Risk factors for opioid overdose among hospitalized patients.

What Is Known And Objective: Hospitalized patients are at risk for opioid overdose. Little is known about the risk factors for these events.

Method: Opioid overdose cases were identified by naloxone orders in computerized order entry system from a single institution.

Antiretroviral medication errors among hospitalized patients with HIV infection.

Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved survival for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, effective therapy requires high levels of adherence over extended periods of time. Previous studies suggest that patients receiving long-term medication are at risk for unintended medication discrepancies at the time of hospital admission.

The use of benzodiazepine for sleep in the elderly.

When benzodiazepines are used for sleep in the elderly, it is important to prescribe the lowest effective dose and those agents with short half-lives (ie, triazolam, temazepam, lorazepam, and oxazepam) to avoid an increase in the incidence of adverse drug reactions. Also, it is important to maximize hypnotic therapy by encouraging nonpharmacologic methods of sleep.