OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois

...an educational memo from your Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

March, 2002

Ziprasidone, a non-traditional anti-psychotic indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia, was added to the Formulary. Because of its potential to cause QT prolongation and fatal arrhythmias, a special pre-printed order form must be used when prescribing this drug. The form provides conditions that must be met, such as 12 lead ECG, normal potassium and magnesium levels and no significant interacting drugs, before the drug can be dispensed or administered.

Aggrenox®, which is a combination of aspirin and dipyridamole, has been shown through clinical trials, to be effective in preventing recurrent stroke. Previously an autosubstitution was utilized for this drug. The formulary addition was based on usage, convenience of drug administration and minimal additional cost.

Prescribing drotrecogin, also known as activated Protein C, will be restricted to attending physicians only, be restricted to patients in an intensive care unit during initiation of therapy, and must be ordered using a pre-printed order form specific for this drug. The Drotrecogin Order Form provides qualifications that must be met, and checked off, before this drug can be dispensed. This action was taken based on the significant cost of therapy (average $7000 per patient) and potential significant side effects.

Clinical services, such as pharmacokinetic dosing of aminoglycosides and vancomycin, drug dosing in renally impaired patients, patient education and identification of adverse drug reactions, are available throughout Saint Francis Medical Center. In addition, a drug information service is now fully staffed

8 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Phone numbers, pagers and areas covered are listed below.

Main Pharmacy 655-2285 --- 6:30 AM – 11 PM 7 days

Gerlach Pharmacy 655-2050 --- 24 hours 7 days

Gerlach 5000-5100 --- 497-4663 7 AM – 3:30 PM Mon - Fri

Gerlach 4000-4100 --- 655-9772 7 AM – 3:30 PM Mon - Fri

Pediatrics --- 679-5926 7 AM – 3:30 PM Mon - Fri

3400 – 4 Surg --- 497-9198 7 AM – 3:30 PM Mon - Fri

1700 – 2700 --- 497-9288 7 AM – 3:30 PM Mon - Fri

Surgery 655-3471 --- 7 AM – 9:15 PM Mon - Fri

St. Jude Clinic 624-9862 497-6716 6:30 AM – 3 PM Tues,Fri

Center for Health 683-4723 679-3334 6 AM – 3:00 PM Mon - Fri

Clinic Pharmacy 624-9534 --- 8 AM – 4:30 PM Mon - Fri

Drug Information 655-2382 679-5928 8 AM – 4:30 PM Mon - Fri

ADE Hotline 655-6805 --- 24 hours 7 days

The latest edition of the Hospital Formulary is available through the OSF Library and Resource web site at http://library.osfsaintfrancis.org/. Then click on ‘Pharmacist’ and then click on ‘Formulary.’ The web address in the last PharmaGram was incorrect.