scholarly journals Medication literacy in elderly patients with chronic diseases: a community pharmacy perspective

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Plaza-Zamora ◽  
Isabel Legaz ◽  
Eduardo Osuna ◽  
M. D. Pérez-Cárceles
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Maintenance Medication ◽  
Older Users ◽  
Long Term Therapy ◽  
New Strategies

Abstract Background: Long-term therapy with chronic maintenance medication is essential for reducing risks of disease progression, comorbidity, and mortality. A correct adherence and use of the medication are prerequisite for reducing these risks. Medication literacy (ML) is the specific ability to safely access and understand the information available concerning medication, and act accordingly.Methods: To investigate the ML in a community pharmacy of older users in order to study the factors that are associated with inadequate literacy. A total of 400 patients were analyzed to assess the level of ML (document and numeracy) through the MedLitRxSE tool.Results: Our study showed that 66% had an inadequate-ML. Women were a high frequency of inadequate-ML respect to men (70.1% and 29.9%). Users over 65 years with chronic diseases showed a high frequency of inadequate-ML (76.5%) in both sexes (P<0.001).Conclusions: Older users, those with primary or any studies as well as patients taking many medicines for chronic diseases showed a significantly lower level of ML. Health professionals and managers should adopt new strategies that allow to prevent and reduce the errors in the handling of the medicines and avoiding the undesirable effects of a misuse in older patients.

Olanzapine in the long-term treatment of schizophrenia

1999 ◽  
Vol 174 (S37) ◽  
pp. 26-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Kane
Keyword(s):  
Antipsychotic Drugs ◽  
Antipsychotic Agent ◽  
Term Treatment ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Maintenance Medication ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Long Term Therapy ◽  
The Cost

The primary aim of the long-term treatment of patients with schizophrenia is to prevent relapse, which is costly both in psychological and economic terms. Although with conventional antipsychotic drugs relapse may occur despite compliance with maintenance regimens, the rate of relapse is reduced in compliant patients. However, this benefit is achieved at the cost of side-effects and the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia, even among patients who have taken these drugs for only a year or two. To provide the therapeutic benefits of maintenance medication without its drawbacks, intermittent dosing and long-term therapy with reduced doses of conventional medications have been explored. The atypical antipsychotic agent, olanzapine, has been shown to be effective maintenance medication and has an improved safety profile.

Antithrombotic Therapy for DVT/PE

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (03) ◽  
pp. 161-162
Author(s):  
Thomas Hyers
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Low Molecular Weight Heparin ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Long Term Therapy

SummaryProblems with unfractionated heparin as an antithrombotic have led to the development of new therapeutic agents. Of these, low molecular weight heparin shows great promise and has led to out-patient therapy of DVT/PE in selected patients. Oral anticoagulants remain the choice for long-term therapy. More cost-effective ways to give oral anticoagulants are needed.

Office-based post-marketing surveillance study on the influence of long term therapy with aripiprazole in patients with schizophrenia

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kungel ◽  
A Engelhardt ◽  
T Spevakné-Göröcs ◽  
M Ebrecht ◽  
C Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance Study ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Post Marketing Surveillance ◽  
Post Marketing ◽  
Long Term Therapy

scholarly journals Amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction in children: insights from the THYRAMIO study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204201882110011
Author(s):  
Sarah Montenez ◽  
Stéphane Moniotte ◽  
Annie Robert ◽  
Lieven Desmet ◽  
Philippe A. Lysy
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunction ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Thyroid Status ◽  
Clinical Series ◽  
Amiodarone Treatment ◽  
Long Term Therapy ◽  
Treatment Dosage

Background: Amiodarone treatment is effective against various types of arrhythmias but is associated with adverse effects affecting, among other organs, thyroid function. Amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction was not thoroughly evaluated in children as it was in adults, yet this affection may lead to irreversible neurodevelopmental complications. Our study aimed to define the incidence and risk factors of amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction in children. Methods: The study was designed as an observational study with a retrospective clinical series of 152 children treated by amiodarone in the Pediatric Cardiology Unit of our center from 1990 to 2019. All patients were divided into three groups according to their thyroid status: euthyroid, AIH (amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism) or AIT (amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis). Patients from these three groups were compared in terms of key clinical and therapeutic features. Results: Amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction was present in 23% of patients. AIT (5.3%) was three times less common than AIH (17.7%), and its occurrence increased with older age ( p < 0.05), treatment dosage ( p < 0.05), treatment duration ( p < 0.05) and the number of loading doses administered ( p < 0.05). There were no distinctive clinical features between euthyroid and AIH groups. A multivariable prediction model of AIT was built, with a yield of 66.7% as positive predictive value and 96.7% as negative predictive value. Conclusion: We observed that one in five children developed amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction. Special attention is required for older children with a high dosage and long-term therapy and who received a large number of loading doses, since these children are at risk to develop AIT, which is more delicate to manage than AIH.

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