A randomized controlled trial with a Canadian electronic pill dispenser used to measure and improve medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Medication adherence is extremely important in preventing relapse and lowering symptoms in schizophrenic patients. However, estimates show that nearly half of these patients have poor adherence. The Brief Adherence Rating Scale (BARS) seems to be the most reliable tool assessing adherence in schizophrenia and shows that the antipsychotic adherence ratio (AAR) is about 49.5% in schizophrenia. The aim of the study was to test if an electronic pill dispenser named DoPill(®) improved AAR of schizophrenic patients. Furthermore, we compared AAR obtained by the DoPill(®) and the BARS, in order to verify whether the DoPill(®) provides reliable assessment of medication adherence. METHODS: The DoPill(®) is a smart pill dispenser that beeps and flashes at the appropriate time of the day. Each of its 28 compartments is covered by a plastic lamina that, when taken off, sends a signal to the pharmacist. Patients were randomized to the DoPill(®) or treatment as usual groups for 6 weeks. The BARS was used as a reference measure. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of patients were deemed to be non-adherent with antipsychotic medication. The mean AAR was 67% after 6 weeks. DoPill(®) recorded better AAR than some of those found in the literature and were lower than the BARS estimate we found. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that DoPill(®) is a valid tool that provides more reliable and objective data for the clinician about their patient's adherence, than existing assessment tools like the BARS. Furthermore, the device may help patients successfully manage their medication regimen.

Dose escalation of second-line sunitinib results in rapid partial remission of multiple hepatic metastases.

A 58-year-old man with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma on sunitinib therapy, who previously failed on sorafenib, was found to have progression of multiple hepatic metastases; he was on a standard sunitinib dose of 50 mg/day (4 weeks on, 2 weeks off). Due to the unavailability of alternative therapies, a sunitinib dose escalation of 50 mg/day was attempted. After one 6-week cycle of continuously dosed sunitinib 50 mg, the hepatic lesions regressed. After the second cycle, virtual disappearance of the lesions was recorded. There was no added toxicity. These findings suggest that sunitinib dose escalation to 50 mg/day using continuous daily administration dosing might represent a valid, effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option in patients who progress on standard sunitinib therapy.

Management of sorafenib, sunitinib, and temsirolimus toxicity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the common and serious toxicities associated with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as sorafenib and sunitinib and mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus, and to outline the most recent toxicity management guidelines. RECENT FINDINGS: Common grade 3 or 4 side effects with sorafenib include lymphopenia (13%), hypophosphatemia (13%), elevated lipase (12%), hand-foot syndrome (6%), and mucositis/stomatitis (6%). Common grade 3 or 4 side effects with suntinib elevated lipase (16%), neutropenia (12%), lymphopenia (12%), hypertension (8%), and fatigue/asthenia (7%). As for temsirolimus, common grade 3 or 4 side effects consist of anemia (20%), hyperglycemia (11%), fatigue/asthenia (11%), dyspnea (9%), and hypophosphatemia (5%). Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is rare but occurred in sorafenib-exposed and sunitinb-exposed patients. Cardiovascular morbidity may also be observed in sorafenib-exposed and sunitinib-exposed patients. SUMMARY: Through preventive and therapeutic measures, these side effects can be effectively managed, without reducing the dose and, therefore, affecting the efficacy of the treatment.