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Results for “Polypharmacy”

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PubMed2001

Lipid-lowering therapy in diabetes mellitus.

Dyslipidemia emerges as an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus, especially as part of the metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes mellitus, tight glucose regulation usually will correct dyslipidemia. Both total cholesterol and triglyceride levels predict cardiovascular disease in diabetes, and HDL-cholesterol may prove to be an even better predictor. In type 2 diabetes, increased triglyceride and reduced HDL-cholesterol levels are the key characteristics of dyslipidemia. Increased hepatic VLDL production and impaired catabolism of triglyceride-rich particles contribute to hypertriglyceridemia. Subsequent formation of small dense LDL particles leads to increased atherogenicity. Small dense LDL particles have a longer circulation time, are susceptible to glycoxidation, and are taken up by macrophages and the vessel wall. Post-hoc analysis of diabetic subgroups in primary and secondary prevention trials suggest that individuals with diabetes may enjoy substantial cardiovascular risk reduction from lipid-lowering therapy. Trials prospectively addressing the benefit of lipid lowering therapy in diabetes are under way. Target levels for lipid lowering therapy in diabetes at present stem from pathophysiological plausibility rather than from clinical proof. Intensive lipid-lowering with a statin in adequate dosage or a combination of a statin and a fibrate may be used to lower LDL-cholesterol levels to values < 2.6 mmol/l and triglyceride levels to < 1.7 mmol/l, a value at which few small dense LDL particles remain in circulation. Effective medication to raise HDL-cholesterol levels adequately are not yet available for clinical use. Treatment of diabetic dyslipidemia should be as simple as possible, given the polypharmacy that is often necessary for the patient with diabetes. Therefore, single treatment with a statin in adequate dosage is the first choice.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed1999

Treatment of epilepsy in the elderly.

Management of epilepsy in the elderly involves many challenges, including the presence of concomitant diseases, polypharmacy and changes in body physiology. Age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics have to be taken into account in order to avoid potentially severe adverse drug reactions in elderly people. The present study reviews the most commonly used antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in the elderly. Because some AEDs may induce the metabolism of other agents and reduce the effectiveness of several drugs, the physicians have to carefully evaluate concomitant drugs being administered. Moreover, the main problems appear to be when beginning therapy, the first choice drug, the appropriate dosage and pharmacologic compliance. Elderly patients must be screened for hepatic and renal functions before beginning a treatment with an AED, carefully interviewed to reduce complaints for drug side-effects which may negatively influence compliance and monitored for total and free blood levels. Besides the 'classic' AEDs, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid, primidone and benzodiazepines, the review shows the possible advantages of new AEDs, such as felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine and gamma-vinyl-GABA, which may be used in the elderly too for their good tolerability. A careful control of drug assumption is requested in the elderly, especially when it is difficult to achieve seizure control.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Cancer prevention: epidemiology and experiment.

Perhaps the most promising lead to the prevention of cancer is derived from the epidemiologic observations that vegetables and fruit are consistently associated with lower risk of cancers of most epithelia. Over 200 studies have been undertaken, and a high proportion of them show lower risk with greater consumption. There are many plausible pathways to explain this risk reduction. The initial human experiments with specific single agents have proved to be disappointing. Single agents are not an advocated approach to chemotherapy, and may be inappropriate for chemoprevention. Foods may provide the optimal mix of phytochemicals and the best polypharmacy against the emergence of malignant clones.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗

PubMed1998

Cognitive side effects of medications.

Iatrogenically induced cognitive deficits are common with pharmacological therapy. The deficits may range from gross encephalopathy with delirium to subtle subjective alterations (e.g., mood and perception of well being). The risks are increased for certain drug types, polypharmacy, the elderly, and patients with dementia or metabolic abnormalities. This review examines methodological concerns and the neuropsychological data on cognitive side effects across a variety of commonly used medicines in clinical practice.

Cognition Disorders↗

PubMed2001

Exercise electrocardiogram testing and prognosis. Novel markers and predictive instruments.

Ample evidence now exists supporting the use of the exercise test primarily for prognostic, as opposed to diagnostic, purposes. Although limitations must be recognized, the Duke exercise treadmill score, the chronotropic response to exercise, and heart rate recovery appear to function as powerful and independent predictors of risk. With the possible exception of exercise-induced ischemia, as manifested by the ST-segment and angina components of the Duke exercise treadmill score, exercise predictors of risk are not clearly modifiable. Nonetheless, they are clinically quite useful since they may well identify patients who are or are not likely to gain benefit from further testing and aggressive therapies. How so? The "plain old" exercise treadmill test makes it possible to easily, safely, and inexpensively identify a large group of patients who are at low risk for death or major cardiac events. For this reason alone, the predictive instruments described in this article should be routinely incorporated into clinical practice. It makes no sense to perform expensive and potentially risky diagnostic tests, prescribe polypharmacy, or institute invasive therapeutic procedures in patients who are already at low risk. As an example, Weiner and colleagues found that coronary bypass grafting only benefited CASS registry patients who had a high-risk exercise test result. Future research will be needed to further refine risk stratification with the exercise test, and determine how best to use adjunctive imaging studies and to reduce risk among patients with prognostically important findings.

Coronary Disease↗

PubMed2000

Severe gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal: a case report and literature review.

We report a case of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) withdrawal resulting in severe agitation, mental status changes, elevated blood pressure, and tachycardia hours after stopping chronic use of GHB. The patient admitted to substantial GHB abuse on a daily basis for 2.5 years. Previous attempts at cessation reportedly resulted in diaphoresis, tremors, and agitation. The patient's symptoms, negative polypharmacy history, and negative urine and blood toxicological analysis for alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics, or other substances suggested the diagnosis of GHB withdrawal. Later analysis of a patient drug sample confirmed the presence of GHB. The patient required 507 mg of lorazepam and 120 mg of diazepam over 90 h to control agitation. This is one of the few reported cases of GHB withdrawal and one of the most severe. Given the increasing use of GHB, more cases of severe GHB withdrawal should be anticipated.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Medications and sexual function.

There seems to be a reluctance to self-report sexual dysfunction during clinical interviews. The rate of reported sexual dysfunction increases when information is sought aggressively in the clinical interview. The relationship to a specific therapeutic agent, however, can be clouded by the patient's perception and coexisting morbidity. Most of the data relating sexual dysfunction to specific drugs are anecdotal. The strongest proof of a casual effect is improvement in sexual function after withdrawal of the medication. Most of the adverse sexual effects of commonly used medications can be predicted from a simplified understanding of the human sexual response and physiologic mediators. Alternative therapeutic agents can be substituted by understanding these physiologic mechanisms and a careful clinical interview. Although polypharmacy is a problem for older persons, in some cases sildenafil can be used to correct drug-induced impotence.

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions↗

PubMed2000

Comorbidity in heart failure in the elderly.

Heart failure occurs principally in the geriatric population and often is associated with severe comorbidity. Comorbid conditions that occur in the geriatric population at a prevalence equal to or greater than that of heart failure itself include the brain failure syndromes (i.e., delirium and dementia), depression, falls, postural hypotension, urinary incontinence, undernutrition, frailty, sensory deprivation, polypharmacy, and lack of social support. The effect of major geriatric comorbidities on the management of patients with heart failure is reviewed.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2001

Photodermatoses in the elderly.

Several photodermatoses specifically affect the elderly, and many others continue into old age. Photodermatoses present unique challenges in diagnosis and management when considered in the context of the multiple pathologies and problems of polypharmacy in this age group. This article examines the idiopathic photodermatoses, which include chronic actinic dermatitis, specifically a disease of the middle-aged and elderly. Endogenous (metabolic) and exogenous (drug and chemical) photodermatoses, as well as photo-exacerbated dermatoses, also are discussed.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Adjuvant analgesic agents.

Adjuvant analgesics are usually considered when the patient with cancer pain fails to attain a satisfactory balance between analgesia and side effects during opioid therapy, or experiences a comorbid symptom or disorder that may be amenable to one of the adjuvant drugs. When pain is the primary indication, the use of adjuvant analgesics is one strategy that must be evaluated in comparison with other potentially analgesic approaches. The potential costs, inconvenience, and risks associated with polypharmacy must be balanced by demonstrable benefits. To offer the most informed recommendation, the clinician must have a strong working knowledge of the many drugs currently used as adjuvant analgesics and a detailed assessment of the patient and pain syndrome.

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic↗

PubMed2003

Overview of geriatrics.

The care of older adults offers many challenges and many rewards. As we move into the twenty-first century, health care providers will increasingly be called on to provide high-quality, comprehensive care for seniors. Health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, podiatrists, and therapists, need to remain current in the breadth of special issues facing the elderly. Though many seniors are fully functional, healthy, and active, a growing number, especially of the very old, suffer from multiple chronic conditions, polypharmacy, and functional dependency. Though younger patients typically present for medical care, which is focused on a single problem, seniors often have multiple, interacting conditions and competing agendas for their medical care. Professionals need to be prepared to recognize the complex interplay of aging, illness, medications, and social stressors that affect the health of their patients. Today's health care providers, more than ever, must learn to function as members of health care teams, assembled around the specific needs of individual patients in a variety of settings. Foot care is a critical part of the health of older adults, primarily to maintain an active lifestyle and secondarily as a marker of a variety of systemic diseases. Podiatrists are important members of this team and have a special role to play in the diagnosis and treatment of disease as well as helping seniors maintain a high quality of life and maximum function.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Heart failure: future treatment approaches.

Large-scale clinical trials of vasodilators with nitrates and hydralazine and with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in the 1980s and early 1990s provided the first credible evidence that medical therapy can prolong survival in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Moreover, patients treated with ACE inhibitors required fewer hospitalizations for worsening heart failure (HF). Nonetheless, the prognosis in patients with HF remains bleak, and better therapies are urgently needed. Recently, beta-blockers and spironolactone have been shown to reduce mortality when added to ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and digoxin. Digoxin has a neutral effect on overall mortality but does reduce the rate of hospitalization. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) inhibit the AT1 angiotensin receptor, which mediates the deleterious effects of the renin-angiotensin system, and may provide advantages over ACE inhibitors or advantages when used in combination with ACE inhibitors. Newer drugs that interfere with other mechanisms that contribute to progression of heart failure are also under study. As new therapies prove effective in large populations, they lead to a mandate for polypharmacy. The long-term solution to this clinical problem is to develop sensitive and reliable markers that can predict response in individual patients or monitor effectiveness of therapy.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

PubMed2002

Combination of carbamazepine and valproate in different dose proportions in maximal electroshock seizure model in mice.

Rational polypharmacy of antiepileptic drugs is one of the treatment strategies for refractory epilepsy. To investigate whether it may be rational to combine carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproate (VPA), we tested both the anti-convulsant effect and the toxicity of combinations of CBZ and VPA in different dose proportions. CBZ/VPA dose ratios were, respectively, 1:6.66, 1:10, 1:13.3 and 1:20. The median effect doses of monotherapy and polytherapy in maximal electroshock seizure test and the median lethal (within 3 days after administration) doses were determined. These parameters were analyzed with the isobologram method. We found that the anti-convulsant effect of all combinations was additive. The toxicity of combination 1, 2 and 3 (CBZ/VPA, 1:6.66, 1:10, 1:13.3) was additive, but the toxicity of combination 4 (CBZ/VPA, 1:20) was infra-additive. Thus, in mice, using this model, a combination of CBZ/VPA 1:20 has an advantage over each of the drugs alone.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Congenital malformations due to antiepileptic drugs.

To identify the major risk factors for the increased incidence of congenital malformations in offspring of mothers being treated for epilepsy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during pregnancy and, to determine the relative teratogenic risk of AEDs, we prospectively analyzed 983 offspring born in Japan, Italy, and Canada. The incidence of congenital malformations in offspring without drug exposure was 3.1%, versus an incidence with drug exposure of 9.0%. The highest incidence in offspring exposed to a single AED occurred with primidone (PRM; 14.3%), which was followed by valproate (VPA; 11.1%), phenytoin (PHT; 9.1%), carbamazepine (CBZ; 5.7%), and phenobarbital (PB; 5.1%). The VPA dose and level positively correlated with the incidence of malformations. This study first determined a cut-off value of VPA dose and level at 1000 mg/day and 70 microg/ml, respectively, to avoid the occurrence of malformations. The incidence of malformations increases as the number of drugs increases, and as the total daily dose increases. Specific combinations of AEDs such as VPA + CBZ and PHT + PRM + PB produced a higher incidence of congenital malformations. The incidence of malformations was not associated with any background factors studied except for the presence of malformations in siblings. These results indicate that the increased incidence of congenital malformations was caused primarily by AEDs, suggesting that malformations can be prevented by improvements in drug regimen, and by avoiding polypharmacy and high levels of VPA (more than 70 microg/ml) in the treatment of epileptic women of childbearimg age.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

PubMed2002

Antibiotic prescribing and urinary tract infection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to urinary tract infections (UTIs) by primary care physicians, in Samsun, Turkey. Data were obtained from the records of 2083 visits at eight primary care areas. Trained research students were stationed on site at each of the eight primary care centres between 1 June, 1999 and 1 July, 1999. Patients who had acute cystitis, recurrent UTIs, acute pyelonephritis and acute urethritis were included in the study. A total of 2083 office visits were recorded and 419 (20.1%) of the patients had UTIs and acute urethritis. Antibiotics were prescribed for 94.7% of the patients with UTIs and urethritis. Some 74% of prescriptions were consistent with current recommendation, but only 41% of the antibiotic prescriptions were rational according to dosage, dosage interval and duration of therapy. Urinary antiseptic agents were prescribed to 75% of patients with UTIs. These data indicate that polypharmacy is widespread in our region; primary care physicians need to review their knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs and acute urethritis.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Quality use of medicines (QUM) in critical care: an imperative for best practice.

Quality use of medicines (QUM) as a discrete concept is gaining increasing importance in Australia and is supported by a policy platform which has federal government and health professional support. The QUM movement is also supported by a strong consumer base and this lobby group has been responsible for endorsement as a major health initiative. However, the importance of QUM to achievement of optimal patient outcomes has not achieved sufficient recognition in the critical care literature. Implicit in the discussion of QUM is the rational, ethical, safe and effective use of drugs within a best practice framework. Successful implementation of QUM requires appropriate infrastructure and the commitment and cooperation of medical, nursing and pharmacy staff. Support, education and training provide the prerequisites of knowledge, skills and awareness for quality use of medicines for all groups. An emphasis upon evidence based practice and the prevalence of polypharmacy in contemporary health care systems requires examination of factors that are barriers to best practice. QUM in critical care areas requires appropriately skilled staff who are competent to manage patients with a wide range of selected drugs, often in highly stressful situations. In many situations in critical care, the role of the critical care nurse is one of patient advocate. It is important to note that the delivery of critical care is not limited to a discrete setting and is inclusive of management at the trauma scene, assessment and delivery of care in the emergency department, through to intensive, coronary care and high dependency units. This paper presents a discussion of the concept of QUM and its relevance in the critical care context. Key theoretical, policy and research considerations for establishment of QUM in critical care are reviewed and discussed. This paper seeks to describe key issues in QUM and endorse the need for a research agenda in critical care.

Australia↗

PubMed2000

The application of the principles of geriatrics to the management of the older person with cancer.

Is the patient going to die of cancer or with cancer? Is the patient going to suffer pain and disability due to cancer? Is the patient able to tolerate aggressive life-prolonging treatment? This paper tries to reply to the fundamentals of these questions by introducing the multidimensional assessment that evaluates areas where age-related changes are more likely. Chronologic age cannot be used to predict the degree of comorbidity and of functional deterioration of the single individual up to age 85 at least. Assessment of aging includes health, functional status, nutrition, cognition, socio-economic and emotion evaluations. This multidisciplinary assessment is referred to as comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). The risk of comorbid conditions increases with age and may result in underdiagnosis: in older patients, new symptoms may not be clearly recognized by the patient and may be dismissed by practitioners as manifestations of preexisting conditions. A meaningful assessment of comorbidity may be obtained with a comorbidity index. The Charlson scale and the Chronic Illness Rating Scale - Geriatric (CIRS-G), have enjoyed the widest acceptance. The Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are the most sensitive assessment of function in older individuals. IADLs include shopping, managing finances, housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, ability to use transportation and telephone and ability to take medications: in simple words, the IADLs are those skills a person needs to live independently. ADLs include feeding, grooming, transferring, toileting and are the skills necessary for basic living. Though a correlation exists among comorbidity, performance status, ADL and IADL, this correlation is not strong enough to be reflected in a single parameter. The Folstein Mini Mental Status (MMS), is the instrument of most frequent use to screen older individuals for dementia. The main problem with the MMS is lack of sensitivity to early stages of dementia. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), a simple tool that can be completed by most patients at home, doubles the rate of detection of depression. The Mini Nutritional assessment is very sensitive to screen older persons for malnutrition. The risk of polypharmacy increases with age and partly results from the fact that older patients visit different practitioners. A CGA should also include evaluation of the so called Geriatric Syndromes like delirium, incontinence, osteoporosis, all of which represent a hallmark of frailty. The CGA may help the management of older individuals with cancer in at least three areas: detection of frailty, treatment of unsuspected conditions, removal of social barrier to treatment.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Established antiepileptic drugs.

Despite the recent entry into the market-place of a range of new pharmacological treatments for epilepsy, most patients still receive the standard antiepileptic drugs. This review considers the clinical place and practical use of these agents. Detailed consideration is given to carbamazepine, phenytoin, sodium valproate, phenobarbital and ethosuximide, with lesser emphasis on primidone, clobazam and clonazepam. Individualization of therapy, polypharmacy, refractory epilepsy, therapeutic drug monitoring, pregnancy, withdrawing treatment, epilepsy prophylaxis and referral to an epilepsy centre are also discussed. The paper concludes with a statement of 12 basic rules in prescribing established antiepileptic drugs.

Anticonvulsants↗