P H A R M A G R A M    

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

July, 2005

Cefazolin (Ancef®, Kefzol®) IV Push:

On June 21, the administration of cefazolin 1gm was changed for adults from a 30 minute infusion to a 3 to 5 minute push.  The 3-5 minute push for cefazolin 1gm doses has been shown to be safe and not to cause any additional vein irritation or extravasation.  By implementing this change, there are savings resulting from not needing secondary IV tubing, minibags and an IV pump. The minibags used for the infusion method have occasionally been in short supply and took extra storage space in Pyxis, which can now be used for other medications.  Estimated cost savings for this conversion is over $40,000 per year.

Reminyl® (Galantamine) Soon to be Known as Razadyne®:

The manufacturer of galantamine (Reminyl®), which is used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease, is re-naming their product Razadyne®. The reason for this change is Reminyl® sounds like Amaryl®, which is glimepiride, a sulfonylurea hypoglycemic agent.  A number of dispensing errors have been reported because of the similar sounding names and the milligram doses. In the meantime, to help avoid this error, it is suggested that the prescriber give the indication (ex. ‘for diabetes’ or ‘for dementia’) when giving a verbal or telephone order.  

Dietary Supplements and Their Contents:

The Food and Drug Administration, which oversees the safety and advertising of dietary supplements, leaves the accuracy of the labeled content of these products up to the manufacturer. Consumer Reports and other publications have reported on herbal and dietary supplement products that do not contain the labeled amount of active ingredients. Numerous products have also been found to be contaminated with insecticides, herbicides and heavy metals which are not noted in the content listing. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has introduced USP-Verified Dietary Supplements program which analyzes dietary supplements and certifies their labeled contents. The website for a listing of these USP certified products is at http://www.usp.org/USPVerified/ .

Currently, dietary supplements are banned from the Medical Center. An attending physician can submit a request to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee to add a dietary supplement to the Formulary if there are good quality studies supporting its efficacy and safety and a certified source of the product is available.   .

New JCAHO 2006 National Safety Goals:

New requirements have been adopted under the existing National Safety Goals:

	Implement a standardized approach to "hand off" communications, including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions.
	Label all medications, medication containers (e.g., syringes, medicine cups, basins), or other solutions on and off the sterile field in perioperative and other procedural settings.
	Encourage the active involvement of patients and their families in the patient's care as a patient safety strategy.
	Prevent health care-associated pressure ulcers (decubitus ulcers).
	Fall risk assessment is being replaced with fall risk program, which was only applicable to the long term care program in 2005. For 2006, this requirement will apply to hospitals. ADE (Adverse Drug Event) Hotline: 655-6805 Visit the Pharmacy Website for past issues of the PharmaGram: http://library.osfhealthcare.org/Pharmacists.asp