Evaluation of pharmacists' role in preoperative medication review in a Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Purpose: Use of high-risk medications preoperatively may increase the incidence of postoperative complications. Available literature evaluating pharmacists' role in preoperative medication review is limited, and guidance is not currently available on which patients should have a medication review performed by a pharmacist before surgery. A preoperative rehabilitation pilot project in which clinical pharmacists reviewed medication profiles before scheduled surgeries was developed.

Pharmacist-Led Drug Therapy Problem Management in an Interprofessional Geriatric Care Continuum: A Subset of the PIVOTS Group.

Background: Drug therapy problems, which are adverse events involving medications that can ultimately interfere with a patient's therapeutic goals, occur frequently in older adults. If not identified, resolved, and prevented through clinical decision-making, drug therapy problems may negatively affect patient health outcomes.

Objective: To quantify the impact of pharmacist interventions on the care of older adults by identifying the most common drug therapy problems, the medications most often involved in these problems, and the actions taken by pharmacists to resolve these problems.

Impact of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor treatment on the rates of sexually transmitted diseases in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center patient population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are higher in a veteran population prescribed phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for erectile dysfunction compared to individuals not prescribed these medications.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included male veterans who filled at least 1 prescription for a PDE5 inhibitor at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009. A comparator cohort of male veterans was matched for age and marital status.

Galantamine-associated nightmares and anxiety.

Background: This case report describes recurrent nightmares and anxiety possibly caused by the administration and rapid dose titration of galantamine.

Case Summary: A 90-year-old male with Alzheimer's disease was initiated on galantamine 4 mg twice daily for 10 days, followed by 8 mg twice daily thereafter. On followup to the geriatric clinic, the patient reported complaints of nightmares and associated anxiety.

Clomiphene for the treatment of male infertility.

Male infertility is a relatively common condition caused by low sperm production, immobile sperm, or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm. This condition can be caused by a variety of illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices, other factors, or idiopathic, in which abnormal semen parameters occur without an identifiable cause. Medical management traditionally focuses on correcting endocrine abnormalities related to hormone deficiencies.