Comparison of Patients Receiving Long-Term Metformin Therapy and Vitamin B Monitoring.

Metformin may cause vitamin B deficiency that can present with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Lack of vitamin B serum concentration monitoring could result in vitamin B deficiency progression, worsening of symptoms, and unnecessary medication. The purpose of this study was to () compare the influence of the rate of symptoms consistent with vitamin B deficiency on obtaining vitamin B serum concentrations in patients using metformin; () assess if vitamin B serum concentrations were ordered as a routine monitoring parameter.

Impact of pharmacists' interventions and simvastatin dose restrictions.

Background: On June 8, 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported safety concerns regarding statin-related myopathies and advised further restrictions on simvastatin dosing. These restrictions reduced the maximum dose for specific patient characteristics, primarily certain concomitant medications.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 2 different pharmacist-conducted educational interventions on appropriate simvastatin use in the primary care setting.

β-Blocker use and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations.

Background: β-Adrenergic antagonist (β-blocker) use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been avoided as a result of potential risk of pulmonary adverse effects. However, recent studies indicate that β-blocker use in patients with COPD can decrease outpatient visits and either decrease or have no effect on the number of hospitalizations. Long-term treatment with β-blockers has been shown to increase survival and decrease exacerbations in patients with COPD.