Evaluating outcomes associated with alternative dosing strategies for piperacillin/tazobactam: a qualitative systematic review.

Objective: To perform a qualitative systematic review of the evidence comparing traditional strategies against prolonged intermittent or continuous infusion strategies for piperacillin/tazobactam, based on clinical and pharmacodynamic outcomes.

Data Sources: MEDLINE (1950-September 2011), EMBASE (1980-September 2011), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-September 2011) were searched, using the terms piperacillin, tazobactam, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, dosing, and infusion. Reference lists from relevant publications were also reviewed.

Hydralazine for essential hypertension.

Background: Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Hydralazine is a direct-acting vasodilator which has been used for the treatment of hypertension since the 1950's. Although it has largely been replaced by newer antihypertensive drugs with more acceptable tolerability profiles, hydralazine is still widely used in developing countries due to its lower cost.

Evaluating appropriateness of prescribing of long-acting risperidone for injection in acute care settings.

Background: Long-acting risperidone for injection is a second-generation antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. It is a relatively new agent with pharmacokinetic and dosing properties unlike those of conventional long-acting antipsychotic drugs administered by injection.

Objective: To determine the proportion of patients for whom long-acting risperidone for injection was prescribed appropriately in acute care settings in the Fraser Health Authority of British Columbia, according to the following 4 criteria: approved indication for therapy, 2-week dosing intervals, dose increases no sooner than every 4 weeks, and initial overlap supplementation with another antipsychotic for at least 3 weeks.

Hydralazine for essential hypertension.

Background: Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Hydralazine is a direct-acting vasodilator which has been used for the treatment of hypertension since the 1950's. Although it has largely been replaced by newer antihypertensive drugs with more acceptable tolerability profiles, hydralazine is still widely used in developing countries due to its lower cost.

Methyldopa for primary hypertension.

Background: Hypertension is associated with an increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Methyldopa is a centrally acting antihypertensive agent, which was commonly used in the 1970's and 80's for blood pressure control. Its use at present has largely been replaced by antihypertensive drug classes with less side effects, but it is still used in developing countries due to its low cost.