Guidelines for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disorder in men with an incidence that increases with age. BPH often requires therapy when patients begin to experience lower urinary tract symptoms that affect quality of life. Current management strategies involve lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy, phytotherapy, and surgical interventions as indicated. Pharmacists are in the unique position of being accessible sources of healthcare information for the BPH patient population. Understanding the symptoms of this disorder and therapy options will be beneficial for pharmacists who have increased chances to answer BPH-related questions from their patients. Read more.
Gonorrhea: Treatment and Management Considerations for the Male Patient
Gonorrhea is the second most common communicable disease in the United States. From 2010 to 2014, the rate of this sexually transmitted disease increased by 10.5% in the U.S. Cefixime, which was once the first-line agent for the treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is rapidly waning in efficacy, as are several other cephalosporins. Similarly, fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of N gonorrhoeae have been reported. As a result, the use of these agents has decreased. The CDC currently recommends dual treatment with ceftriaxone and azithromycin for most gonococcal infections. Multidrug-resistant gonorrhea is becoming a serious health threat in the U.S. Read more.
Immunotherapy in Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. Even with current therapies, many patients develop metastatic castration–resistant prostate cancer. The prognosis for these patients is poor, and there is a need for therapies to manage this population. Of the different approaches used to develop novel therapies, immunotherapies have shown the most promising results in trials and are currently being studied further for greater efficacy. Keeping abreast of these new developments will allow pharmacists to optimize drug use and improve patient regimens. Read more.
Pharmacist-Led Transition Program Reduces Hospital Readmissions
A pharmacist-led transition program from hospital to home can reduce readmissions and costs, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. The CVS Health–led research looked at a care-transition program based on medication reconciliation delivered by pharmacists. Read more.
Greater Pain Levels Lead to Higher Risk of Opioid-Use Disorder
What is the relationship between pain level and the risk of developing opioid-use disorder? A new study finds that patients with moderate or more severe pain had a 41% higher risk of developing prescription opioid–use disorders than those without, independent of other factors. Read more.
No Clear Benefit for Cardioselective Beta-Blockers in COPD
Increasing evidence supports the use of beta-blockers (BBs) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular diseases, according to a recent study. Read more.
Antioxidant Supplements Should Not Be Used Without Diagnosed Deficiency
A study points out that none of the antioxidants tested in randomized clinical trials has demonstrated any benefit and that some of the products actually could be harmful. Read more. |
