Therapeutic-interchange algorithm for multiple drug classes.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S R Abel.
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OBJECTIVE: To compare the similarities and differences among the ocular beta-blockers. Important considerations when comparing these agents are the differences in systemic adverse effects, local tolerability, and cost. DATA SOURCE: Information was retrieved from a MEDLINE search of the English-language literature and bibliographic reviews of review articles. Index terms included beta-blockers, glaucoma, timolol, levobunolol, betaxolol, metipranolol, and carteolol. STUDY SELECTION: Emphasis was placed on eyedrop studies, as well as properly designed and executed clinical trials that assessed dosage, dosing interval, therapeutic response, adverse effects, and cost. DATA EXTRACTION: Data from several studies were evaluated according to the study design, therapeutic response, and adverse effects. DATA SYNTHESIS: Timolol maleate, levobunolol, metipranolol, and carteolol have similar effectiveness in lowering intraocular pressure; however, levobunolol and timolol gel forming solution may have an advantage of once-daily dosing. Studies have not been published comparing the clinical efficacy of timolol hemihydrate with that of other ocular beta-blockers. Metipranolol is cost effective in treating primary open-angle glaucoma; however, it has been associated with more ocular burning, stinging, and granulomatous anterior uveitis than other agents. The intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of carteolol has not yet displayed a definite advantage over the other agents in terms of optic disk perfusion and systemic adverse effects. The control of intraocular pressure with betaxolol has not always been as good as with timolol; however, betaxolol has some advantages over timolol and the other topical beta-blockers in terms of systemic adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Considering cost, efficacy, and safety, timolol maleate is the recommended formulary agent because the other agents cannot consistently show an outstanding advantage.
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The excretion of terfenadine into breast milk has not been reported previously. Disposition of terfenadine was prospectively studied in four healthy lactating mothers (age, 33 +/- 4 years). Subjects received 60 mg terfenadine every 12 hours over a period of 48 hours to achieve steady-state milk and plasma concentrations. Milk and plasma samples were collected at 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 30 hours after the last dose. Terfenadine and its active metabolite milk and plasma concentrations were quantitated by HPLC. Terfenadine was not detected in milk or plasma. Mean +/- SD active metabolite data for milk and plasma are as follows: Cmax (ng/ml), 41.0 +/- 16.4 for milk, 309.0 +/- 120.5 for plasma; tmax (hours), 4.3 +/- 2.4 for milk, 3.9 +/- 3.0 for plasma; t1/2 beta (hours), 14.2 +/- 5.4 for milk, 11.7 +/- 6.4 for plasma; AUC(0-12) (ng.hr/ml) 320.4 +/- 99.8 for milk, 1590.0 +/- 300.4 for plasma. Metabolite milk/plasmaAUC(0-12) ratios ranged from 0.12 to 0.28 (mean, 0.21 +/- 0.07). Newborn dosage estimates based on the highest measured concentration of terfenadine metabolite in milk suggests the maximum level of newborn exposure would not exceed 0.45% of the recommended maternal weight-corrected dose. Estimated amounts consumed by the neonate after the mother is given the recommended dose of the drug are not likely to result in plasma levels producing untoward effects.
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The relative oral bioavailabilities of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin when they were coadministered with water or an enteral feeding product (Ensure) were assessed in 13 healthy volunteers. The area under the concentration time curve from time zero to infinity and the maximum concentration of drug in serum for both drugs were reduced by Ensure in comparison with those by water (P < 0.01). However, Ensure reduced the percent relative bioavailability of ciprofloxacin (72% +/- 14%; range, 52 to 96%) significantly more than ofloxacin (90% +/- 8.3%; range, 74 to 105%) (P < 0.005). Coadministration of Ensure significantly diminished ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin absorption, but ciprofloxacin absorption was reduced significantly more than ofloxacin absorption.
This article describes an imipenem/cilastatin (I/C) target drug program. The program, developed following completion of a drug usage evaluation study, was designed to improve I/C dosing, reduce central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects, and reduce antibiotic costs. Following completion of an inservice education program for the medical and pharmacy professional staffs, ongoing monitoring of I/C usage was accomplished through the pharmacy-based drug-dosing service. Pharmacists evaluated I/C dosage based upon culture/sensitivity results and indicators of renal function. If deemed inappropriate, the pharmacist contacted the prescribing physician with a dosage recommendation. Two hundred ten courses of I/C therapy were prescribed in the nine-month period following implementation of the target drug program; 26 cases (12 percent) required dosage adjustment. The incidence of CNS adverse effects including seizures decreased from 15 to 1 percent (p = 0.0015). A $6033 drug cost avoidance also resulted from pharmacist intervention.
Using a pharmacy intervention form, we measured the influence that university-based pharmacy educational personnel had on the pharmacy department's drug costs and on patient charges over a three-month period. A total of 278 interventions were made; 88.8 percent were implemented. Implemented interventions decreased drug costs by $1661.99 and decreased patient charges by $5938.37. The average implemented intervention decreased drug cost by $6.73 and patient cost by $24.04. Regardless of economic benefits, 218 of the 247 implemented interventions were considered to have positive clinical effects on patient care. Educational personnel were responsible for generating $6028.27 of fee revenues to the pharmacy department through generation of pharmacokinetic drug dosing consults. We conclude that the educational programs provided by the pharmacy department through affiliation with a college of pharmacy directly contributed $7690.26 to the pharmacy department in the form of cost-avoided dollars and revenue generation over a three-month period. The provision of educational services by a hospital pharmacy department results in financial rewards as well as other benefits that have been previously described.
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Data were collected to determine if cost savings could be achieved by mixing clindamycin and aminoglycosides (gentamicin or tobramycin) in the same minibag for intravenous administration. The following issues were investigated: drug and supply costs associated with combination admixtures, pharmacy labor costs, and waste. Over a 17-month period, 1961 combination admixtures were prepared; 62 of these doses were wasted. Drug cost savings of $128.15, supply cost savings of [4719.48, and labor cost savings of [1878.40 were achieved, with an overall cost savings (minus waste) of $5658.01. Overall waste was similar with the combined admixture service and the preparation of separate doses, and the aminoglycoside pharmacokinetic dosing service did not substantially affect use of the combination admixtures. The clindamycin and aminoglycoside admixture system was effective in reducing supply and labor costs.
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