Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy
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Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have an impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Palliative care patients constitute a vulnerable population due to the complexity of their care and treatments. This study sought to identify ADRs in palliative care, assess their severity and preventability, and identify specific medications most commonly involved. ⋯ Antimicrobials, opioids, and anticoagulants were the most common causative agents. ADRs are commonly experienced in palliative care patients and are often preventable. Identification of risk factors for ADRs may prevent occurrences in the complex palliative care patient.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Jun 2018
The Association of Joint Pain and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Use Among U.S. Adults With Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4Is) with joint pain in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This was a retrospective cross-sectional study design, pooling data from the 2012 and 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The sample consisted of 4,559 T2DM patients older than 40 years with (n = 3,224) or without joint pain (n = 1,335). ⋯ Even after adjusting for other factors that may affect DPP4I use, there was not a statistically significant difference in DPP4I use among adults with T2DM with and without joint pain (AOR = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.74-1.48). Adults with public health insurance (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.01-3.04), with prescription insurance (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.02-3.03), and with a heart disease (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.18-2.15). DPP4I use was not affected by the presence of joint pain.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Jun 2018
Comparative StudyComparison of haloperidol, non-haloperidol antipsychotics, and no pharmacotherapy for the management of delirium in an inpatient geriatric palliative care population.
Antipsychotics are frequently used for treatment of delirium, although little evidence exists that they improve delirium outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate haloperidol (HAL) compared to non-haloperidol antipsychotics (NHAP) or no pharmacologic treatment (NP) in the management of delirium in older adults under the care of a palliative care consult service across a large, integrated health care system. A retrospective chart review examined data from September 2014-September 2015. ⋯ Delirium duration in the HAL, NHAP, and NP groups were 6.7, 6.0, and 4.9 days, respectively (p = 0.05). Safety outcomes were statistically different than the reference group (NHAP). Congruent with existing literature in other generalized patient populations, no significant difference in post-delirium length of stay existed in geriatric, palliative care population.
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The authors report a case of diabetes insipidus (DI) associated with a ketamine infusion. A 42-year-old Asian man underwent an exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy who was admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) for postoperative management. Pain control was attempted with escalating dose of opioids but was inadequate, prompting the addition of a ketamine infusion. ⋯ This report suggests that the patient likely experienced a medication-induced DI, which was successfully resolved through proper identification of the causative agent, removal, and subsequent treatment with desmopressin. Causality assessment between ketamine and DI was determined using the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale-a total score of 7 was achieved and thus identified the adverse drug reaction as probable. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility that ketamine may be contributory in a patient with unexplained DI.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Jun 2018
Case ReportsRetrograde Intrathecal Drug Delivery: A Report of Three Cases for the Management of Cancer-Related Sacropelvic Pain.
We report three cases of sacral and pelvic pain resistant to oral medications successfully managed with intraspinal drug delivery through a catheter placed at the intrathecal sacral space to deliver low doses of bupivacaine and fentanyl with local effects.