ICAAC Highlights
One-third of patients receives overdoses
Serious prescribing errors with antiretroviral therapy were detected in a study from Albany (NY) Medical Center. Bonnie D. Purdy, PharmD, AIDS pharmacy clinical specialist, and colleagues investigated medication prescribed in HIV-infected patients treated with antiretrovirals over a 28-month period. They found 72 significant errors in 59 patients. Overdoses occurred in 32% of patients, and 57% of patients were underdosed. Potential drug interactions were detected in 7% of patients, and miscellaneous errors occurred in 4% of patients.
In addition, 78% of errors were considered "serious" or "severe," and 21% were considered "clinically significant."
The possible causes for the errors included confusion about dose amount, dose frequency, multiple drug dosing, or calculation. Errors were detected most commonly with protease inhibitors (45%).
"Due to the narrow therapeutic index of antiretroviral agents, medication errors may place patients at significant risk for drug failure or toxicity," researchers conclude. "Errors appear to result from the complexity of treatment regimens. Given the potential for adverse outcomes, caregivers should use extra caution when prescribing antiretroviral medications. Pharmacists caring for HIV-infected patients must maintain a comprehensive knowledge base in order to check for appropriateness of prescribed antiretroviral therapy."
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content