Acetaminophen dosing guidelines needed for overweight children, study shows
September 5th 2012There is considerable discrepancy among caregivers and pharmacists regarding the appropriate dosage of acetaminophen for overweight and obese children, according to a recent study published online August 20 in the European Journal of Hospitality.
Early administration of aspirin plus alteplase does not improve outcome in stroke patients
September 5th 2012Early administration of intravenous aspirin, in addition to alteplase, does not improve functional outcome at 3 months for patients with acute ischemic stroke, but increases the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, according to a study published online August 25 in The Lancet.
Aspirin may benefit prostate cancer patients
September 5th 2012Anticoagulant therapy, particularly the use of aspirin, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality in men treated with radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy for prostate cancer, according to a study published online August 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
New anticancer agents may lead to greater toxicity, discontinuation rates than standard therapy
September 4th 2012New anticancer agents that offer improved efficacy compared with standard therapy also increase morbidity and treatment-related mortality, according to a meta-analysis published August 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Use of ALBC implants may lead to kidney injury
August 23rd 2012Aminoglycoside-loaded bone cement implants, frequently used in orthopedic surgery, may result in systemic effects that raise aminoglycoside serum concentrations and lead to acute kidney injury, according to a study published July 3 in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
FDA approves first generic Actos to treat type 2 diabetes
August 17th 2012FDA approved Mylan Pharmaceutical's 15-mg, 30-mg, and 45-mg pioglitazone hydrochloride tablets, the first generic version of Actos (Takeda), along with diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
HHS partners with pharmacies to educate Medicare beneficiaries about new health benefits
August 16th 2012The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created partnerships with several pharmacies to help patients learn about new Medicare benefits available under the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare reform legislation that was upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court in late June.
Medication reconciliation important to avoid errors
August 16th 2012It’s important to put processes in place to be sure a patient’s medication list at discharge from the hospital is the same information that is provided to the primary care physician to avoid medication errors, according to a recent study published online July 24 in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
FDA warns of possible fatalities from codeine use in some children after surgical procedures
August 15th 2012FDA has issued a Drug Safety Communication concerning three children who died and one child who experienced a nonfatal but life-threatening case of respiratory depression after taking the pain-reliever codeine following tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.