P H A R M A G R A M

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

March, 2006

Confusion Between NovoLOG® 70/30 and NovoLIN® 70/30:

NovoLIN 70/30 is on the Formulary and is floor stock on most patient care units. NovoLIN 70/30 is a combination of regular insulin and NPH insulin. This insulin is administered 30-60 minutes before eating.

NovoLOG 70/30 (also referred to as Novolog Mix 70/30) is NOT on our Formulary, but patients could bring in their home medication.  NovoLOG  70/30 is a combination of insulin aspart (which is plain NovoLOG) and insulin aspart protamine (which is similar to NPH insulin). This product is administered immediately before eating a meal. 

Please check the website listed below for a complete listing of Look Alike/Sound Alike drugs and procedures in place to avoid this confusion.

Formulary Addition:

The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee added Accusol ® dialysis solution to the Formulary.

Acetaminophen Content of Analgesic Combinations on Formulary:

Limiting daily acetaminophen consumption to 4000mg or less is recommended to avoid potential toxicity. The acetaminophen content of combination analgesic products is often not well known or considered when prescribed.  Listed below is the acetaminophen content of combination analgesic products on Formulary.

Darvocet N-100® - 650mg     Percocet-5® - 325mg                         Vicodin® – 500mg     

Fioricet® – 325mg                  Lortab® liquid – 500mg/15ml              Vicodin ES® – 750mg

Tylenol with Codeine liquid – 120mg/5ml                                           Tylenol#3® – 300mg

Drug Shortages:

There is a nationwide shortage of Albumin (all concentrations) and IV Immune Globulin. The duration of this shortage is expected to last for another 6 months. Presently we are asking physicians to be prudent in prescribing albumin and reserve its use to patients in which there exists no alternative. After consultation with medical services that are users of albumin, further restrictions may need to be instituted. Please check the Drug Information website listed below for other drug shortages and further information.

ADE (Adverse Drug Event) Hotline: 655-6805

Visit the Pharmacy Website for past issues of the PharmaGram: http://library.osfhealthcare.org/Pharmacists.asp