|
PHARMACOLOGY CONSULT |
| An update on sunscreen |
June 2008 |
| Creative thinking required to help patients adhere to drug regimens |
May 2008 |
| Predicting drug dosing in obese patients can be a challenge |
March 2008 |
| Camphor use entails unique safety concerns |
February 2008: Parents may seek alternative products for upper respiratory tract infection relief as the cold season approaches. |
| Jury still out on zinc for the common cold |
January 2008: The potential for anosmia deserves some consideration. |
| Mupirocin effective in short-term MRSA decolonization |
December 2007: Topical antibiotic effective choice for reduction of nasal carriage, transmission during outbreaks. |
| Limited data on cold medicines for kids |
November 2007: An FDA panel last month recommended against using these medications in children younger than age 6. |
| New topical offers a choice in impetigo treatment |
October 2007: Retapamulin is first commercially available antibiotic in pleuromutilin class. |
| Resistance factor still relatively unknown in lice management |
September 2007: The amount of resistance to agents used to treat lice differs between products. |
| Complementary and alternative medicine for pediatric infectious diseases: Are they helpful? |
August 2007: Because caregivers often view CAM therapies as more ‘natural,’ they may not consider the potential for interactions with other drugs. |
| There are many adjunctive pharmacotherapy options to consider for acute otitis media |
July 2007: Because most episodes of AOM cause significant pain to the infant or child, assessment and treatment of discomfort is essential. |
| The well baby visit: a good time to talk about products, drugs |
June 2007: Diaper dermatitis product choice can be guided by product ingredients, cost and dose formulation. |
| Be alert to the signs of dextromethorphan abuse |
May 2007: With the more recent availability of tablet or capsule dosage forms, abuse of commonly available OTC products has become easier and more widespread. |
| Analgesics for mild-moderate pain in children |
April 2007: Study concluded that ibuprofen is more effective than acetaminophen or codeine when given in maximally recommended doses. |
| Many factors involved in decolonization of S. aureus |
March 2007: Current treatment strategies demonstrate varying levels of effectiveness. |
| Antibiotic choices for
CA-MRSA infections |
February 2007: Treatment options for community-associated MRSA differ from those of health care-associated MRSA. |
| Proper use and device advice for asthma patients |
January 2007: Numerous oral inhalation drug products and devices are available to use and, overall, these devices are similarly effective. |
| Recently published studies evaluate treatments for common problems in children |
December 2006: The most important message from these studies may be that all health care practitioners providing care for pediatric patients should check drug doses. |
| What can we do to decrease antibiotic resistance? |
November 2006: Educating both physicians and caregivers about appropriate antibiotic use is important to decreasing antibiotic resistance. |
| Pulmonary pharmacotherapy options changing for cystic fibrosis patients |
October 2006: New drugs and new uses for older drugs have contributed to advances in cystic fibrosis treatment. |
| Much to consider when treating diaper dermatitis |
September 2006: Diaper dermatitis affected between 600,000 and 1 million infants and children each year between 1990 and 1997. |
| Acute otitis media treatment guidelines: Are prescribers using them? |
August 2006: Physicians should consider antibiotic susceptibility patterns concerning AOM pathogens. |
| Is codeine a useful medication in pediatrics? |
July 2006: Despite its popularity in pediatrics, relatively little is known about it with respect to pharmacokinetics. |
| Should we be using oral fluoroquinolones for AOM? |
June 2006: Resistance to fluoroquinolones has been noted in a small percentage of isolates, but many fear widespread pediatric use would drive up resistance rates. |
| Take another look at
acetaminophen, ibuprofen or both for managing fever |
May 2006: Editor’s note: Part of this
article was inadvertently cut last month due to printing problems. We are
reprinting it here, in its entirety, for our readers. We regret the error. |
| Take another look at
acetaminophen, ibuprofen or both for managing fever |
April 2006: In a survey, half of 161
pediatricians said they advised parents to alternate doses of acetaminophen and
ibuprofen for their child’s fever. |
| Risks for adverse effects
upon bone density from ICS use low |
March 2006: Up to 30% to 50% of patients
receiving chronic oral corticosteroids may experience fractures. |
| Asthma control lies in
balancing therapeutic benefits, adverse effects of inhaled
corticosteroids |
February 2006: Concerns for significant,
systemic adverse effects by caregivers or clinicians may diminish or negate the
therapeutic benefits of ICS. |
| Reviews focus on adverse
effects of short-course corticosteroid treatment for asthma |
January 2006: Patients with concerns about
adverse events related to corticosteroids may not adhere to therapy. |
| Year in review – why
only one new antibiotic this year? |
December 2005: Pediatricians do not have the
same formulary of antibacterial drugs that primary care physicians have. |
| Treatment options exist for
CA-MRSA infection |
November 2005: S. aureus isolates
displaying resistance to ß-lactam antibiotics have been identified for
more than 30 years. |
| Lack of evidence linking
thimerosal with autism |
October 2005: Parental concerns about
thimerosal can be put to rest with the availability of thimerosal-free
products. |
| Are your patients taking
their medication? |
September 2005: Clinicians should negotiate
with patients about the treatment strategy most adaptable to the patient’s
lifestyle and environment. |
| Pharmacotherapy for
childhood obesity |
August 2005: Sibutramine and orlistat may
provide moderate beneficial effects to obese adolescents, but data are still
needed. |
| Tips for using amoxicillin
for AOM treatment |
July 2005: Antimicrobial resistance has forced
many pediatricians to reconsider their therapeutic regimen for acute otitis
media. |
| Summertime considerations
– bugs and sun |
June 2005: Sunscreen and DEET protection are
necessary. |
| Pharmaceutical
considerations for the well-baby visit |
May 2005: Conditions common in infancy that may
require drug therapy include diarrhea, diaper dermatitis and poison
prevention. |
| Antibiotic use in children
with penicillin allergy |
April 2005 |
| Dexamethasone for mild
croup |
March 2005: The benefits of dexamethasone for
severe croup are clear; now a new study looks at using the drug in children
with mild croup. |
| Analgesia for common
procedures |
February 2005: Several pharmaceutical agents
are available for use to minimize children’s discomfort during
immunizations and other painful procedures. |
| Clindamycin: new look at an
old drug |
January 2005: Clindamycin has numerous
potential clinical uses; recently, it has been recommended for acute otitis
media and sinusitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. |
| Pros and cons to rectal
administration of acetaminophen |
December 2004: Using acetaminophen
suppositories requires certain precautions be taken. |
| Pneumococcal immunization
and treatment implications for AOM |
November 2004: PCV7 has had a modest effect on
AOM incidence; prescribing patterns are not likely to change much. |
| Penicillin or cephalosporin
for strep throat? |
October 2004: Which is better for the treatment
of GABHS? |
| Update on pharmacotherapy
of head lice |
September 2004: The potential for head lice to
develop resistance to the commonly used pediculicides complicates selection of
an effective agent for treatment. |
| Use of antidepressants in
children |
August 2004: A look at product selection and
the potential for adverse effects. |
| Improving tastes of liquid
antibiotics |
July 2004: Smell, texture, taste and aftertaste
all affect whether a child will find a liquid medicine yummy or yucky. |
| Pharmacotherapy of two
common gastrointestinal infections |
June 2004: Nitazoxanide (Alinia, Romark
Pharmaceuticals) is the only FDA-approved medication available for the
treatment of Cryptosporidium parvum in children. |
| Summer fun ... and
trouble |
May 2004: A review of recent changes to
official recommendations for sunscreen and insect repellent use in
children. |
| Immunization information
from the Internet |
April 2004: Helping parents and caregivers
learn how to judge the credibility of a Web site is an important part of
vaccine risk/benefit communication. |
| Minimize the potential for
side effects with topical corticosteroids |
March 2004: This month’s column will
review the adverse effects of topical corticosteroid therapy. |
| Using topical
immunomodulators |
February 2004: Topical corticosteroids remain
the mainstay of treatment, but immunomodulators provide another choice for
atopic dermatitis treatment. |
| Use of cough and cold
products |
January 2004: This month’s column will
review the use of these products in children and the published evidence of
their efficacy. |
| Newly approved drugs in
2003 |
December 2003: One drug represents the first of
a new class of anti-infectives. |
| Medication dosing
devices |
November 2003: Several types of liquid
medication dosing devices are available. This month’s column will review
their unique characteristics. |
| Antibiotic considerations
in the treatment of AOM and sinusitis |
October 2003: This month’s column will
review major issues confronting the use of antibiotics in these common
infections. |
| FluMist: the new intranasal
influenza vaccine |
September 2003: Diaper dermatitis, dehydration
and poison control are some well-baby issues that involve pharmacotherapy. |
| Medication considerations
for the well baby visit |
August 2003: Diaper dermatitis, dehydration and
poison control are some well-baby issues that involve pharmacotherapy. |
| Intestinal infection with G.
lamblia is a common problem in summer |
July 2003: While several pharmaceutical agents
have activity toward G. lamblia, only a select few are commercially
available in the United States. |
| Current issues in immunization
reimbursement |
June 2003: Administration of a combination
vaccine, while reducing some costs of the clinician’s practice, may
actually also reduce the amount the practice is reimbursed by third-party
payers. |
| Probiotics: do they have a role
in children? |
April 2003: Probiotics have been extensively
studied for a variety of potential uses in children including acute infectious
diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease. |
| Using topical anesthetics for
common procedures in children |
March 2003: The most commonly used local
anesthetics are products applied to intact skin prior to the use of needles for
IV cannulation or venipuncture, or prior to various dermatologic
procedures. |
| Medication errors in
pediatrics |
February 2003 |
| Oral absorption of medications:
clinical implications |
January 2003: Most drugs exert their
pharmacologic effect and clinical benefit only after absorption from the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract and systemic distribution. |
| Another look at
azithromycin |
December 2002: This month’s column will
focus on azithromycin and its use for pharyngitis and otitis media. |
| Implications of using drugs
‘off-label’ |
November 2002: It is desirable for drugs used
in children to be well studied, approved by the FDA and available in dosage
forms compatible with administration to young children. |
| Treatment of head lice:
what’s new? |
October 2002: Permethrin 1% continues to be
commonly recommended as first-line therapy and as the most effective agent
available OTC. |
| Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for
fever: Does it matter? |
September 2002: Both are effective antipyretic
agents and should be considered equal in their efficacy. Studies that show one
agent to be more effective often use inappropriate comparative dosage
regimens. |
| C. difficile colitis therapy is
limited but effective |
August 2002: Manifestation of Clostridium
difficile infection may range from asymptomatic carriage to toxic megacolon
and life-threatening colitis. |
| Antibiotic products for
conjunctivitis |
July 2002: Eleven antimicrobial agents are
available in solution or ointment form. Some products are available as
antimicrobial combinations. Others include an antimicrobial combined with a
corticosteroid. |
| Bug off! Use of insect
repellent products in children |
June 2002: The available insect repellents can
effectively repel mosquitoes, ticks, mites, midges, biting flies and fleas.
|
| Intranasal corticosteroids for
allergic rhinitis |
May 2002: Six intranasal steroids in different
products and strengths are available for allergic rhinitis. |
| Topical products used for
the treatment of common skin infections |
April 2002: This month’s column discusses
common bacterial skin infections and the proper forms and dosages of
treatment. |
| Immunization of
adolescents: reaching a forgotten population |
March 2002: Eleven or 12 years of age is the
recommended time to schedule a “preadolescent assessment.” |
| Issues in the pharmacotherapy
of asthma |
February 2002: Studies have shown that adding a
long-acting ß-2 agonist to inhaled corticosteroid therapy is more
beneficial than increased inhaled corticosteroid doses alone. |
| Antibiotic concentrations at
the infection site: implications for AOM |
January 2002: Choosing an antibiotic can
include several factors: patient allergy status, adverse effect profile,
compliance factors, cost and the clinician’s preferences. |
| New pediatric drugs
approved in 2001 |
December 2001: While the list of newly approved
drugs for use in children is not extensive, several drugs deserve mention and
description. |
| Issues in the
pharmacotherapy of bacterial sinusitis |
November 2001: Choosing an antibiotic that is
most likely to be effective for a specific patient can be difficult, and
guidelines can be helpful in explaining the rationale when making these
choices. |
| Issues in the use of inhaled
medications in children |
October 2001: The most commonly used drugs
given by the inhaled route are corticosteroids and b-agonists for asthma and
other obstructive respiratory conditions. |
| Therapy of head lice: Update
and recent trends |
September 2001: Before treatment failures are
attributed to resistance, it is important for clinicians to evaluate other
factors that may also lead to treatment failures. |
| Using sunscreens on infants and
children |
August 2001: Exposures to sunlight sufficient
enough to cause sunburn in childhood and adolescence significantly increase the
risk of some forms of melanoma. |
| Pharmacy-based
immunizations: any role in pediatrics? |
July 2001: While the role of pharmacists in
increasing immunization rates needs to be further defined, it seems that
neither parents nor pharmacists strongly desire the role of pharmacy-based
immunization programs in pediatrics to increase. |
| Pharmacologic treatment of cough
– which product to use in children? |
June 2001: This month’s column will review
the efficacy and safety of antitussive products, including a discussion of the
variety of products available and their role. |
| Pharmacotherapy of poison
ivy/oak dermatitis |
May 2001: The goals of treating poison ivy/oak
are mainly symptom relief and prevention of secondary problems, such as
bacterial infection from scratching. |
| Pharmacotherapy of tinea capitis
in children |
April 2001: Because of potential resistance to
griseofulvin, newer agents that have been used mostly in adults for other
fungal infections are attracting the attention of pediatric clinicians. |
| Implications for fluoroquinolone
use in children |
March 2001: If pediatricians presently choose
to prescribe fluoroquinolones, it would be wise to discuss their selected use
with the patient or caregivers. |
| How do orally inhaled
corticosteroids affect growth velocity? |
February 2001: Although a number of studies
have indicated that steroids can inhibit growth to some extent, it appears that
this inhibition does not extend into adulthood. |
| Pharmacologic therapy for
the prevention and treatment of influenza |
January 2001: Four antiviral agents
are available to prevent and/or treat influenza illness. |
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