Preston Pharmacy News - January, 2012

Are You Connected?

Have you heard about Preston Pharmacy’s WebConnect? WebConnect is a safe and secure connection between the pharmacy and your facility. The web-based software provides electronic access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your staff. Facilities have access to view residents’ active medication profiles, refill medications, print patient education monographs, check for drug interactions, view geriatric precautions, check preliminary pricing of medications, print a 24-hour or full-month MAR, and much more. If you are interested in learning more about WebConnect for your facility, please contact Jill Green.

Soma to be Controlled Substance

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that effective 1/11/2012 Soma (Carisoprodol) will become a Schedule IV controlled substance. Soma is a skeletal muscle relaxant that was previously treated as a controlled substance in several states but will now be categorized as such in all states. This will affect facilities in the following ways: 1) Soma will now need to be locked up with other control medications, 2) Soma will no longer be on cycle fill, and instead, you will need to notify the pharmacy for refills “call for refill.” We will begin to contact providers to notify them of the change and request an authorization for refills.

2011-2012 Generic Medications

A recent study conducted by the CDC and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that four medication classes contributed to two-thirds of emergency hospitalizations secondary to adverse drug events in patients 65 years or older. Warfarin accounted for 33% of emergency hospitalizations, insulin = 14%, antiplatelet drugs (aspirin or clopidogrel) =13%, and oral hypoglycemic agents =11%. While these medications are usually necessary in the elderly, they should be monitored closely.

Several medications which could affect the long-term care population went generic in 2011. The following is a list of some of those medications in addition to those expected to go generic in 2012.

Medication Patents that Expired in 2011:¹
Caduet (Amlodipine/Atorvastatin) - HTN/Lipids
Entocort EC (Budesonide) – Crohn’s Disease
Levaquin (Levofloxacin) – Antibiotic
Lipitor (Atorvastatin) – Cholesterol
Lotrel (Amlodipine/Benazepril) - HTN
Nasacort AQ (Triamcinolone nasal) - Allergies
Uroxatral (Alfuzosin) – BPH
Xalatan (Latanoprost) - Glaucoma
Zyprexa (Olanzapine) – Schizophrenia, Bipolar

Medication Patents Expected to Expire in 2012¹
Actos (Pioglitazone) – Diabetes
Avapro (Irbesartan) - Hypertension
Boniva (Ibandronate) - Osteoporosis
Detrol (Tolterodine) – Overactive Bladder
Diovan (Valsartan) – Hypertension
Geodon (Ziprasidone) – Schizophrenia, Bipolar
Lexapro (Escitalopram) – Depression
Lunesta (Eszopiclone) – Insomnia
Plavix (Clopidogrel) – ACS, PAD, MI or stroke
Provigil (Modafinil) - Stimulant
Revatio (Sildenafil ) – Pulmonary Arterial HTN
Seroquel (Quetiapine) Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Depression
Singulair (Montelukast) – Allergies, Asthma
Stalevo (Levodopa/Carbidopa/ Entacapone)-Parkinson’s Disease

Medication Safety

Look-Alike and Sound-Alike Names²
Lamictal confused with Lamisil
Lamivudine confused with Lamotrigine
Lamotrigine confused with Levothyroxine
Lanoxin confused with Levothyroxine
Lanoxin confused with Naloxone
Lanthanum carbonate confused with Lithium carbonate
Lantus confused with Lente
Lasix confused with Luvox
Levbid confused with Enbrel
Levetiracetam confused with Levofloxacin

OTCs, Supplements, and Herbals

These agents are commonly used by all age groups. Starting next month we will review some of the most commonly used products, highlighting the indication, efficacy, and safety.

Quote of the Month

“Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”
--Vince Lombardi

References for January, 2012 Issue

Anticipated availability of first-time generics. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter. 2009; 25(10): 251011. (Update October 2011).
Institute for Safe Medication Practices. ISMP’s list of confused drug names. Available at: www.ismp.org. Accessed April 19, 2011.

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January 2012