Drug Formulary Review Archives – March 1, 2007
March 1, 2007
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Early statin withdrawal can endanger patients with acute coronary syndrome
The benefits of statins on acute coronary outcomes are rapidly lost and outcomes worsened if statins are discontinued during a patient's hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome, report researchers at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale-Davie, FL. -
Setting record straight on VA pharmacy system
Department of Veterans Affairs chief pharmacy officer Michael Valentino, R.Ph., says much of the praise and criticism his organization's pharmacy system has received in terms of it being considered a model for potential changes to Medicare Part D arise out of misconceptions about VA pharmacy. -
Pharmacists help with ED smoking cessation efforts
Smoking cessation is a timely topic and efforts to curb tobacco use are widely discussed in the medical literature. MLC Solutions principals Charlotte Kenreigh, Pharm.D., and Linda Timm Wagner, Pharm.D., wrote in a Viewpoint column at the Medscape pharmacist web page that emergency department smoking interventions could make use of pharmacists by calling on them to help educate patients about available smoking cessation products. -
FDA moving to strengthen drug safety program
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have asked Congress to make changes as part of reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) that would significantly broaden and upgrade the agency's drug safety program. -
Drug Criteria & Outcomes: Bad to the (jaw) bone:
The recent appearance of osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients receiving intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates is a painful reminder of the condition that struck match factory workers over a hundred years ago. -
Drug Criteria & Outcomes: New FDA Approvals
Connetics' Olux-E (clobetasol propionate) foam, 0.05%, was approved for treating inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. -
Hospitalized patients also at risk for VTE
Research conducted by Policy Analysis, Inc., Brookline, MA, and reported in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, found that the risk of clinical venous thromboembolism (VTE) among medically ill patients admitted to a hospital, although less than that of patients undergoing major surgery, is not negligible.