The Consultant pharmacist : the journal of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
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To review the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, tolerability, dosing, and administration of tapentadol, a combination mu-opioid-receptor agonist and monoamine-reuptake inhibitor, and compare it with tramadol, the first drug in this class. ⋯ Tapentadol overcomes some of the liabilities of tramadol. However, it still has some liabilities: its potential to contribute to/precipitate serotonin syndrome and anticholinergic/5-HT3 antagonist effects and to induce physical/psychological dependence (similar to schedule II opioids). There is also a dearth of information in terms of efficacy/tolerability in chronic pain states, clinical data in frail elders, and details of drug-drug interaction potential vis-à-vis glucuronidation and quantitation of the risk of serotonin syndrome.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Warfarin versus aspirin: using CHADS2 to guide therapy for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) results in nearly a quarter of the strokes suffered in patients 80 to 89 years of age. Aspirin and warfarin are primary choices for preventing these ischemic strokes. CHADS2 (Congestive heart failure, Hypertention, Age, Diabetes, Stroke) is a validated assessment tool for cardioembolic stroke in AF. ⋯ Warfarin is more effective than aspirin at preventing stroke in AF, but is associated with more hemorrhagic events. The American College of Chest Physicians recommends the use of warfarin in patients with a CHADS2 score of 2 or higher and suggests warfarin be used in patients with a score of 1. We recommend a patient-specific approach to therapy in which warfarin is offered to patients with a CHADS2 score of 1 or higher unless the patient is at high risk for a hemorrhagic event or cannot attain regular warfarin monitoring.