Critical Review of the Use of Second-Generation Antipsychotics in Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.

Currently, all second-generation antipsychotics are approved for schizophrenia. Many are also approved for bipolar disorder, with some also approved as adjunctive treatment for depression and autism-related irritability. Second-generation antipsychotics are increasingly being prescribed for indications other than those approved by the Food and Drug Administration, such as in dementia, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder to name a few. Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are a group of disorders characterized by preoccupation and repetitive behaviors. According to the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania, hoarding disorder, and excoriation, the latter two being newly designated disorders, fall under obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Due to a lack of well designed clinical studies specifically addressing the use of second-generation antipsychotics in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, it is unknown whether these agents are clinically beneficial. Current research describing the pathophysiology of these disorders shows the involvement of similar brain regions and neurotransmitters across the five obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Despite differences in the receptor binding profiles, second-generation antipsychotics share many common pharmacodynamics properties. This review sought to examine all the published reports of second-generation antipsychotics being used in the management of symptoms of the aforementioned diseases and compile evidence for clinicians who encounter patients who are unresponsive to standard treatment.

The future of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

INTRODUCTION: People at high risk for HIV acquisition should be offered pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) is currently the only medication recommended for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in people at high risk for HIV acquisition. This article will review medications currently under investigation and the future landscape of PrEP therapy. Areas covered: This article will review clinical trials that have investigated nontraditional regimens of TDF/FTC, antiretroviral agents from different drug classes such as integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) as potential PrEP therapies. Expert commentary: Currently, there are several investigational drugs in the pipeline for PrEP against HIV infection. Increased utilization of PrEP therapy depends on provider identification of people at high risk for HIV transmission. Advances in PrEP development will expand options and access for people and reduce the risk of HIV acquisition.

Drug interactions with aprepitant or fosaprepitant: Review of literature and implications for clinical practice.

Purpose Aprepitant and its parenteral formulation fosaprepitant are widely used for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Aprepitant exerts modest inhibitory effect on CYP3A4 and modest inductive effect on CYP2C9 substrates such as some antineoplastics and multiple other medications. This article is aimed to provide pharmacists and other healthcare professionals with an updated summary of drug-drug interactions of aprepitant/fosaprepitant and implications for clinical practice. Method We reviewed publications reporting drug-drug interactions between aprepitant/fosaprepitant and other medications. Results Coadministration of aprepitant with antineoplastics or opiods may result in significant elevations in the serum levels of the agents metabolized via CYP3A4, with the best documentation for cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, erlotinib and oxycodone. These alterations did not translate into adverse outcomes and/or necessitate dosing adjustments. The levels of warfarin were significantly decreased by aprepitant requiring prolonged monitoring after discontinuation of aprepitant. Among direct oral anticoagulants, a theoretical interaction between aprepitant and rivaroxaban or apixaban exists. Interactions between aprepitant and quetiapine or diltiazem or sirolimus required dose reductions to avoid adverse outcomes. The intravenous route had a weaker inhibitory effect on CYP3A4 than the oral pathway. Conclusion The evidence on drug interactions of aprepitant with other medications is limited, and the impact on therapeutic outcomes remains to be determined. The intravenous regimen may be a preferred option. As utilization of aprepitant is expanding, practitioners and patients need to be educated about the potential for drug interactions and a need for careful monitoring of patients concurrently receiving aprepitant and CYP2C9 or CYP3A4 substrates, especially those with a narrow therapeutic window.

Review of integrase strand transfer inhibitors for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are oral antiretroviral agents used against HIV infection. There are three agents available, including raltegravir, elvitegravir and dolutegravir, some of which are available as combination medications with other antiretroviral drugs. The efficacy and safety of INSTIs in treatment-naïve and experienced HIV-infected patients have been established by multiple studies. Based on the current practice guidelines, INSTI-based regimens are considered as one of the first-line therapies for treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients. There are new INSTIs in development to improve the resistance profile and to decrease the frequency of drug administration.

Use of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Special Patient Populations with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Review of the Literature and Application to Clinical Practice.

Atrial fibrillation is a commonly encountered arrhythmia associated with increased risk for thromboembolic events. Anticoagulation is necessary to decrease the risk of ischemic stroke. Traditionally, warfarin has been the only oral pharmacotherapeutic option for long-term anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Recently, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC), including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, have become available as alternatives for warfarin in the prevention of stroke in patients with NVAF. Recently published atrial fibrillation guidelines contain new recommendations for risk stratification tools in determining the need for anticoagulant therapy and incorporate NOAC pharmacotherapy options for stroke prevention in patients with NVAF. NOACs offer several advantages over warfarin, including the elimination of routine laboratory monitoring, fewer drug and food interactions, and rapid therapeutic onset and offset. However, the lack of antidote in the case of serious bleeding and lack of data for long-term use in patient populations at risk for bleeding is problematic. Older adults are at high risk for thromboembolic and bleeding events as a result of anticoagulation and require special consideration when selecting anticoagulant therapy. The risk of drug accumulation and bleeding is concerning in the presence of renal impairment. The objective of this review is to provide the clinician with an update on the use of NOACs for NVAF, focusing on older adults and patients with renal impairment in light of recently published atrial fibrillation guidelines. Available data on using NOACs in coronary artery stenting, cardioversion, and ablation are also reviewed.

Intensive care unit delirium: a review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The recent literature regarding intensive care unit (ICU) delirium and updated clinical practice guidelines are reviewed. SUMMARY: Recent studies show that ICU delirium in critically ill patients is an independent predictor of higher mortality, longer ICU and hospital stay, and is associated with multiple clinical complications. Delirium has been reported to occur in greater than 80% of hospitalized critically ill patients, yet it remains an underdiagnosed condition. Several subtypes of delirium have been identified including hypoactive, hyperactive, and mixed presentation. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, several factors are thought to interact to cause delirium. Multiple risk factors related to medications, acute illness, the environment, and patient characteristics may contribute to the development of delirium. Practical bedside screening tools have been validated and are recommended to identify ICU patients with delirium. Nonpharmacologic interventions such as early mobilization have resulted in better functional outcomes, decreased incidence and duration of delirium, and more ventilator-free days. Data supporting pharmacologic treatments are limited. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should become familiar with tools to identify delirium in order to initiate treatment and remove mitigating factors early in hospitalization to prevent delirium. Pharmacists are in a unique position to reduce delirium through minimization of medication-related risk factors and development of protocols.

Management of type-2 diabetes mellitus in adults: focus on individualizing non-insulin therapies.

Successful management of hyperglycemia may involve glucose and non-glucose therapies, non-drug approaches, and non-insulin agents. Treatment should be tailored to each patient, with an emphasis on safety.