Optimizing Medication Therapy & Improving Outcomes

November 13, 2015


Age-Associated Vulnerability and Cardiovascular Function: Medication Therapy Management

Assessing and monitoring cardiovascular medication therapy in seniors involves a comprehensive approach. Elements to be considered include the effects of aging on cardiovascular function, identifying seniors at risk for medication-related problems, prescribing trends, the concept of “post-hospital syndrome,” and opportunities for traditional and novel pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management. Read more.

Clinically Significant Drug Interactions Associated With HIV Medications

HIV patients are often on antiretroviral therapy along with treatment for their comorbid conditions; therefore, such patients are at an increased risk for the development of significant drug interactions. Of the six available antiretroviral drug classes, the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and integrase strand transfer inhibitors have a higher potential to interact with other drugs. Because those interactions can result in significant increases or decreases in the levels of antiretrovirals or nonantiretrovirals being concurrently administered with the HIV medications, pharmacists need to be aware of clinically significant drug interactions so that they can prevent adverse outcomes and optimize pharmacotherapy in HIV patients. Read more.

Update on Immunizations for Children and Adolescents

Vaccine-preventable diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children and adolescents worldwide. Despite the availability of many vaccines to prevent common bacterial and viral infections, a large number of children and adolescents often fall behind the immunization schedule and remain vulnerable to these infectious diseases. Pharmacists play an important role in immunization advocacy as educators, facilitators, and immunizers where allowed by law. This article reviews the epidemiology of common vaccine-preventable diseases, the available vaccines for children and adolescents and their safety profile, and the recommended immunization schedule. Read more.

Medication Therapy Management in the News

Low Back Pain Relief From Naproxen as Good as Combinations

Naproxen combined with placebo was as effective as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) combined with oxycodone/acetaminophen or the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine in providing emergency pain relief to patients with acute, low back pain, according to a recent study. Read more.

Form of Vitamin B Reduces Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Risk

The risk of common, nonmelanoma skin cancer in high-risk patients was significantly lowered after a year of treatment with nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, according to Australian research. Read more

Analysis: No Link Found Between Insulin Dosage, Cardiovascular Mortality

A new analysis offers no support for the hypothesis that insulin dose contributes to cardiovascular mortality, as suggested in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study. Read more.

Approval of Reversal Agents Could Expand Use of New Anticoagulants

The FDA recently accelerated approval of an agent, Praxbind (idarucizumab), to reverse Pradaxa’s blood-thinning effects in an emergency situation. Read more.