Due to the risk of PPA-associated hemorrhagic stroke and the high use of PPA in OTC products, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory requesting the withdrawal of all PPA containing products. The P&T Committee also agreed to remove these drugs from the Formulary. OSF Formulary products containing PPA were Congestant D (Coricidin D), Dimetapp, Entex, Naldelate, Nalgest (Naldecon), and Tavist D. Manufacturers are complying with the FDA request and are recalling these products.

Please Spell out the word ‘units,’ do not use ‘U’ Example: Write 5 units instead of 5U

Do not use ‘trailing zeros’ Example: Write 3 instead of 3.0

 

Use ‘leading zeros’ for decimals Example: Write 0.1 instead of .1

 

Tizanidine (Zanaflex) – a centrally acting muscle relaxant and an alternative to Lioresal (Baclofen).

Bisoprolol (Zebeta) - a beta-blocker with literature supporting perioperative use in preventing cardiac events.

Rabbit anti-thymocyte serum (Thymoglobulin) – anti-rejection drug for organ transplants

All non-parenteral medications, with the exception of aspirin, nitroglycerin tablets and bicitra, will not be available from the SureMed cabinets until a pharmacist has reviewed and entered the drug order into medication profile on the mainframe computer. SureMed dispensing of all PCA syringes (i.e. morphine and fentanyl) will also be contingent on pharmacist approval. This policy is necessary to avoid circumventing a pharmacist check of medication orders, especially in non-emergent situations. Pharmacists are responsible for checking all drug orders for proper indication, dosing, avoidance of interactions and drug use in allergic patients. This procedure will be effective January 1, 2000.

Bob Hoy, Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator for the past 10 years at OSF St Francis Medical Center, has now joined the Pharmacy staff at OSF St Joseph’s Hospital in Bloomington, Illinois. Ed Rainville, who transferred from Vermont two years ago, has replaced Bob as Clinical Coordinator.