Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Pharmacotherapy And Pregnancy: Highlights From The Third International Conference For Individualized Pharmacotherapy In Pregnancy, David M. Haas, Beverly Gallauresi, Kristine Shields, Deborah S. Zeitlin, Shannon M. Clark, Mary F. Herbert, Zhaoxia Ren, Srikanth C. Nallani, Eric M. Meslin, Karen B. Feibus, Gideon Koren, W. Scott Goebel, Thomas Easterling, Scott C. Denne, David A. Flockhart, Jamie L. Renbarger

Deborah Zeitlin

To address provider struggles to provide evidence-based, rational drug therapy to pregnant women, this third Conference was convened to highlight the current progress and research in the field. Speakers from academic centers, industry, and governmental institutions spoke about: the Food and Drug Administration’s role in pregnancy pharmacology and the new labeling initiative; drug registries in pregnancy; the pharmacist’s role in medication use in pregnancy; therapeutic areas such as preterm labor, gestational diabetes, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, and hypertension; breast-feeding and medications; ethical challenges for consent in pregnancy drug studies; the potential for cord blood banks; and concerns about the …

Pulmonary Embolism As An Adverse Drug Event Of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy, Katasha S. Butler, Deborah S. Zeitlin

Deborah Zeitlin

TO THE EDITOR: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has gained popularity for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases (i.e., myasthenia gravis, inflammatory myopathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy), although adverse events are associated with high-dose IVIG infusions.1,2 Common adverse reactions to IVIG therapy are anxiety, headache, fever, chills, chest pain, dyspnea, nausea, and abdominal pain.3 More serious adverse events include anaphylaxis, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis C, and thrombosis.3 Studies have shown documented effects of IVIG on blood rheology. It increases plasma viscosity in a dose-related response and may also activate platelets.2–4 High-dose IVIG therapy is approximately 24–54 g/d.4

Medication Use In Pregnant Women With Chronic Medical Conditions, Deborah S. Zeitlin

Deborah Zeitlin

Dr. Deborah Zeitlin addresses medication options for pregnant women with chronic conditions such as: hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and depression. Risks of medication use to the fetus are addressed.

Enhancing Compliance With Allergic Rhinitis Therapy, Beth Wofford, Deborah S. Zeitlin

Deborah Zeitlin

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common chronic conditions in the US, surpassing even heart disease. Over $1 billion is spent annually for over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. In addition, allergic rhinitis causes an estimated annual loss of $639 million related to lost work days and diminished work performance.

If not effectively treated, allergic rhinitis may lead to potential complications such as otitis media, sinusitis, facial and dental abnormalities, hearing loss, poor speech development, and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Ineffective treatment often the result of intentional or unintentional noncompliance and inadequate patient education. Therefore, it is imperative that …

Do Antibiotics Improve Outcomes For Patients Hospitalized With Copd Exacerbations?, Sagi Mathew, Deborah S. Zeitlin, Katherine Rickett

Deborah Zeitlin

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER YES. Antibiotic use reduced mortality and treatment failure in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Giving antibiotics early to hospitalized patients decreased the need for later ventilation and readmission within 30 days for exacerbation of COPD (SOR: B, a retrospective cohort study).

Pharmacotherapy And Pregnancy: Highlights From The Third International Conference For Individualized Pharmacotherapy In Pregnancy, David M. Haas, Beverly Gallauresi, Kristine Shields, Deborah S. Zeitlin, Shannon M. Clark, Mary F. Herbert, Zhaoxia Ren, Srikanth C. Nallani, Eric M. Meslin, Karen B. Feibus, Gideon Koren, W. Scott Goebel, Thomas Easterling, Scott C. Denne, David A. Flockhart, Jamie L. Renbarger

Deborah Zeitlin

To address provider struggles to provide evidence-based, rational drug therapy to pregnant women, this third Conference was convened to highlight the current progress and research in the field. Speakers from academic centers, industry, and governmental institutions spoke about: the Food and Drug Administration’s role in pregnancy pharmacology and the new labeling initiative; drug registries in pregnancy; the pharmacist’s role in medication use in pregnancy; therapeutic areas such as preterm labor, gestational diabetes, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, and hypertension; breast-feeding and medications; ethical challenges for consent in pregnancy drug studies; the potential for cord blood banks; and concerns about the …

Medication Use In Pregnant Women With Chronic Medical Conditions, Deborah S. Zeitlin

Deborah Zeitlin

Dr. Deborah Zeitlin addresses medication options for pregnant women with chronic conditions such as: hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and depression. Risks of medication use to the fetus are addressed.

Enhancing Compliance With Allergic Rhinitis Therapy, Beth Wofford, Deborah S. Zeitlin

Deborah Zeitlin

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common chronic conditions in the US, surpassing even heart disease. Over $1 billion is spent annually for over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. In addition, allergic rhinitis causes an estimated annual loss of $639 million related to lost work days and diminished work performance. If not effectively treated, allergic rhinitis may lead to potential complications such as otitis media, sinusitis, facial and dental abnormalities, hearing loss, poor speech development, and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Ineffective treatment often the result of intentional or unintentional noncompliance and inadequate patient education. Therefore, it is imperative that …

Do Antibiotics Improve Outcomes For Patients Hospitalized With Copd Exacerbations?, Sagi Mathew, Deborah S. Zeitlin, Katherine Rickett

Deborah Zeitlin

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER YES. Antibiotic use reduced mortality and treatment failure in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Giving antibiotics early to hospitalized patients decreased the need for later ventilation and readmission within 30 days for exacerbation of COPD (SOR: B, a retrospective cohort study).

Pulmonary Embolism As An Adverse Drug Event Of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy, Katasha S. Butler, Deborah S. Zeitlin

Deborah Zeitlin

TO THE EDITOR: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has gained popularity for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases (i.e., myasthenia gravis, inflammatory myopathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy), although adverse events are associated with high-dose IVIG infusions.1,2 Common adverse reactions to IVIG therapy are anxiety, headache, fever, chills, chest pain, dyspnea, nausea, and abdominal pain.3 More serious adverse events include anaphylaxis, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis C, and thrombosis.3 Studies have shown documented effects of IVIG on blood rheology. It increases plasma viscosity in a dose-related response and may also activate platelets.2–4 High-dose IVIG therapy is approximately 24–54 g/d.4