What do you see on “Abilify” prescription?
Posted by: Ben Suwarato on: November 2, 2008
The major focus on ABILIFY (aripiprazole) is its therapeutics. Three groups of patients should be on the top of your head.
1. Schizophrenia (adults or children 13-17)
2. Bipolar disorder, maniac or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I (adults or children 10-17)
3. Depression (as an add-on treatment for adult with major depressive disorder)
Then, we are going to examine closely to each group of patients.
Notice your patient’s date of birth and answer this question: can a 12 year-old boy receives Abilify 1 mg/mL sig: 2mL PO QD? The answer is either Yes, or NO, depending on the diagnosis. Ablilify is indicated for schizophrenic patients 13-17 of age or adults. However, ABILIFY can be given to children 10-17 of age diagnosed bipolar disorder, maniac, or mixed episodes associated bipolar I.
When your patient pass the first checkpoint, then ask yourself do you remember the warning box of Abilify? If yes, what are things to be aware?
1. ABILIFY is NOT approved for elderly patients, diagnosed with psychosis as a result of dementia.
2. ABILIFY increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, or young adults. When taking ABILIFY tell patients to call their doctors right away IF they have new or worsening mood symptoms, unusual changes in behavior, or thoughts of suicide.
3. The last things for all medication. Discontinue if allergic symptoms show.
An adult patients taking ABILIFY for the first time in her life asks you what are side effects of this medication? What should be answers that pop-up in your mind?
1. Stroke
2. Neuroleptic malignant syndromes (NMS)
3. Tardive dyskinesia (TD)
4. Increasing blood sugar
5. Orthostatic hypotension
6. Judgment, thinking, and motor skills
7. Swallowing problem
8. Seizure
9. is a Warning: do not drink alcohol or breastfeed an infant
10. are common side effects in Adult and children 10-17: N/V, restlessness. Extrapiramidal symptoms are found in the children 10-17.
Carac and Kuric
Posted by: Ben Suwarato on: October 22, 2008
Be careful when you fill a prescription of Carac (fluorouracil) Cream. Do not confuse with Kuric (Ketoconazole) Cream. The FDA has recently posted a warning about this medication error in their web-based quarterly report. Carac Cream is indicated for topical treatment of multiple actinic or solar keratoses of the face and anterior scalp. However, Kuric Cream is indicated for topical treatment of tinea corporis and tinea pedis caused by Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccusum; in the treatment of tinea versicolor caused by Malassezia furfur; in the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis caused by Candida spp., and the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. The error was caused by improper transcribing the verbal prescription, and subsequently caused filling and dispensing error. The patient who received Kuric instead of Caracadverse showed adverse effects of severe rash with erythema, irritation, peeling of skin and secondary infection involving the application site and surrounding areas.
Strategies to prevent this type of error
- Clarify oral and written prescriptions with the prescriber by verifying the genetic and brand names, as well as the spelling of the products.
- Clarify the indication for which the patient is using the medication.
- Space product inventory appropriately so as to draw attention to the differences in names.
- Create an electronic look-alike/sound-alike alert that will flag the pharmacist upon filling of either medication.
- Share this information to the entire pharmacy staff.
