Drug Information

Clostridium difficile infection: 
Managing the risks

May 11, 2012

Proton pump inhibitors can increase the risk of C difficile infection, and some types of probiotics have a role in treatment and prevention.
 

DVT prophylaxis with aspirin
in orthopedic surgery patients

April 04, 2012

The 2012 ACCP guidelines on thromboprophylaxis after orthopedic surgery contain some surprises, basing recommendations on the type of surgery and sometimes countermanding earlier versions.
 

Urinary tract infection: Consistent therapy to 
reduce resistance

, March 13, 2012

A recent update to the clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of UTI hopes to establish a long overdue consensus regarding optimal approaches to this common infection.
 

How do dihydropyridine and nondihydropyridine CCBs differ?

March 07, 2012

All calcium channel blockers have a similar mechanism of action, but they are not interchangeable and can exert very different physiologic effects.
 

What's new in hepatology: Triple therapy for hepatitis C

February 23, 2012

Combining one of two newly approved oral agents with traditional medications offers hepatitis C patients better outcomes with shorter therapy.
 

Prescribing opioids safely in 
patients with an opiate allergy

January 09, 2012

IgE-mediated allergy to opioids is rare but life-threatening, so distinguishing between a true allergic reaction and side effects to a previously prescribed opioid is crucial.
 

Is rifaximin an effective treatment option for irritable bowel syndrome?

, Wilson Crone, MD, PhD December 22, 2011

Research suggests that rifaximin could offer symptom relief to IBS patients who have not had success with traditional medications and lifestyle modifications.
 

Interactions between supplements and drugs: Deciphering the evidence

December 12, 2011

Make sure you know what dietary supplements your patient uses because the potential for interaction with a medication you prescribe is significant.
 

Understanding the appropriate and effective use of vancomycin

November 09, 2011

Vancomycin should be dosed aggressively early on, with a loading dose given that is sufficient for rapid achievement of target concentrations.
 

Oral anticoagulation: A review of the current and emerging therapies

, Elise K. Dzintars, MMS, PA-C; R. Brock Phillips, MMS, PA-C; Reamer L. Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C November 04, 2011

Now that options besides warfarin are available, clinicians must weigh the advantages and disadvantages, safety, tolerability, efficacy, price, and ease of use of each agent.
 

Understanding drug safety and how to maximize it for patients

November 01, 2011

Clinicians must be well-informed about potential safety problems in order to assess a drug's benefit-to-harm balance and to avoid causing harm to their patients.
 

Starting levothyroxine therapy; treating pernicious anemia

October 26, 2011

This month's topics are how to initiate treatment in patients with hypothyroidism and cobalamin dosing in patients with pernicious anemia.
 

Simvastatin dosing restrictions; monitoring amiodarone therapy

September 20, 2011

This month's topics are preventing myopathies when using simvastatin and safe use of amiodarone.
 

What caused this mucosal diarrhea?

August 25, 2011

A patient presents to determine the cause of her abdominal cramping and the mucous and pink-red streaks in her stool.
 

What's new in multiple sclerosis treatment: 
First oral drug, new antibody therapies

, Megan Orchard, PA-C; Paula Hardeman, PA-C; Daniel L. O’Donoghue, PA-C, PhD August 18, 2011

A number of revolutionary new treatments for multiple sclerosis—including the first oral treatment, antibody therapies, and agents that may be able to regulate immune function—are currently being developed.
 

Erythromycin for GI motility; 
sunscreens; enoxaparin in obesity

August 17, 2011

This month's topics are using erythromycin for GI motility, choosing a sunscreen, and DVT prophylaxis with enoxaparin in obese patients.
 

Tapentadol for pain; enoxaparin after prosthetic valve replacement

July 15, 2011

This month's topics are the new opioid analgesic tapentadol and using enoxaparin after prosthetic valve surgery.
 

Comparing brand name drugs 
to their generic equivalents

June 09, 2011

Are generic products truly equivalent to their brand name counterparts, particularly narrow therapeutic index (NTI) medications such as antiepileptics, immunosuppressants, anticoagulants, and levothyroxine?
 

When to take statins; Lovaza versus OTC fish oil supplements

May 06, 2011

This month's questions are whether statins are best taken at night and whether OTC fish oil supplements are as effective as Lovaza.
 

Differences between the varicella vaccines; using dabigatran

April 08, 2011

This month's topics are the differences between the varicella vaccines and more on the new anticoagulant dabigatran.
 

PA prescribing of buprenorphine; swapping out aminoglycosides

March 08, 2011

This month's topics are the rules for prescribing buprenorphine and the interchangeability of gentamicin and tobramycin.
 

What's new in atrial fibrillation: Is dronedarone more effective than amiodarone?

, February 17, 2011

The authors compare the risks and benefits of two drugs used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation.
 

Is prasugrel more effective than clopidogrel at preventing future cardiac events?

February 11, 2011

Although the risks and benefits of using prasugrel should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, prasugrel can be considered for selected patients because of its increased rates of effectiveness over clopidogrel.
 

Substitutions for propoxyphene; Macrobid versus Macrodantin

February 08, 2011

This month's topics are the difference between Macrobid and Macrodantin and what to use instead of Darvon in patients needing pain management.
 

Initiating HIV antiretroviral therapy: Criteria, evidence, and controversy

February 02, 2011

Based on efficacy data, durability of viral suppression, and ease of use, four combination regimens are preferred for starting HAART.
 

The difference between Tdap and DTaP; dabigatran versus warfarin

January 11, 2011

This month's topics are the difference between Tdap and DTaP vaccines, and the new anticoagulant dabigatran.
 

What's new in fracture prevention: 
New osteoporosis drug improves 
patient adherence

, Reamer Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C December 20, 2010

Denosumab is the latest monoclonal antibody used to help prevent fractures and provides a number of new benefits.
 

The antiplatelet effects of aspirin; 
nattokinase as a blood thinner

December 10, 2010

This month's topics are the antiplatelet effects of aspirin and uses for nattokinase as a blood thinner.
 

Tendinopathy resulting from the use of fluoroquinolones: Managing risks

December 01, 2010

Although well-tolerated by most patients, fluoroquinolones can produce this serious 
condition.
 

Metoclopramide for migraines; how to stock a first aid kit

November 12, 2010

This month's topics are using metoclopromide to treat migraine in the emergency department and stocking a first aid kit appropriately.
 

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