Drugs and Therapy Bulletin

Drugs & Therapy Bulletin is a monthly publication by the Department of Pharmacy Services and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of Shands at the University of Florida. Each month, this newsletter highlights the most important drug topics that challenge our department.

The contents of our most recent volumes are listed below. Please click on the desired issue to view the .pdf document. For older issues, please see page four of our November/December issue for the annual index.

2012 Volume 26

January, Number 1

Formulary Update
Three Routes of Acetaminophen: Three Ways to Achieve the Same Result
Cardiovascular Drug-Induced DM

2011 Volume 25

November/December, Number 10

Formulary Update
The Formulary and the P&T Committee
2011 Annual Index

October, Number 9

Formulary Update
Restrict IV acetylcysteine use for the prevention of radiocontrast- induced nephropathy
Bisphosphonates and atypical femur fractures: A bone of contention

September Number 8

Formulary Update
New Florida law for controlled substances

July Number 7

Formulary Update
If to err is human, is CPOE divine?
P&T committee-approved authorized changes to med lists
Hey! Stop buggin' me! General characteristics of insect repellants

June Number 6

Formulary Update
The truth about drug fever

May Number 5

Formulary Update
Prescription drug trends 2010

April Number 4

Formulary Update
What's so special about specialty pharmacies?
SALAS: Arista® versus Arixtra®

March Number 3

Formulary Update
Proposal: Delete IV Phenergan® from the Formulary

February Number 2

Formulary Update
Abandoned prescriptions?
New drugs in 2011

January Number 1

Formulary Update
DTaP and Tdap: Understanding the letters
Is erythromycin preferred to azithromycin as a prokinetic?
Editorial: Twenty-five years of Bulletin

2010

November Number 10

Formulary Update
Oral erythromycin for gastroparesis: The more stable choice?
Do not "Do Not Substitute"
Desvenlafaxine-Venlafaxine interchange (correction)
2010 Annual index

October Number 9

Formulary Update
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents: When good turns evil

September Number 8

Formulary Update
Cation-exchange resins for hyperkalemia: The evidence may leave you in a bind

July/August Number 7

Formulary Update
Top drugs in 2009

June Number 6

Formulary Update
Investigational drug information "Case Reporting"
Therapeutic Interchange: The importance of medication reconciliation

May Number 5

Formulary Update
The importance of accurate drug allergy information

April Number 4

Formulary Update
Individualized dosing of Warfarin? Why so complicated?
Naloxone 101 - A fresh look at an old drug

March Number 3

Formulary Update
Cracking down on outpatient controlled substances
Alaris^® pump guardrails
Adult PCA order form
Approved criteria for use

February Number 2

Formulary Update
New drugs in 2009
Brand name drug prices rise nearly 10%
Answers to drug information questions

January Number 1

Formulary Update
Prescription assistance programs and alternatives
Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine added to Formulary

2009

November/December Number 10

Formulary Update
P&T Policy Update: Changing criteria for use & sterile compounds from nonsterile ingredients
Finding drug-specific order forms on the portal
Resource for questions
Inpatient use of Med Guides

October Number 9

Formulary Update
Update: Automatic dose & route changes
Don't use midazolam with what?

September Number 8

Formulary Update
Pediatric PCA order form required
Requesting a drug for addition in the Formulary
Micromedex becomes the Portal's drug reference
New warfarin guidelines

July Number 7

Formulary Update
How to help patients who cannot smoke while hospitalized
Proton pump inhibitors may reduce clopidogrel's effectiveness

June Number 6

Formulary update
Procholorperazine - the forgotten antiemetic
"Cockcroft-Gault for drug dosing...not MDRD"
Ceftriazone-calcium update

May Number 5

Formulary update
Change to vaccination policy
Conflicts of interest -- "Perception is reality"

April Number 04

Formulary update
Unapproved drugs: What do you mean "My colchicine is unapproved?!"
"Do you have any difficulties paying for your meds?"
Don't get burned prescribing transdermal drugs

March Number 03

Formulary update
Acyclovir shortage? What's the problem?

February Number 02

Formulary update
Don't get stuck not knowing about postexposure prophylaxis
New drugs in 2008...and looking forward
Override medications in automated dispensing cabinets

January Number 01

Formulary update
Mandatory use of Transfer Medication Order Report
Verbal C-III update
P & T Committee Actions 2008

2008 Volume 22

November Number 10

Formulary update
Med reconciliation: There ARE reasons to discontinue some home meds
Pharmacist order review: Exceptions and misconceptions
2008 Annual index

October Number 9

Formulary update
Medication use evaluation: Conivaptan restriction
Generic equivalents - Using the Orange Book

September Number 8

Formulary update
New pediatric anticoagulation policies
Therapeutic interchange - 2008
Why are insulin pens "less stable" than insulin vials?

July/August Number 7

Formulary update
"Patients may take own meds" update
Sliding scale insulin revisions
New anticoagulation policies
Factor VII use evaluation
Proposal to delete phenytoin injection

June Number 6

Formulary update
Cytotoxic drug dose-rounding allowed
The old pharmacy intranet site is dead...
Long live the new pharmacy portal
Potassium replacement: Is there a right way to replace K+?

May Number 5

Formulary update
Controversy over requirements for verbal CIII prescriptions
Free samples aren't free...

April Number 4

Formulary update
Heparin shortage: Interchange to enoxaparin?
Ketorolac + ibuprofen contraindicated
Inappropriate patient allergy? Let's remove it

March Number 3

Formulary update
Policies and procedures: Contraindicated combos/li>
Publish the good, forget the bad; do you believe everything you read?
Mandatory VTE assessment and orders
Standardized sliding scale insulin orders
Chantix® safety update

February Number 2

Formulary Update
Join Commissions regulations mean changes to pre-printed PRN orders
Vitamin D-ficiencies and D-velopments
New drugs approved in 2007

January Number 1

Formulary Update
Discontinue stress, discontinue stress ulcer prophylaxis
P&T Committee Actions 2007

2007 Volume 21

November/December Number 10

Formulary Update
Medical Foods: Drug, Dietary Supplement, Food, or Other?
2007 Annual Index

September Number 8

Formulary Update
Erythropoiesis-stimulating Agent Protocol
The Case of Acthar Gel

July/August Number 7

Formulary Update
Pneumococcal Vaccine Protocol Should Improve Immunization Rates
High-dose Vancomycin for MRSA Infections
Standard Doses for Calcium Chloride & Gluconate and Sodium Phosphate

June Number 6

Formulary Update
FDA Warns that ESAs May Increase Thrombosis Risk
"Doctoring Orders"
Meningococcal Vaccination in the Hospital Setting

May Number 5

Formulary Update
Carity Care Formulary Update
Generics Keep Patients Out of the "Donut" Hole
Standarized IV Concentrations

April Number 4

Formulary Update
Monitoring Heparin With Heparin Levels: not aPTTs
Antimicrobial Management Makes Progress
How Do Patients Dispose of Drugs?

March Number 3

Formulary Update
Formulary Proposal: Using Generic Cyclosporine
Off-label Drug Use Promotion Banned
MDRD vs. Cockroft-Gault Dosing with Impaired Renal Function
Administration of Medications via Enternal Feeding Tubes

February Number 2

Formulary Update
New Drugs Approved in 2006
Therapeutic Interchange - 2007
Albumin and IVIG Shortages Expected in 2007

January Number 1

Formulary Update
Darbepoetin-epoetin Interchange?
Drug Information Service Information
Promethazine: Resolve to Dilute

2006 Volume 20

November/December Number 10

Formulary Update
Collect Before You Treat: Obtaining Cultures Before Antibiotic Treatment
Pharmacokinetics Physician-Approved Protocol
2006 Annual Inex

October Number 9

Formulary Update
Standard Insulin Infusions: The L&D Exception
Make Up Your Mind: Acetylcholine or no Acetylcholine
No Samples Allowed....

September Number 8

Formulary Update
Automatically Disconnecting Pneumococcal Vaccine Orders?
Automatic Stop Orders
Standardized IV Cocentration in Pediatrics

July/August Number 7

Formulary Update
The Legality and Ethics of Self-prescribing
Variety of Insulin Product Vendors Selected
Changes to the Chemotherapy Ordering Process

June Number 6

Formulary Update
Prescribing generics improves compliance
Early warfarin therapy shortens LOS

May Number 5

Formulary Update
Improving Pediatric Drug Research
Can Generic Levothyroxine be Used for Brands?

April Number 4

Formulary Update
Joint Commission Report & Medication Use Management
Therapeutic Interchange - 2006

March Number 3

Formulary Update
Medication Error Prevention for Pediatric Patients
Stressing Appropriate Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis
New Standard Dosage Times

February Number 2

Formulary Update
Standardized fentanyl concentrations
New drugs in 2005
Charity Care Formulary additions

January Number 1

Formulary Update
Medicare Part D
Insulin Infusions
Preventing HAART Errors

2005 Volume 19

November/December Number 10

Formulary Update
Medication Safety--Avoid Jargon and Slang
Restricting "anit-infectives" in Hospital Clinics
Annual Index

October Number 9

Formulary Update
"Phos" Confusion
Clarifying Controlled Substance Prescription Rules
IVIG Shortage trigger prior approval process

September Number 8

Formulary Update
P&T Committee Action
Writing Outpatient Prescriptions
Medicaid's PDL

July - August Number 7

Formulary Update
CA-MSRA: A new bug on the block
Improving intravenous PPI use

June Number 6

Formulary Update
Hepatic Dysfunction & Drug Dosing: The ABCs of the Child-Pugh Score
Nonformulary Drug Presentations Prohibited

May Number 5

Formulary Update
OTC Brand Names Can Cause Errors
Vancomycin Pre-approval Required
Prescribing Methadone

April Number 4

Formulary Update
Percocet instead of Tylox...
Cefepime MUE
Indication for PRNs

March Number 3

Formulary Update
Vancomycin Use Will Require Pre-Approval
Clinical Practice Bulletin

February Number 2

Formulary Update
Alternatives to "Greater Than" and "Less Than" Abbreviations
Ins and Outs of Continuous Infusion Diuretics

January Number 1

Formulary Update
Banned Abbreviation Compliance
Influenza Vaccine: Shortcomings or Shortages

2004 Volume 18

November/December Number 10

Formulary Update
Head-to-Head Trials
Outpatient Prescription Writing
Annual Index

October Number 9

Formulary Update
Minimizing "Allergic" Reactions to Contrast Media
Therapeutic Interchange Update
Abbreviations to Avoid

September Number 8

Formulary Update
Otitis Media: No Antibiotics Does not Mean No Treatment
P&T Actions 2003-04

July Number 7

Formulary Update
Confusion over NSAIDS and ASA
Prescribing Patterns
Alcohol

June Number 6

Formulary Update
Glucosamine and Shellfish Allergy
Relative" Contraindications
Nebulizers versus MDI Quote

May Number 5

Formulary Update
MVI-12 versus "MVI-13"
Initiating Warfarin Therapy
Audit of Heparin Protocol
Pharmacological Isomers -- Nice to Know? Or Need to Know?

April Number 4

Formulary Update (includes nebulizer to MDI interchange)
NovoSeven Audit
Fluoroquinolone Audit
Vancomycin Guidelines for Use

March Number 3

Formulary Update
Anti-Infective Stewardship Program Initiated
Preventing Nosebleeds from Nasal Steroids
Opioid Allergies...Why are Most Alerts Wrong?

February Number 2

Formulary Update
Treatment Options for Alcohol Withdrawal
New Drugs in 2003

January Number 1

Formulary Update
Identifying Tablets & Capsules by Imprint Codes
COX-2 Inhibitor Misunderstandings
Ipecac No Longer Recommended
Who is the P&T Committee?

2003 Volume 17

November/December Number 10

Formulary Update
Automatic Adjustment of Ceftriaxone Dosages
What Takes Pharmacy So Long?
Automatic Interchange of MDIs for Nebulized Bronchodilators
2003 Annual Index

October Number 9

Formulary Update
High Cost-Problem Prone Drug Review Process
Drugs without an Outpatient Reimbursement Code
Manufacturers' with Restricted Distribution Systems
Importance of Pharmacist Order Review

September Number 8

Formulary Update
More Invalid Abbreviations
Preventing Allergic Reactions to Drugs
Imipenem Streamlining is Useful

July/August Number 7

Formulary Update
P&T Actions 2002-03
Therapeutic Interchange Update

June Number 6

Formulary Update
Micromedex Now Available
Drug Shortage Resources
Beta Blockers and Airway Disease
Patients' "Own Meds" Use in the Hospital

May Number 5

Formulary Update
Comfort Medications During Procedures
Results of Meperidine Use Audit
Medicaid Preferred Drug List
Use of "Medically Necessary" to Prevent Generic Interchange in the Inpatient Setting

April Number 4