P H A R M A G R A M

May, 2008 an educational memo from your Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (Epogen® Procrit®) Safety Concerns:

The FDA has notified healthcare providers of increased mortality and more rapid tumor progression in patients with cancer when erythropoiesis stimulating drugs are used to target a hemoglobin of greater than 12gm/dL.

Intravenous Drug Administration Reference (aka Drug Matrix) Updated:

The on-line reference of parenteral medications permitted to be administered on each unit within the medical center has been updated to include vaccines, antibiotics, immune globulins and continuous infusions of morphine or HYDROmorphone outside of PCA use. Please consult the Guide to Medication Use for SFMC Clinicians which is located on the SFMC homepage.

Is This an Order for Cardizem® (Diltiazem) or Cardene® (Nicardipine)?

In order to decrease the potential for errors due to sound-alike look-alike medications, please order medications with their generic names and include drip concentrations.

(Answer: Cardene®; or Nicardipine 50mg in 250ml NS for adults).

Formulary Addition and Autosubstitution:

Olopatadine (Pataday®), an antihistamine ophthalmic solution, has been added to the Formulary. Other antihistamine ophthalmic solutions (Azelastine (Optivar®), Emedastine (Emadine®), Epinastine (Allergan® and Ketotifen (Zaditor®) may be substituted to the olopatadine product by the pharmacist.

Other Autosubstitutions Approved:

Dexrazoxane (Zinecard®) is employed as a cardio-protective agent when used with anthracycline chemotherapy. Totect® is the trade name product of the same drug which is approved for treating extravasations of this same chemotherapeutic drug class. The P&T Committee approved an autosubstitution between these two trade name products of dexrazoxane.

Urosodiol (Actigall®), which is approved for gallstone dissolution, is also available by the trade name of URSO®, which has an indication for treating primary biliary cirrhosis. Orders for URSO® were approved to substitituted to ursodiol by the P&T Committee.

Drug Discontinuation:

Edrophonium (Tensilon®, ENLON®) has been discontinued by the manufacturer. The remaining supply will be available until December 2008.

DRUG INFORMATION SERVICES:

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