or lactating patients in the emergency department.
Special considerations in pharmacotherapy for infectious diseases in pregnant and lactating women in the emergency department (ED) setting are reviewed. ⋯ The use of antiinfective agents in pregnant or lactating women requires consideration not only of the drugs' effectiveness but also their possible effects on the fetus or newborn and the nature of follow-up care. References are available to help clinicians make treatment decisions.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jan 2015
ReviewTrametinib: a novel signal transduction inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma.
The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, administration, cost, and place in therapy of trametinib for the treatment of metastatic melanoma are reviewed. ⋯ Trametinib, a novel MEK inhibitor, provides an alternative therapy for patients with BRAF V600 E/K metastatic melanoma as a single agent or in combination therapy for patients not previously treated with a BRAF inhibitor. More studies are needed to determine the safe and effective combination or sequencing of trametinib with other therapies.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jan 2015
Comparative StudyComparison of free fraction serum valproic acid concentrations between inpatients and outpatients.
The differences in free fraction serum valproic acid concentrations between inpatients and outpatients were compared, and factors associated with therapeutic discordance were evaluated. ⋯ The median free fraction of valproic acid was significantly higher in inpatients than in outpatients. Low albumin concentration was a predictor of discordance between free and total valproic acid concentrations.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jan 2015
ReviewOral disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
The efficacy and safety of the three oral agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are reviewed. ⋯ With the approval of three oral drugs for RRMS-fingolimod, teriflunomide, and dimethyl fumarate-the therapeutic strategy for RRMS has evolved to include options that are efficacious and appear to have administration advantages over established parenteral treatments.