Information comparison of the effects of drugs on laboratory tests in drug labels and Young's book.

Background: The effects of drugs on laboratory tests may lead to misinterpretation of laboratory data, unnecessary tests, higher costs and missed diagnoses. This study compared the information on drug-laboratory effects (DLE) described in 200 drug labels with that in Young's book.

Methods: Information on DLE was searched in the drug labels of 200 frequently prescribed drugs using the keywords 'interfer*', 'influence', and 'laborator*'.

Instructions on laboratory monitoring in 200 drug labels.

Background: Monitoring drug treatment is important to assess the therapeutic effects and to prevent adverse drug reactions. Unfortunately, the clinical evidence for monitoring is often missing. To attain evidence-based laboratory monitoring and to improve patient safety it is mandatory for the clinical chemist to develop effective and rational methods for monitoring.

A pharmacy medication alert system based on renal function in older patients.

Background: Patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease are at risk of reduced renal function and frequently use drugs that interact with renal function. GPs monitor renal function in these patients. Computerised prescription systems produce alerts in patients labelled as having chronic kidney disease, but alerts are often ignored.

Preventing hospital admissions by reviewing medication (PHARM) in primary care: design of the cluster randomised, controlled, multi-centre PHARM-study.

Background: Medication can be effective but can also be harmful and even cause hospital admissions. Medication review or pharmacotherapy review has often been proposed as a solution to prevent these admissions and to improve the effectiveness and safety of pharmacotherapy. However, most published randomised controlled trials on pharmacotherapy reviews showed no or little effect on morbidity and mortality.

Laboratory tests in the clinical risk management of potential drug-drug interactions: a cross-sectional study using drug-dispensing data from 100 Dutch community pharmacies.

Background: Patient safety and the life cycle of a drug are negatively influenced by the still increasing occurrence of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Clinical risk management of potential DDIs is required in patients using drugs to influence the benefit-risk profile positively. Information about laboratory test results, in particular, may be useful in the assessment of potential DDIs for the individual patient.

Pharmacist-based medication review reduces potential drug-related problems in the elderly: the SMOG controlled trial.

Background: The high prevalence of drug-related problems (DRPs) in the elderly, occurring as a result of multiple drug use combined with age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, is a well known phenomenon. However, effective intervention strategies are uncommon.

Objective: A pharmacy-based controlled trial (SMOG [Screening Medicatie Oudere Geneesmiddelgebruiker; Screening Medications in the Older Drug User]) was performed to investigate whether a community pharmacist-led intervention reduces the number of potential DRPs in patients aged > or = 65 years using six or more drugs concomitantly.

Association between hospitalization and discontinuity of medication therapy used in the community setting in the Netherlands.

Background: Transitions from one healthcare setting to another often parallel transitions in health status and can be associated with intentional as well as unintentional changes in patient care. Hospitalization may put patients at increased risk of discontinuity of medication use.

Objective: To assess the association between hospitalization and medication therapy discontinuities.

The association between antidepressant use and disturbances in glucose homeostasis: evidence from spontaneous reports.

Objectives: Depression is common in patients with diabetes, and the use of antidepressants may impair glycaemic control. We assessed the association between antidepressant use and hyper- and hypoglycaemia.

Methods: Based on spontaneous reports listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) Adverse Drug Reaction Database, a case-control study was conducted.

Identification of potential drug-related problems in the elderly: the role of the community pharmacist.

Objective: The high prevalence of multiple drug use combined with age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics makes older adults more vulnerable to drug-related problems (DRPs). This pharmacy-based study was performed to identify potential DRPs from prescription records of the elderly and the role of the pharmacist in this process.

Method: The study was performed from June 2002 to February 2003 in 16 community pharmacies in the Netherlands.