House Dust Mite Sublingual Immunotherapy for Pediatric Patients With Allergic Asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To review the published literature evaluating administration of house dust mite (HDM) sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in pediatric patients with allergic asthma. DATA SOURCES: PubMed database search (1966 to November 2017) using the search terms allergy, allergic rhinitis, asthma, allergic asthma, house dust mite, allergen immunotherapy, subcutaneous immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy, MK-8237, children, and pediatric. Package labeling and references from identified articles were also reviewed. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Studies published in English evaluating the efficacy of HDM SLIT in children <18 years of age were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Patients with allergic asthma who fail to improve with pharmacotherapy may require disease-modifying, HDM-specific immunotherapy. Acceptance of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in the pediatric population is limited by the need for weekly injections and the risk of systemic adverse effects. Trials in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma monosensitized to HDM demonstrated mixed results, likely because of variability in methodologies. SLIT reduced asthma symptoms in 8 placebo-controlled studies; however, asthma medication use was reduced in just 4 trials. Compared with pharmacotherapy alone, SLIT and SCIT decreased asthma symptom scores similarly for up to 3 years. Sequential SCIT/SLIT decreased both asthma symptoms and medication scores and was more effective than SLIT alone. CONCLUSIONS: Sublingual HDM immunotherapy reduces symptom scores in pediatric patients with allergic asthma but may be slower in onset and less effective than SCIT in reducing asthma medication use.

Knowledge of appropriate acetaminophen use: A survey of college-age women.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate college-age women's knowledge of appropriate doses and potential toxicities of acetaminophen, competency in interpreting Drug Facts label dosing information, and ability to recognize products containing acetaminophen. METHODS: In this cross-sectional prospective study, a 20-item written survey was provided to female college students at a University of Michigan fundraising event in March 2015. RESULTS: A total of 203 female college students, 18-24 years of age, participated in the study. Pain was experienced on a daily or weekly basis by 22% of the subjects over the previous 6 months, and 83% reported taking acetaminophen. The maximum 3-gram daily dose of extra-strength acetaminophen was correctly identified by 64 participants; an additional 51 subjects indicated the generally accepted 4 grams daily as the maximum dose. When provided with the Tylenol Drug Facts label, 68.5% correctly identified the maximum amount of regular-strength acetaminophen recommended for a healthy adult. Hepatotoxicity was associated with high acetaminophen doses by 63.6% of participants, significantly more than those who selected distracter responses (P < 0.001). Knowledge of liver damage as a potential toxicity was correlated with age 20 years and older (P < 0.001) but was independent from race and ethnicity and level of alcohol consumption. Although more than one-half of the subjects (58.6%) recognized that Tylenol contained acetaminophen, fewer than one-fourth correctly identified other acetaminophen-containing products. CONCLUSION: Despite ongoing educational campaigns, a large proportion of the college-age women who participated in our study did not know and could not interpret the maximum recommended daily dose from Drug Facts labeling, did not know that liver damage was a potential toxicity of acetaminophen, and could not recognize acetaminophen-containing products. These data suggest a continued role for pharmacists in educational efforts targeted to college-age women.

Methotrexate for the Management of Crohn's Disease in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature evaluating methotrexate as a treatment option for Crohn's disease (CD) in pediatric patients. DATA SOURCES: A search of PubMed electronic database (1966 to August 2015) and secondary resources was performed using the terms methotrexate, Crohn's, and inflammatory bowel disease. Other relevant articles cited within identified articles were also utilized. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Data sources were limited to English-language studies that included children less than 18 years of age. In total, 10 clinical studies met the criteria. DATA SYNTHESIS: Awareness of the risk of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor and thiopurine therapies has renewed interest in methotrexate to treat CD in children. According to data from 10 predominantly retrospective studies, children treated with oral or subcutaneous methotrexate once weekly had remission rates of 25% to 53% at 1 year. Adverse effects most often included nausea and vomiting, elevated liver function tests, headache, and hematological toxicity. The evidence to support methotrexate is limited by inconsistent study design and poorly described dosage regimens. It has been most frequently evaluated in patients with prior thiopurine exposure and has not been thoroughly evaluated as first-line therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on results of retrospective studies, methotrexate is useful in the treatment of pediatric CD in those who fail thiopurine therapy. Remission rates with methotrexate are similar to those for thiopurine therapy, although no studies directly compare these agents. Although preliminary results are promising, prospective studies are needed to assess the use of methotrexate as initial first-line therapy in the pediatric CD population.

Efficacy of a Creon delayed-release pancreatic enzyme protocol for clearing occluded enteral feeding tubes.

BACKGROUND: Alkalinized Viokase pancreatic enzyme tablets restored patency to 71.9% of occluded Dobhoff tubes in a prospective study. After removal of Viokase tablets from the US market, the hospital protocol for unclogging enteral feeding tubes was adapted to use Creon pancreatic enzyme delayed-release capsules, despite the lack of published data. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Creon-based protocol to clear occluded enteral feeding tubes. METHODS: This retrospective study included all adult and pediatric patients seen in the emergency department or in an inpatient setting who received Creon 12 000 units lipase delayed-release capsule dissolved in a solution of sodium bicarbonate 650 mg and sterile water for clearing occluded enteral feeding tubes between May 1 and November 30, 2010. The Creon protocol was deemed effective if tube clearance was documented in the medical record or if enteral feedings were resumed with no note regarding tube replacement. RESULTS: Alkalinized Creon delayed-release capsules were administered to 83 patients with a total of 118 clogged tubes. Three poorly documented cases and 5 tubes with mechanical clogs were excluded from data analysis. Patency was restored to 53 of 110 (48.2%) occluded tubes. More than 1 treatment course was attempted in 5 cases, with success in 3. CONCLUSION: An alkalinized Creon pancreatic enzyme protocol was effective in clearing approximately half of the occluded enteral feeding tubes in this retrospective study, an efficacy rate much less than that previously reported in the literature with a Viokase-based protocol.

Efficacy of a Viokace Pancreatic Enzyme Protocol for Clearing Occluded Enteral Feeding Tubes: A Quality Assurance Evaluation.

Background: A previous retrospective study documented restored patency to 48.2% of occluded enteral feeding tubes using alkalinized Creon pancreatic enzyme capsules. In light of the low efficacy rate, the institutional enteral feeding tube clearance protocol was subsequently revised to incorporate a newly marketed non-enteric-coated Viokace pancreatic enzyme tablet, despite the lack of published data for this indication. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Viokace-based alkalinized pancreatic enzyme protocol to clear occluded enteral feeding tubes in a university health system. Methods: This retrospective, cohort quality assurance study included adult and pediatric patients receiving a Viokace-based pancreatic enzyme protocol for enteral feeding tube occlusions in a university health system during a 12-month period. The primary outcome was effectiveness in enteral tube clearance as documented in the electronic medical record. Efficacy of the new protocol was also compared with a Creon-based alkalinized solution using historical data. Results: The Viokace protocol successfully cleared 176 of the 277 (63.5%) occluded enteral feeding tubes occurring in 205 patients included in the analysis. The revised protocol was significantly more effective at clearing occluded enteral feeding tubes (P = 0.0056) than a protocol using Creon pancreatic enzyme capsules. Conclusion: According to this retrospective evaluation, an alkalinized Viokace pancreatic enzyme protocol was effective in clearing 63.5% of occluded enteral feeding tubes. This significantly higher success rate than previously documented with a Creon-based protocol supports the change in pancreatic enzyme formulations in the institutional protocol.

Management of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Focus on Capsaicin.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is a condition characterized by cyclic severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain associated with frequent, long-term marijuana use. The condition resolves with cessation of cannabis but may be temporarily relieved by bathing in hot water. Topical capsaicin cream may also alleviate symptoms, perhaps through antiemetic effects produced by activation of TRPV1 receptors, similar to that of hot water bathing. This review summarizes the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, focusing on treatment with topical capsaicin.

Finasteride treatment of hair loss in women.

OBJECTIVE: To review available evidence on the safety and efficacy of finasteride in the treatment of alopecia in women. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted through PubMed (1948-March 2010) and MEDLINE (1950-March 2010) using the search terms finasteride and alopecia. References cited in relevant publications were reviewed. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All data sources identified were reviewed for inclusion. Reports of finasteride treatment of female alopecia were included in the review. This included prospective and retrospective trials, case series, and case reports. Studies in men were not included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Few pharmacologic options exist for women with alopecia who do not achieve satisfactory responses to topical minoxidil solution. Treatment successes with finasteride in women with female pattern hair loss, although an off-label indication, have been primarily described in uncontrolled studies and anecdotal reports. In 2 controlled clinical studies, finasteride showed no benefit over placebo or no treatment in female pattern hair loss. A finasteride regimen of 1 mg orally daily, as indicated in male pattern hair loss, may be recommended for those who fail or cannot tolerate minoxidil therapy. A 12-month trial is needed to assess stabilization of hair loss, and hair regrowth may take 2 years or longer. Although data are sparse, menopausal status, circulating androgen concentrations, and concomitant symptoms of hyperandrogenism do not appear to predict response to finasteride. Overall, finasteride is well tolerated; however, women of childbearing potential must adhere to reliable contraception while receiving finasteride, and treatment is contraindicated in pregnancy, due to known teratogenicity. CONCLUSIONS: Although objective evidence of efficacy is limited, finasteride may be considered for treatment of female pattern hair loss in patients who fail topical minoxidil treatment.

Treatment of selective mutism: focus on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Abstract Selective mutism is a pediatric psychiatric disorder that occurs when a child consistently fails to speak in specific situations in which speaking is expected, such as at school and social gatherings, but speaks appropriately in other settings. Selective mutism often is diagnosed when a child starts school and does not talk to teachers or peers, but talks to family members at home; the condition is frequently accompanied by anxiety and shyness. Although the underlying etiology of the condition remains unclear, psychotherapy is the preferred initial treatment, with the support of parents and teachers. If the child does not respond to psychotherapy, addition of pharmacologic treatment should be considered, depending on the severity of symptoms and presence of other illnesses. Although data are limited to case reports and trials with small patient populations and short follow-up periods, some patients with selective mutism respond to therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Fluoxetine is the most studied SSRI as treatment for the condition, although further investigation is required to determine the optimal dosage and duration of therapy.

Updating formulations for compounded oral liquid medications in a university health system.

PURPOSE: The development of a compounded oral liquid medication formulary and subsequent implementation of revised standard formulations in a university health system are described. METHODS: A standard assessment form was developed to direct evaluation of published literature and current compounding resources for all oral liquid formulations prepared by health-system pharmacies. Specific variables reviewed included concentration, components, beyond-use dating, and storage recommendations. After their review and approval, revised formulations were typed into distinct templates that incorporated additional safety features. An online departmental repository was developed to house the revised formulations. RESULTS: Modifications were made to 136 (78%) of the 175 compounded formulations reviewed. Changes in storage conditions and extension of beyond-use dating were the most common revisions in 77 (44%) and 42 (24%) of compounds, respectively. In addition, strawberry syrup was removed as a component of 38 (22%) formulations, reducing exposure of pediatric patients to red dye. Presentations were given at several forums to inform pharmacy staff of the goals of the project and details regarding implementation. In addition, e-mail communications were sent to share the online location of the updated formulations and compounding sheets. Nursing, medical, and pharmacy staff were notified of concentration changes through the pharmacy newsletter and e-mail. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive review resulted in updates to over 75% of oral liquid medications prepared by pharmacies in a university health system. Revised formulations were made available through an online repository, ensuring consistency of compounding procedures with respect to concentrations, components, and storage requirements.

Deferasirox.

PURPOSE: The pharmacology, clinical efficacy, adverse effects and toxicities, and the economic issues that should be considered in using deferasirox are reviewed. SUMMARY: Iron overload is a complication of the chronic blood transfusions used to treat several hematologic disorders. To date, management of transfusional iron overload has consisted of chelation therapy with parenteral deferoxamine. Although survival rates improve with adequate chelation, an estimated one third to one half of patients are not compliant with deferoxamine therapy, largely because of the discomfort and demanding nature of the regimen. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration approved the labeling for deferasirox for the treatment of chronic overload due to transfusional hemosiderosis. Deferasirox is an oral tridentate chelator that mobilizes iron stores by binding selectively to the ferric form of iron. Deferasirox has been studied in >700 adult and pediatric patients who had transfusion-related iron overload and underlying thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, Diamond-Blackfan syndrome, or another rare anemia. The largest clinical study to date demonstrated the noninferiority of deferasirox 20 or 30 mg/kg/day compared with subcutaneous infusions of deferoxamine >/=35 mg/kg/day administered five days weekly in a subgroup of patients with higher hepatic iron burdens. Deferasirox has been well tolerated in clinical trials. Nearly 97% of participants in a comparative study stated that they preferred deferasirox over their previous deferoxamine treatment. CONCLUSION: Deferasirox, a tridentate oral chelator approved for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions, offers a promising alternative for patients unwilling or unable to comply with deferoxamine therapy.

Building a better online formulary.

The history of and improvements made to the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) inpatient online formulary are described. The current formulary at UMHS is the third version of the Web-based formulary. The original effort in 1997 consisted of converting word-processing documents to HTML format and exporting this information to the university's intranet. There was no mechanism to search for formulary items, no therapeutic class cross-referencing, and no cost information. Documents and their conversion had to be manually maintained. The second version incorporated a series of automatic daily computer downloads from the inpatient pharmacy computer system. Web pages were built to dynamically display the formulary information from the database based on users' requests. The formulary enabled searching by brand or generic names, provided therapeutic category cross-references, listed the location of products within automated dispensing cabinets, provided accurate cost information, and was always up-to-date. Maintenance efforts drastically decreased. The current version has incorporated additional logic to meet users' needs. If no matches are found, the system expands its search by automatically linking to UMHS's inpatient pharmacy system repository of all drugs, finding matches to what the user entered, and then returning the names of therapeutically similar formulary agents to the user. A cross-index feature allows the system to return all the drugs that fall under the searched therapeutic category. Dramatic improvements have been made to UMHS's inpatient online formulary in the past two years. The current formulary provides a very low-cost, easily maintainable, and effective means to access the formulary and clinically relevant and timely information specific to each medication.

Team-based learning to improve learning outcomes in a therapeutics course sequence.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of team-based learning (TBL) to that of traditional lectures on learning outcomes in a therapeutics course sequence. DESIGN: A revised TBL curriculum was implemented in a therapeutic course sequence. Multiple choice and essay questions identical to those used to test third-year students (P3) taught using a traditional lecture format were administered to the second-year pharmacy students (P2) taught using the new TBL format. ASSESSMENT: One hundred thirty-one multiple-choice questions were evaluated; 79 tested recall of knowledge and 52 tested higher level, application of knowledge. For the recall questions, students taught through traditional lectures scored significantly higher compared to the TBL students (88%±12% vs. 82%±16%, p=0.01). For the questions assessing application of knowledge, no differences were seen between teaching pedagogies (81%±16% vs. 77%±20%, p=0.24). Scores on essay questions and the number of students who achieved 100% were also similar between groups. CONCLUSION: Transition to a TBL format from a traditional lecture-based pedagogy allowed P2 students to perform at a similar level as students with an additional year of pharmacy education on application of knowledge type questions. However, P3 students outperformed P2 students regarding recall type questions and overall. Further assessment of long-term learning outcomes is needed to determine if TBL produces more persistent learning and improved application in clinical settings.

Knowledge of appropriate acetaminophen doses and potential toxicities in an adult clinic population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge of appropriate doses and potential toxicities of acetaminophen and assess the ability to recognize products containing acetaminophen in an adult outpatient setting. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, prospective study. SETTING: University adult general internal medicine (AGIM) clinic. PATIENTS: 104 adult patients presenting to the clinic over consecutive weekdays in December 2003. INTERVENTIONS: Three-page, written questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ability of patients to identify maximum daily doses and potential toxicities of acetaminophen and recognize products that contain acetaminophen. RESULTS: A large percentage of participants (68.3%) reported pain on a daily or weekly basis, and 78.9% reported use of acetaminophen in the past 6 months. Only 2 patients correctly identified the maximum daily dose of regular acetaminophen, and just 3 correctly identified the maximum dose of extra-strength acetaminophen. Furthermore, 28 patients were unsure of the maximum dose of either product. Approximately 63% of participants either had not received or were unsure whether information on the possible danger of high doses of acetaminophen had been previously provided to them. When asked to identify potential problems associated with high doses of acetaminophen, 43.3% of patients noted the liver would be affected. The majority of the patients (71.2%) recognized Tylenol as containing acetaminophen, but fewer than 15% correctly identified Vicodin, Darvocet, Tylox, Percocet, and Lorcet as containing acetaminophen. CONCLUSION: Although nearly 80% of this AGIM population reported recent acetaminophen use, their knowledge of the maximum daily acetaminophen doses and potential toxicities associated with higher doses was poor and appeared to be independent of education level, age, and race. This indicates a need for educational efforts to all patients receiving acetaminophen-containing products, especially since the ability to recognize multi-ingredient products containing acetaminophen was likewise poor.

Pharmacist recognition of and adherence to medication-use policies and safety practices.

PURPOSE: Pharmacist recognition of and adherence to medication-use policies and safety practices were assessed. METHODS: Simulation testing was used to assess the performance of pharmacists in hypothetical scenarios simulating real-life situations. Fifty test case medication orders were developed, some requiring specific intervention and some requiring no special action. Orders were classified into four categories: those posing safety concerns n ( = 16), those with formulary and product standardization issues (n = 4), those with pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committee restrictions (n = 4), and those requiring no special action (n = 26). Potential barriers to compliance were identified by the project team and the orders categorized accordingly. The orders were processed by 25 pharmacists using a simulation testing procedure. Data were analyzed by pharmacists' demographics, order category, and perceived barriers to compliance. RESULTS: Pharmacists were correctly able to recognize 77.3% of test orders: 67.3% with safety concerns, 98.9% with formulary issues, and 98.5% with restrictions. Appropriate action was taken with 74.2% of test orders: 64.5% of safety orders, 96.6% of formulary orders, and 92.4% of restriction orders. There was no correlation between pharmacists' performance and demographic characteristics. The two barriers to correct response identified most often were ambiguous responsibility and low perceived level of importance. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists generally recognized and took appropriate action with simulated medication orders that contained problems related to formulary or P&T committee restrictions. They were less able to recognize and act appropriately on orders with safety-related problems. Ambiguous responsibility and low perceived importance were the most significant factors contributing to noncompliance with P&T committee policies and guidelines.

Effect of glucosamine on glucose control.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature regarding the effect of glucosamine on glucose control. DATA SOURCES: English-language articles on the effects of administration of exogenous glucosamine on glucose control were identified through a search of MEDLINE (1966-March 2006), EMBASE (1988-March 2006), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-March 2006) databases using the search terms glucosamine, blood glucose, and diabetes mellitus. Abstracts of articles were then reviewed to determine relevance to the topic. Bibliographies of selected articles were screened for other pertinent references. DATA SYNTHESIS: Theoretically, glucosamine may alter glucose metabolism. Insulin resistance has been noted following intravenous administration of glucosamine in animal studies; however, these findings have not been confirmed in humans. Alterations in glucose control have not been documented in long-term efficacy studies using oral glucosamine for osteoarthritis or in trials of short duration conducted in healthy or diabetic subjects. The long-term effects of glucosamine in patients with diabetes have yet to be established in well-controlled trials. CONCLUSIONS: Small, short-term studies suggest that glucosamine may be used in selected patients without affecting glucose control; however, data in patients with diabetes mellitus are limited, and close monitoring for potential changes in glucose control is recommended.

Safety of Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with insect venom allergies.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature with respect to the safety of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients allergic to insect venom and those undergoing venom immunotherapy (VIT). DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search was conducted (1966-March 2006) using the following search terms: bee sting, venom, insect stings, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, immunotherapy, and desensitization. The bibliographies of qualifying articles were also searched for relevant references. DATA SYNTHESIS: Several case reports have described severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in patients taking ACE inhibitors subsequent to being stung or receiving VIT. Exacerbation of the allergic response by ACE inhibitors is thought to be related to accumulation of bradykinin and inhibition of the formation of angiotensin II. Similar reactions have not been described with angiotensin-receptor blockers, but are theoretically possible. CONCLUSIONS: ACE inhibitors may exacerbate the response to insect venom, resulting in potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to insect stings or VIT. Although this risk is difficult to quantify based only on data from case reports, it seems prudent that patients with documented allergic reactions to insect venom avoid ACE inhibitor therapy, if possible. If, after careful consideration of the risks and benefits, ACE inhibitor therapy is deemed warranted, education regarding measures to minimize exposure to insect stings and training on self-administration of epinephrine should be provided, as with any person with venom allergy. In patients in whom VIT is appropriate, temporary discontinuation of the ACE inhibitor prior to each venom injection may prevent subsequent adverse reactions.

Venous thromboembolism prevention in acutely ill nonsurgical patients.

OBJECTIVE: To review recent advances in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acutely ill nonsurgical inpatients. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search (1966-March 2005) was done to identify relevant articles relating to prevention of VTE in acutely ill nonsurgical inpatients. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Four major prophylaxis trials, one registry, one guideline, and supporting articles representative of the subject matter from the last few years were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Enoxaparin, dalteparin, fondaparinux, and unfractionated heparin 5000 units every 8 hours are effective in reducing the risk of VTE in acutely ill medical patients, but such prophylaxis is currently underused. Barriers to be overcome include recognition of the importance of VTE in this population, definition of the optimal strategy to assess risks, optimal timing of the risk assessment, optimal prophylactic regimen for a given level of risk or disease state, and optimal duration of prophylaxis. We recommend that acutely ill medical inpatients should be risk-stratified early in their hospitalization. At this time, the specific risk-assessment protocol should be derived from the trial(s) of the available formulary agent(s). Decisions about providing prophylaxis must also be made considering anticoagulant contraindications and renal function. Mechanical methods of prophylaxis should be considered as monotherapy only if an anticoagulant contraindication exists. The optimal duration of prophylaxis is not known, but 14 days was used in recent studies. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis of VTE in acutely ill medical inpatients is underused. Data provide some guidance for increasing awareness and optimizing patient care.

Usefulness of herbal and dietary supplement references.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the usefulness of some of the most common tertiary references that healthcare professionals employ to answer requests about herbal and dietary supplements. METHODS: All requests for information on herbal and dietary supplements received by the drug information service between April and September 2000 were evaluated. Each question was independently reviewed by 4 clinicians using a 4-point scale; 14 references were searched for appropriate answers. The percent of responses for each of the possible scores for each reference overall and by category of question was reported to determine the most helpful references for answering the broadest range of questions. RESULTS: Fifty questions regarding herbal and dietary supplements were analyzed. The electronic databases (Natural Medicine Comprehensive Database, Micromedex) and the Internet site (The Natural Pharmacist) were determined to be overall the most helpful references for providing information on herbal and dietary supplements. The Natural Therapeutics Pocket Guide was the most helpful book reference. CONCLUSIONS: These results will facilitate the retrieval of useful information on herbal and dietary supplements and enable healthcare professionals to determine appropriate allocation of resources as they build a drug information library for handling requests about these products.