Drug-drug interaction perpetrators of oxycodone in patients with cancer: frequency and clinical relevance.

AIM: Oxycodone is known to have numerous drug-drug interactions (DDIs) that can potentially decrease efficacy or lead to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). However, there is limited research on the frequency of DDIs associated with oxycodone, which is important in optimising pharmacovigilance and the need for additional research on certain DDIs. In this study, the frequency of pharmacologically and clinically relevant DDI perpetrators was studied in patients with cancer. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using hospital pharmacy records of patients with cancer who were prescribed oxycodone between September 2021 and September 2022. Medication records of patients prescribed oxycodone during a period of ≥ 5 consecutive days (= oxycodone treatment episodes) were reviewed to identify the concomitant use of pharmacologically relevant perpetrators, based on reference sources (Lexicomp®, Micromedex®, the Dutch Kennisbank and the Dutch Commentaren Medicatiebewaking). The clinical relevance was examined by a clinical pharmacologist and a medical oncologist. Additionally, the frequency of double interactions-concomitant oxycodone use with two CYP3A4 and / or CYP2D6 perpetrators-was studied. RESULTS: Overall, 254 oxycodone treatment episodes were included, of which 227 (89.4%) were found to contain at least one pharmacologically relevant DDI perpetrator. Of these, 210 (82.7%) were considered to be clinically relevant. A total of 80 different pharmacologically relevant perpetrators were identified, with 65 (81.3%) being considered clinically relevant. Double interactions were observed in 21 (8.3%) oxycodone treatment episodes. CONCLUSION: A high frequency of pharmacologically and clinically relevant perpetrators of oxycodone was observed in our cohort. Moreover, a high number of double interactions involving oxycodone was registered. More intense monitoring of DDIs may be needed to improve medication safety of patients with cancer taking oxycodone.

Knowledge, empathy, and willingness to counsel patients with HIV among Indonesian pharmacists: a national survey of stigma.

This study aimed to assess the level of HIV treatment knowledge, empathy, and HIV stigma of pharmacy students and pharmacists working with patients as well as potential factors associated with stigma. This survey included 250 hospital pharmacists within 33 provinces and 1013 final-year pharmacy students from Java, the most populated island in Indonesia. The data were collected via Qualtrics® and distributed by WhatsApp. The mean age of the participants was (Mean ± SD) 24.68 ± 5.30 years, and 80.0% were female. The mean knowledge score of students and pharmacists were 14.14 ± 2.01 and 15.39 ± 1.87, respectively, out of the maximum score of 21. The mean empathy score of students and pharmacists was 72.06 ± 5.39 and 77.40 ± 1.35, respectively out of the maximum score of 105. The mean stigma score of students and pharmacists was 21.02 ± 4.65 and 20.66 ± 4.41, respectively, out of a maximum score of 48. Regression analysis showed that knowledge, empathy, and willingness to counsel patients were negatively associated with stigma. Working with patients was positively associated with stigma. A multi-level intervention including education may reduce stigma and strengthen the role of pharmacists in caring for patients.

Assessing the binding interaction of polystyrene sulfonate with amitriptyline in healthy volunteers: a cross-over design - The BIND study.

PURPOSE: Polystyrene sulfonate is used for binding potassium in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because of its binding properties, it can potentially bind other medications and thereby decrease their bioavailability and effectiveness. Amitriptyline, often used by CKD patients for neuropathic pain, shows significant binding to polystyrene sulfonate in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of polystyrene sulfonate on the exposure of amitriptyline in vivo when taken concomitantly in healthy volunteers. METHODS: We performed a prospective cross-over study in nine healthy volunteers. Participants were 18 years of age or older, did not use any medication, and had no known allergy to amitriptyline or polystyrene sulfonate. Participants visited Deventer Teaching Hospital twice. Once they received a single dose of amitriptyline 50 mg and once they received a single dose of both polystyrene sulfonate 15 g and amitriptyline 50 mg taken concomitantly, with a wash out period of at least 1 week. After intake of the medication, six blood samples were collected, at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 h. Blood samples were analysed to determine maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve 0-8 h after intake (AUC0-8 h). Difference in Cmax and AUC0-8 h was analysed with a paired T-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test, depending on normality of the data. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the nine participants included, eight participants completed both visits to the hospital. Mean maximum concentration (Cmax) of amitriptyline was 35.61 µg l-1 (95% CI 27.90-43.33 µg l-1) when taken alone, compared to 9.25 µg l-1 (95% CI 6.59-11.92 µg l-1) when taken with polystyrene sulfonate (p < 0.001). Mean AUC0-8 h of amitriptyline was 168.20 µg × h l-1 (95% CI 139.95-196.45 µg × h l-1) when taken alone and 45.78 µg × h l-1 (95% CI 30.20-61.36 µg × h l-1) when taken with polystyrene sulfonate (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: These results show a significant decrease in exposure of amitriptyline of approximately 75% when taken concomitantly with polystyrene sulfonate, thereby probably compromising therapy efficacy. Patients using both amitriptyline and polystyrene sulfonate should be informed to separate intake of these medications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NL8539 (17 April 2020).

Differences in medication reconciliation interventions between six hospitals: a mixed method study.

BACKGROUND: Although medication reconciliation (MedRec) is mandated and effective in decreasing preventable medication errors during transition of care, hospitals implement MedRec differently. OBJECTIVE: Quantitatively compare the number and type of MedRec interventions between hospitals upon admission and discharge, followed by a qualitative analysis on potential reasons for differences. METHODS: This explanatory retrospective mixed-method study consisted of a quantitative and a qualitative part. Patients from six hospitals and six different wards i.e. orthopaedics, surgery, pulmonary diseases, internal medicine, cardiology and gastroenterology were included. At these wards, MedRec was implemented both on hospital admission and discharge. The number of pharmacy interventions was collected and classified in two subcategories. First, the number of interventions to resolve unintended discrepancies (elimination of differences between listed medication and the patient's actual medication use). And second, the number of medication optimizations (optimization of pharmacotherapy e.g. eliminating double medication). Based on these quantitative results and interviews, a focus group was performed to give insight in local MedRec processes to address differences in context between hospitals. Descriptive analysis (quantitative) and content analysis (qualitative) was used. RESULTS: On admission 765 (85%) patients from six hospitals, received MedRec by trained nurses, pharmacy technicians, pharmaceutical consultants or pharmacists. Of those, 36-95% (mean per patient 2.2 (SD ± 2.4)) had at least one discrepancy. Upon discharge, these numbers were among 632 (70%) of patients, 5-28% (mean per patient 0.7 (SD 1.2)). Optimizations in pharmacotherapy were implemented for 2% (0.4-3.7 interventions per patient upon admission) to 95% (0.1-1.7 interventions per patient upon discharge) of patients. The main themes explaining differences in numbers of interventions were patient-mix, the type of healthcare professionals involved, where and when patient interviews for MedRec were performed and finally, embedding and extent of medication optimization. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals differed greatly in the number of interventions performed during MedRec. Differences in execution of MedRec and local context determines the number of interventions. This study can support hospitals who want to optimize MedRec processes.

A survey about label enhancement methods for parenteral medication in European hospital pharmacies.

PURPOSE: Unclear labeling has been recognized as an important cause of look-alike medication errors. Little is known about which labeling practices are currently used in European hospitals. The aim of this article is to obtain an overview of the labeling practices for parenteral medications, in relation to national guidelines, in the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. METHODS: An online survey was conducted using the Qualtrics® software. The survey was distributed to hospital pharmacists in the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. The results were downloaded from Qualtrics and exported to Microsoft Excel. Data were categorized into groups and analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: In total, 104 responses were received. The response rate was 63% (n = 48) in the Netherlands and 11% (n = 41) for Germany; for the UK, 15 responses were received. In general almost 90% of the respondents followed the National guidelines concerning labeling of pharmacy-prepared parenteral products. The use of label enhancement techniques was relatively low in all countries. On average, the use of "Tall Man" lettering was 19%, the use of color coding was 29%, and the use of a barcode on the label was 27%. CONCLUSION: Label-enhancement methods for parenteral medication in hospital pharmacies do not seem to be widely implemented and acknowledged in European hospitals, but response rates were limited for two countries. Greater standardization in conjunction with research for evidence-based enhancement techniques is needed to guide improvement in labeling practices across Europe.

The association between ethnicity, stigma, beliefs about medicines and adherence in people living with HIV in a rural area in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Indonesia is one of Asia's countries with the fastest growing rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The prevalence of HIV infections in the province of Papua is 2.4% which is 24 times higher than the national rate in Indonesia. This study aimed to investigate the association between stigma, beliefs about medicines, sociodemographic characteristics including ethnicity and adherence in People living with HIV (PLHIV) in Papua, Indonesia. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using questionnaires. We included participants from two hospital-outpatient clinics who were on antiretroviral treatment (ART) for more than 6 months, were at least 18 years old, and signed informed consent. Participants completed the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), an HIV stigma scale and questions on demographic information. Data on antiretroviral medications were collected from medical records. The outcome was self-reported adherence as measured by the MARS using an 80% cut-off score. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Overall, 331 out of 363 eligible participants were included with a mean age of 33.3 (± 9.4) years, 61.6% were female, 67.1% were Papuan. A total of 65.9% of participants were adherent. Being Papuan decreased the likelihood of adherence (odds ratio (OR) = 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.32-0.89). Feeling more distant, a stigma type, also decreased the likelihood of adherence (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.88-0.99). CONCLUSION: The ethnicity of being Papuan and taking a distance to others were associated with non-adherence. Targeted interventions should be developed to improve adherence in this group.

Factors associated with regular counselling attendance of HIV outpatients of a national referral hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Counselling has been shown to improve adherence to medication in people living with HIV (PLHIV). The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with regular counselling attendance of patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, paper-based survey among 880 PLHIV patients on ART attending outpatient clinics of a referral hospital in Jakarta. Patients on ART, above 18 years old, providing written consent were included. The primary outcome was regular counselling attendance (i.e., having attended at least 3 sessions in the previous 3 months) using records from counsellors. Factors associated with regular counselling attendance were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The majority of patients were male (71.1%) and had regular counselling (78.4%). Being 31 to 40 years old (odds ratio (OR) = 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.32-0.93, > 40 years (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.16-0.55) vs < 30 years, hepatitis B/C co-infection (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.24-0.75), living > 20 km from the hospital (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.33-0.93), transmission male-to-male (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.04-0.44), unemployment (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.02-3.44), part-time employment (OR = 10.71, 95% CI = 4.09-28.02), household member with HIV (OR = 3.31, 95% CI = 1.70-6.44), and Christianity (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.12-2.94) were associated with regular counselling attendance. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that counselling services should be reviewed to ensure that they are near home and fit the needs of older patients or patients with co-morbidities and minorities. Tailoring counselling may improve attendance.

Relationship between drug burden and physical and cognitive functions in a sample of nursing home patients with dementia.

PURPOSE: The Drug Burden Index (DBI) is a tool to quantify the anticholinergic and sedative load of drugs. Establishing functional correlates of the DBI could optimize drug prescribing in patients with dementia. In this cross-sectional study, we determined the relationship between DBI and cognitive and physical functions in a sample of patients with dementia. METHODS: Using performance-based tests, we measured physical and cognitive functions in 140 nursing home patients aged over 70 with all-cause dementia. We also determined anticholinergic DBI (AChDBI) and sedative DBI (SDBI) separately and in combination as total drug burden (TDB). RESULTS: Nearly one half of patients (48%) used at least one DBI-contributing drug. In 33% of the patients, drug burden was moderate (0 < TDB < 1) whereas in 15%, drug burden was high (TDB ≥ 1). Multivariate models yielded no associations between TDB, AChDBI, and SDBI, and physical or cognitive function (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A lack of association between drug burden and physical or cognitive function in this sample of patients with dementia could imply that drug prescribing is more optimal for patients with dementia compared with healthy older populations. However, such an interpretation of the data warrants scrutiny as several dementia-related factors may confound the results of the study.

Enzalutamide Reduces Oxycodone Exposure in Men with Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Up to 90% of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) will develop symptomatic bone metastases requiring pain medication, with opioids being the mainstay of therapy in treating moderate and severe pain. Enzalutamide is an androgen receptor antagonist for the treatment of CRPC and a strong inducer of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4. Hereby, enzalutamide potentially reduces the exposure of oxycodone, an opioid metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Our objective was to evaluate the potential drug-drug interaction of enzalutamide and oxycodone. METHODS: A prospective, nonrandomized, open-label, two-arm parallel study was performed. All patients received a single dose of 15 mg normal-release oxycodone. Patients in the enzalutamide arm (ENZ-arm) received enzalutamide 160 mg once daily. Plasma concentrations of oxycodone and its metabolites were quantified using a validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (13 ENZ-arm; 13 control arm) were enrolled in the study. Enzalutamide decreased the mean AUC0-8 h and Cmax of oxycodone with, respectively, 44.7% (p < 0.001) and 35.5% (p = 0.004) compared with the control arm. The AUC0-8 h and Cmax of the active metabolite oxymorphone were 74.2% (p < 0.001) and 56.0% (p = 0.001) lower in the ENZ-arm compared with the control arm. In contrast, AUC0-8 h and Cmax of the inactive metabolites noroxycodone and noroxymorphone were significantly increased by enzalutamide. CONCLUSION: Co-administration of enzalutamide significantly reduced exposure to oxycodone and its active metabolite oxymorphone in men with prostate cancer. This should be taken into account when prescribing enzalutamide combined with oxycodone.

Indicators of quality use of medicines in South-East Asian countries: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To identify indicators of quality use of medicines used in South-East Asian region. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted searching MEDLINE, Embase and The International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) and The World Health Organization (WHO) website. Original studies or reports carried out in the South-East Asian region, explicitly using indicators to measure quality use of medicines, and published between January 2000 and July 2011 were included. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies conducted in 7 of 11 countries in South-East Asia were included. WHO indicators focusing on general medication use in health facilities were most widely used (10 studies). Twelve studies used non-WHO indicators for measuring quality use of medicines in clinical areas (geriatrics and obstetrics) or specific diseases, such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. In five studies, WHO indicators were used along with non-WHO indicators. There was little information available about validity, reliability and feasibility of the non-WHO indicators. The majority of indicators measured process rather than structure or outcome. There were very few indicators addressing non-communicable diseases. CONCLUSIONS: A limited number of studies have been published explicitly using indicators of quality use of medicines across South-East Asia. Importantly, existing indicators need to be complemented with valid, reliable and feasible indicators related to non-communicable diseases, particularly those with a high financial burden to meet the current medical challenges in the region.

Exploring co-dispensed drug use in patients on sevelamer or polystyrene sulfonate to identify potential novel binding interactions: a cross sectional in silico study : Potential novel binding interactions with resins.

Background Sevelamer and polystyrene sulfonate are used for treating hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalaemia in chronic kidney disease patients. Because of their binding properties, these resins potentially bind other drugs in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby decreasing their bioavailability and clinical effectiveness. Aim The aim of this study was to explore co-dispensed drug use in patients on sevelamer or polystyrene sulfonate to identify potential novel binding interactions. Method In this in silico study, the 100 drugs most frequently co-dispensed with sevelamer/polystyrene sulfonate in the period 2000-2018 were extracted from the University Groningen IADB.nl database. Drugs dispensed to < 5% of patients, drugs not orally administered, drugs administered once daily before bedtime and drugs for which information on binding interactions with sevelamer or polystyrene was already available were excluded. The likelihood of an interaction (yes or no) of the included drugs was assessed based on pKa- and Log P values. For sevelamer, drugs with a pKa (acid) between 1.5 and 7.4 and or a Log P value > 2.0 were identified as potential interacting drug. For polystyrene sulfonate, drugs with a pKa (base) > 1.5 were identified as potential interacting drug. Results Of the top 100 drugs most frequently co-dispensed with sevelamer/polystyrene sulfonate, 22 and 27 potentially clinically relevant new interacting drugs were identified for sevelamer and polystyrene sulfonate respectively. Conclusion Several potentially relevant novel binding interactions for sevelamer and polystyrene sulfonate were identified based on dispensing data and assessment of chemical properties for which further interaction research is warranted.

[Reducing the use of medication in the elderly; why or why not?] / Medicatie minderen bij ouderen.

Many healthcare providers agree that reduction or stopping of medication, so-called deprescribing, would be good in vulnerable people with polypharmacy. However, deprescribing is not yet widely conducted. Physicians and pharmacists experience barriers, such as lack of evidence and guidance to support this process. There is also a tendency to maintain the status quo when there are no acute problems. Patients do want fewer pills but the proposal to stop certain medication can lead to resistance or confusion. The needs and concerns from a patient's perspective are a good starting point for desprescribing. It is important to set new goals and to prioritize together which medication can be stopped. It is not only relevant to react to existing problems but also to act proactively when the potential benefits no longer outweigh the medication burden or risks. Recently, more guidance and tools to support deprescribing became available in the Netherlands.

[Safe prescribing in patients with liver cirrhosis; 5 pitfalls]. / Veilig voorschrijven bij levercirrose: 5 misvattingen.

The liver has a major role in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medicines and hepatic impairment could therefore lead to increased plasma levels and adverse drug reactions. Due to the large overcapacity of the liver, medication adjustments are only needed when a chronic liver disease has progressed to cirrhosis. Important pharmacokinetic alterations that could occur in cirrhosis are: (a) a decreased first-pass effect, (b) impaired metabolism by liver enzymes, and (c) in an advanced stage also impairment of renal elimination. Patients with cirrhosis could also be more sensitive to certain adverse drug reactions at normal drug levels, such as renal impairment due to NSAIDs or the sedative effect of morphinomimetics and psychotropic drugs. Prescribing in patients with cirrhosis is complex, which we illustrate by 5 common pitfalls. In practice, healthcare professionals could use a website with guidance for prescribing almost 300 medicines (www.geneesmiddelenbijlevercirrose.nl).

How are medication related problems managed in primary care? An exploratory study in patients with diabetes and primary care providers.

BACKGROUND: Medication self-management is important for patients who are controlling diabetes. Achieving medication self-management goals, may depend on treatment complexity and patients' capacities such as health literacy, knowledge and attitude. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to explore how patients with diabetes self-manage their medications, how patients seek support when experiencing problems and how primary healthcare providers identify patients' medication related problems and provide support. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted among patients with diabetes receiving primary care and with their primary healthcare providers - GPs, nurses, pharmacists and technicians - between January and June 2017. A purposive sampling strategy was used to identify and select participants. An interview guide based on the Cycle of Complexity model was developed. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded with a combination of deductive and inductive codes. A thematic analysis was performed to identify categories and themes in the data. Findings were compared with the Cycle of Complexity model. RESULTS: Twelve patients and 27 healthcare providers were included in the study. From the transcripts 95 codes, 6 categories and 2 major themes were extracted. Patients used practical solutions and gaining knowledge to manage their medication. Their problems were often related to stress and concerns about using medications. A trusted relationship with the healthcare provider was essential for patients to share problems and ask for support. Informal support was sought from family and peer-patients. Healthcare providers perceive problem identification as challenging. They relied on patients coming forward, computer notifications, clinical parameters and gut-feeling. Healthcare providers were able to offer appropriate support if a medication management problem was known. CONCLUSION: Patients are confident of finding their way to manage their medications. However, sharing problems with healthcare providers requires a trusted relationship. This is acknowledged by both patients and healthcare providers.

Identifying patients with metformin associated lactic acidosis in the emergency department.

Background Metformin associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is a serious adverse event with a high mortality rate of 30-50%. Early recognition of MALA and timely starting treatment may reduce its morbidity and mortality. Objective The aim of this study was to explore clinical parameters to identify patients with MALA in patients with suspected sepsis induced lactic acidosis in the emergency department ED. Setting A retrospective single centre study was conducted at the Deventer Teaching Hospital in the Netherlands. Method Patients with lactate concentration > 4.0 mmol/l admitted at the ED between 2010 and 2017 with suspected sepsis or confirmed MALA and referred to the Intensive Care Unit were included. Baseline characteristics (pH, lactate, creatinine and CRP) of MALA patients were compared with patients with suspected sepsis induced lactic acidosis. Creatinine and lactate concentration were selected as potential relevant parameters. Main outcome measure Sensitivity and specificity of the highest tertiles of the creatinine and the lactate concentrations separately, in combination, and both combined with metformin use, were calculated. Results Thirteen MALA and 90 suspected sepsis induced lactic acidosis patients were included. Lactate (14.7 vs 5.9 mmol/l, p < 0.01) and creatinine concentration (642 vs 174 µmol/l, p < 0.01) were significantly higher in the MALA group and arterial pH (7.04 vs 7.38, p < 0.01) and CRP (90 vs 185 mg/l, p < 0.01) were significantly lower. The combined parameters lactate ≥ 8.4 mmol/l, creatinine ≥ 256 µmol/l had a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 95% for identifying MALA in suspected sepsis induced lactic acidosis patients in the ED. When combined with metformin use the specificity increased to 99%. Conclusion When managing lactic acidosis in the ED the diagnosis MALA should be considered in patients with a creatinine concentration ≥ 256 µmol/l and lactate concentration ≥ 8.4 mmol/l.

The documentation of health problems in relation to prescribed medication in people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) suffer from a wide range of health problems and use a wide range of different drugs. This study investigated for frequently used medication whether there was a health problem documented in the medical notes for the drug prescribed. METHOD: Persons with PIMD with an estimated intelligence quotient of 25 and profound or severe motor disorders were studied. Data on health problems were taken from medical notes and prescribing data were obtained from pharmacies. Data covering 1 year were analysed. For four therapeutic areas (anticonvulsants, laxatives, drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and psycholeptics), we determined whether we could find an indication for prescribed medication. RESULTS: Some 254 persons with PIMD (46% male, 54% female; median age 49 years, range 6-82) from eight residential facilities participated. Some 226 participants (89%) were prescribed medication over the course of 1 year. An indication for the prescribed medication was documented for 92% (n = 130) (95% confidence interval 88-96%) of 141 participants on anticonvulsants, for 68% (n = 112) (61-75%) of 165 participants on laxatives, for 44% (n = 58) (36-52%) of 132 participants on drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, and for 89% (n = 102) (83-95%) of 115 participants on psycholeptic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The best level of documentation was found for anticonvulsants the worst for drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Lack of documenting an indication may be due to off-label use, inadvertent continuation of no longer indicated medication, inadequate documentation and underdiagnosis. Adequate documentation practices are essential because of the communication problems that are characteristic for persons with PIMD.

A Cost Minimization Analysis of Ready-to-Administer Prefilled Sterilized Syringes in a Dutch Hospital.

PURPOSE: Preparation errors occur frequently during conventional preparation of parenteral medication in the clinical environment, causing patient harm and costs for the national health care system. The use of ready-to-administer prefilled sterilized syringes (PFSSs) produced by the hospital pharmacy can reduce preparation errors and the risk of bacteremia from contamination of the intravenous medication. The aim of this research is to compare the total costs of the conventional preparation method (CPM) with the PFSS method. METHODS: In this cost-minimization analysis, costs related to the preparation of the medication, bacteremia from contamination, adverse drug events as a result of preparation medication errors, and wastage of syringes were taken into account. Annual costs in a general Dutch hospital were consistently calculated. Three scenarios were analyzed: (1) all preparations as CPM (864,246 administrations per year), (2) all preparations as PFSSs, and (3) 50% as PFSSs and 50% as CPM. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. FINDINGS: The first scenario found higher annual costs at €14.0 million (US$16.0 million) compared with the second scenario (€4.1 million, US$4.7 million). The most realistic situation (third scenario) found savings of €4.9 million (US$5.6 million) compared with the first scenario. Sensitivity analyses revealed that cost savings of PFSSs were strongly influenced by decreased risk of medication errors and contamination of intravenous medication. Extrapolating these results nationwide indicated potential savings of >€300 million (US$342 million) if only PFSSs were used. IMPLICATIONS: The use of PFSSs prepared in the hospital pharmacy yielded cost savings compared with the CPM on the ward in the Dutch hospital.

A 12-month follow-up study of treating overweight schizophrenic patients with aripiprazole.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of switching overweight schizophrenic patients to aripiprazole and to assess the impact of 12 months of aripiprazole treatment on weight in routine practice. METHOD: This was a non-controlled cohort study in overweight schizophrenic patients. Data were collected before treatment with aripiprazole was started and at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were included; of these 55% continued using aripiprazole for 12 months. Aripiprazole treatment for 12 months (P = 0.027) and stopping clozapine or olanzapine treatment (P = 0.038) predicted weight loss (> or =3 kg). Patients receiving aripiprazole monotherapy (n = 16, mean -3.0 kg) had similar weight loss than patients receiving aripiprazole in addition to another antipsychotic drug (n = 13, mean -4.4 kg). CONCLUSION: In routine practice once aripiprazole treatment was started, more than half of the patients remained on aripiprazole and most of them lost weight. Adding aripiprazole to clozapine gave similar weight loss as monotherapy with aripiprazole.

A cross-sectional study of prescribing patterns in chronic psychiatric patients living in sheltered housing facilities.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze prescribing patterns of chronic psychiatric patients living in sheltered housing facilities, to identify the extent of polypharmacy and to estimate associated risks in this patient group. METHODS: In a retrospective cross-sectional study the prescription data of 323 chronic psychiatric patients (average age 48.5 years) living in sheltered housing facilities in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, were analyzed. Prescription data were obtained from pharmacy-dispensing records. RESULTS: Patients received on average 4.6 drugs (95% CI, 4.3-4.9). The most frequently prescribed drugs were as expected antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and antimuscarinic drugs. Overall 25% (n=81) of patients received two or more antipsychotic drugs. A high proportion of patients (38%, n=124) received one benzodiazepine, and 15% (n=50) received two or more benzodiazepines. CONCLUSION: Patients in our study received a worryingly high number of drugs, and a quarter of the population was subject to antipsychotic polypharmacy. This increases the risk that drug-drug interactions, adverse drug reactions and noncompliance occur. Our study indicates potentially low quality of prescribing and shows the need for reviewing and special monitoring of pharmacotherapy in this patient group.