Drugs and Therapy Bulletin

Drugs & Therapy Bulletin is a monthly publication by the Department of Pharmacy Services and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of UF Health. Each month, this newsletter highlights the most important drug topics that challenge our department.

Please click on the desired issue to view the .pdf document.

2014, Volume 28

October, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Medication Safety Corner: High Alert Medications
  • Bedside Barcode Medication Administration – Scanning the Horizon

June/July, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • FDA Removes High-dose Acetaminophen in Combination Products

May, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • ACC/AHA New Cholesterol Guidelines

March, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • Buprenorphine Ordering at UF Health Shands Hospital
  • FDA Lifts Restrictions on Rosiglitazone (Avandia®)

February, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Insulin Pen vs. Insulin Vial Use: Balancing the Risks

2013, Volume 27

December, Number 11

  • Formulary Update
  • Re-dosing of Reversal Agents in the Inpatient Setting

November, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Patient’s Own Medication in the Inpatient Setting
  • Fearing the Fluoroquinolones
  • 2013 Annual Index

October, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • Oral Contraceptive Use in the Inpatient Setting
  • Resistant to Change: Antimicrobial Resistance in 2013

August/September, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • News: Factor in the criteria
  • A New Plan for Plan B

July, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • Pay for Delay (generics)
  • Editorial Change

June, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • How do I pronounce generic drug names?

May, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • The Route Less Traveled
  • High-priority, Restricted-distribution drugs

April, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • Formulary Categories
  • A New Online Formulary
  • Nursing’s Medication and Administration Policy

March, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Why isn’t hydrocodone listed in the Formulary?
  • Alternatives when an NSAID fails?

February, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • Drug Dosing in Renal Impairment
  • New Drugs in 2012

January, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Why we still use animal products
  • New C. difficile treatment algorithm endorsed

2012, Volume 26

November/December, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Delete codeine from the Formulary?
  • Compounding pharmacies and fungal meningitis
  • 2012 Annual index

October, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • Oral Contraceptives and Thromboembolic Risk
  • Medication Safety Subcommittee
  • CYP2C19 Reporting Changes

August/September, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • Can dabigatran CAUSE clots?

July, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • Medicaid restricts oxycodone prescribing for children
  • Should the inpatient use of TNF-alpha drugs be restricted?

June, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Don’t get burned: Use sunscreen appropriately

May, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • Updated pharmacokinetic consult policy
  • Mandatory Oral Hypotensive Administration Instructions
  • Anticoagulation Management at Shands at UF

April, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • Update on Drug Shortages
  • Is the PDR Obsolete?

March, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Opioid Prescribing in “Naive” or “Tolerant” Patients
  • Using Epic to Document Criteria for Use
  • What’s all the hype…about hyperglycemia?

February, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • New Drugs in 2011
  • Pardon My Language: What is PML?
  • New Personalized Medicine Subcommittee

January, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Three Routes of Acetaminophen:
    Three Ways to Achieve the Same Result
  • Cardiovascular Drug-Induced DM

Drugs & Therapy Bulletin is a monthly publication by the Department of Pharmacy Services and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of UF Health. Each month, this newsletter highlights the most important drug topics that challenge our department.

The contents of our archived volumes are listed below. Please click on the desired issue to view the .pdf document. For our most recent issues, visit the Drugs and Therapy Bulletin page.

2011, Volume 25

November/December 2011, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • The Formulary and the P&T Committee
  • 2011 Annual Index

October 2011, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • Restrict IV acetylcysteine use for the prevention of radiocontrast- induced nephropathy
  • Bisphosphonates and atypical femur fractures: A bone of contention

September 2011, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • New Florida law for controlled substances

July 2011, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • If to err is human, is CPOE divine?
  • P&T committee-approved authorized changes to med lists
  • Hey! Stop buggin’ me! General characteristics of insect repellants

June 2011, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • The truth about drug fever

May 2011, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • Prescription drug trends 2010

April 2011, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • What’s so special about specialty pharmacies?
  • SALAS: Arista® versus Arixtra®

March 2011, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Proposal: Delete IV Phenergan® from the Formulary

February 2011, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • Abandoned prescriptions?
  • New drugs in 2011

January 2011, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • DTaP and Tdap: Understanding the letters
  • Is erythromycin preferred to azithromycin as a prokinetic?
  • Editorial: Twenty-five years of Bulletin\

2010, Volume 24

November 2010, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Oral erythromycin for gastroparesis: The more stable choice?
  • Do not “Do Not Substitute”
  • Desvenlafaxine-Venlafaxine interchange (correction)
  • 2010 Annual index

October 2010, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents: When good turns evil

September 2010, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • Cation-exchange resins for hyperkalemia: The evidence may leave you in a bind

July/August 2010, Number

  • Formulary Update
  • Top drugs in 2009

June 2010, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Investigational drug information “Case Reporting”
  • Therapeutic Interchange: The importance of medication reconciliation

May 2010, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • The importance of accurate drug allergy information

April 2010, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • Individualized dosing of Warfarin? Why so complicated?
  • Naloxone 101 – A fresh look at an old drug

March 2010, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Cracking down on outpatient controlled substances
  • Alaris® pump guardrails
  • Adult PCA order form
  • Approved criteria for use

February 2010, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • New drugs in 2009
  • Brand name drug prices rise nearly 10%
  • Answers to drug information questions

January 2010, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Prescription assistance programs and alternatives
  • Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine added to Formulary

2009, Volume 23

November/December 2009, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • P&T Policy Update: Changing criteria for use & sterile compounds from nonsterile ingredients
  • Finding drug-specific order forms on the portal
  • Resource for questions
  • Inpatient use of Med Guides

October 2009, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • Update: Automatic dose & route changes
  • Don’t use midazolam with what?

September 2009, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • Pediatric PCA order form required
  • Requesting a drug for addition in the Formulary
  • Micromedex becomes the Portal’s drug reference
  • New warfarin guidelines

July 2009, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • How to help patients who cannot smoke while hospitalized
  • Proton pump inhibitors may reduce clopidogrel’s effectiveness

June 2009, Number 6

  • Formulary update
  • Procholorperazine – the forgotten antiemetic
  • “Cockcroft-Gault for drug dosing…not MDRD”
  • Ceftriazone-calcium update

May 2009, Number 5

  • Formulary update
  • Change to vaccination policy
  • Conflicts of interest — “Perception is reality”

April 2009, Number 04

  • Formulary update
  • Unapproved drugs: What do you mean “My colchicine is unapproved?!”
  • “Do you have any difficulties paying for your meds?”
  • Don’t get burned prescribing transdermal drugs

March 2009, Number 03

  • Formulary update
  • Acyclovir shortage? What’s the problem?

February 2009, Number 02

  • Formulary update
  • Don’t get stuck not knowing about postexposure prophylaxis
  • New drugs in 2008…and looking forward
  • Override medications in automated dispensing cabinets

January 2009, Number 01

  • Formulary update
  • Mandatory use of Transfer Medication Order Report
  • Verbal C-III update
  • P & T Committee Actions 2008

2008, Volume 22

November 2008, Number 10

  • Formulary update
  • Med reconciliation: There ARE reasons to discontinue some home meds
  • Pharmacist order review: Exceptions and misconceptions
  • 2008 Annual index

October 2008, Number 9

  • Formulary update
  • Medication use evaluation: Conivaptan restriction
  • Generic equivalents – Using the Orange Book

September 2008, Number 8

  • Formulary update
  • New pediatric anticoagulation policies
  • Therapeutic interchange – 2008
  • Why are insulin pens “less stable” than insulin vials?

July/August 2008, Number 7

  • Formulary update
  • “Patients may take own meds” update
  • Sliding scale insulin revisions
  • New anticoagulation policies
  • Factor VII use evaluation
  • Proposal to delete phenytoin injection

June 2008, Number 6

  • Formulary update
  • Cytotoxic drug dose-rounding allowed
  • The old pharmacy intranet site is dead…
    Long live the new pharmacy portal
  • Potassium replacement: Is there a right way to replace K+?

May 2008, Number 5

  • Formulary update
  • Controversy over requirements for verbal CIII prescriptions
  • Free samples aren’t free…

April 2008, Number 4

  • Formulary update
  • Heparin shortage: Interchange to enoxaparin?
  • Ketorolac + ibuprofen contraindicated
  • Inappropriate patient allergy? Let’s remove it

March 2008, Number 3

  • Formulary update
  • Policies and procedures: Contraindicated combos/li>
  • Publish the good, forget the bad; do you believe everything you read?
  • Mandatory VTE assessment and orders
  • Standardized sliding scale insulin orders
  • Chantix® safety update

February 2008, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • Join Commissions regulations mean changes to pre-printed PRN orders
  • Vitamin D-ficiencies and D-velopments
  • New drugs approved in 2007

January 2008, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Discontinue stress, discontinue stress ulcer prophylaxis
  • P&T Committee Actions 2007

2007, Volume 21

November/December 2007, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Medical Foods: Drug, Dietary Supplement, Food, or Other?
  • 2007 Annual Index

September 2007, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • Erythropoiesis-stimulating Agent Protocol
  • The Case of Acthar Gel

July/August 2007, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • Pneumococcal Vaccine Protocol Should Improve Immunization Rates
  • High-dose Vancomycin for MRSA Infections
  • Standard Doses for Calcium Chloride & Gluconate and Sodium Phosphate

June 2007, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • FDA Warns that ESAs May Increase Thrombosis Risk
  • “Doctoring Orders”
  • Meningococcal Vaccination in the Hospital Setting

May 2007, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • Carity Care Formulary Update
  • Generics Keep Patients Out of the “Donut” Hole
  • Standarized IV Concentrations

April 2007, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • Monitoring Heparin With Heparin Levels: not aPTTs
  • Antimicrobial Management Makes Progress
  • How Do Patients Dispose of Drugs?

March 2007, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Formulary Proposal: Using Generic Cyclosporine
  • Off-label Drug Use Promotion Banned
  • MDRD vs. Cockroft-Gault Dosing with Impaired Renal Function
  • Administration of Medications via Enternal Feeding Tubes

February 2007, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • New Drugs Approved in 2006
  • Therapeutic Interchange – 2007
  • Albumin and IVIG Shortages Expected in 2007

January 2007, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Darbepoetin-epoetin Interchange?
  • Drug Information Service Information
  • Promethazine: Resolve to Dilute

2006, Volume 20

November/December 2006, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Collect Before You Treat: Obtaining Cultures Before Antibiotic Treatment
  • Pharmacokinetics Physician-Approved Protocol
  • 2006 Annual Inex

October 2006, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • Standard Insulin Infusions: The L&D Exception
  • Make Up Your Mind: Acetylcholine or no Acetylcholine
  • No Samples Allowed….

September 2006, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • Automatically Disconnecting Pneumococcal Vaccine Orders?
  • Automatic Stop Orders
  • Standardized IV Cocentration in Pediatrics

July/August 2006, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • The Legality and Ethics of Self-prescribing
  • Variety of Insulin Product Vendors Selected
  • Changes to the Chemotherapy Ordering Process

June 2006, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Prescribing generics improves compliance
  • Early warfarin therapy shortens LOS

May 2006, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • Improving Pediatric Drug Research
  • Can Generic Levothyroxine be Used for Brands?

April 2006, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • Joint Commission Report & Medication Use Management
  • Therapeutic Interchange – 2006

March 2006, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Medication Error Prevention for Pediatric Patients
  • Stressing Appropriate Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis
  • New Standard Dosage Times

February 2006, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • Standardized fentanyl concentrations
  • New drugs in 2005
  • Charity Care Formulary additions

January 2006, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Medicare Part D
  • Insulin Infusions
  • Preventing HAART Errors

2005, Volume 19

November/December 2005, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Medication Safety–Avoid Jargon and Slang
  • Restricting “anit-infectives” in Hospital Clinics
  • Annual Index

October 2005, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • “Phos” Confusion
  • Clarifying Controlled Substance Prescription Rules
  • IVIG Shortage trigger prior approval process

September 2005, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • P&T Committee Action
  • Writing Outpatient Prescriptions
  • Medicaid’s PDL

July/August 2005, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • CA-MSRA: A new bug on the block
  • Improving intravenous PPI use

June 2005, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Hepatic Dysfunction & Drug Dosing: The ABCs of the Child-Pugh Score
  • Nonformulary Drug Presentations Prohibited

May 2005, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • OTC Brand Names Can Cause Errors
  • Vancomycin Pre-approval Required
  • Prescribing Methadone

April 2005, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • Percocet instead of Tylox…
  • Cefepime MUE
  • Indication for PRNs

March 2005, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Vancomycin Use Will Require Pre-Approval
  • Clinical Practice Bulletin

February 2005, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • Alternatives to “Greater Than” and “Less Than” Abbreviations
  • Ins and Outs of Continuous Infusion Diuretics

January 2005, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Banned Abbreviation Compliance
  • Influenza Vaccine: Shortcomings or Shortages

2004, Volume 18

November/December 2004, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Head-to-Head Trials
  • Outpatient Prescription Writing
  • Annual Index

October 2004, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • Minimizing “Allergic” Reactions to Contrast Media
  • Therapeutic Interchange Update
  • Abbreviations to Avoid

September 2004, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • Otitis Media: No Antibiotics Does not Mean No Treatment
  • P&T Actions 2003-04

July 2004, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • Confusion over NSAIDS and ASA
  • Prescribing Patterns
  • Alcohol

June 2004, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Glucosamine and Shellfish Allergy
  • Relative” Contraindications
  • Nebulizers versus MDI Quote

May 2004, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • MVI-12 versus “MVI-13”
  • Initiating Warfarin Therapy
  • Audit of Heparin Protocol
  • Pharmacological Isomers — Nice to Know? Or Need to Know?

April 2004, Number 4

  • Formulary Update (includes nebulizer to MDI interchange)
  • NovoSeven Audit
  • Fluoroquinolone Audit
  • Vancomycin Guidelines for Use

March 2004, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Anti-Infective Stewardship Program Initiated
  • Preventing Nosebleeds from Nasal Steroids
  • Opioid Allergies…Why are Most Alerts Wrong?

February 2004, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • Treatment Options for Alcohol Withdrawal
  • New Drugs in 2003

January 2004, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Identifying Tablets & Capsules by Imprint Codes
  • COX-2 Inhibitor Misunderstandings
  • Ipecac No Longer Recommended
  • Who is the P&T Committee?

2003, Volume 17

November/December 2003, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Automatic Adjustment of Ceftriaxone Dosages
  • What Takes Pharmacy So Long?
  • Automatic Interchange of MDIs for Nebulized Bronchodilators
  • 2003 Annual Index

October 2003, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • High Cost-Problem Prone Drug Review Process
  • Drugs without an Outpatient Reimbursement Code
  • Manufacturers’ with Restricted Distribution Systems
  • Importance of Pharmacist Order Review

September 2003, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • More Invalid Abbreviations
  • Preventing Allergic Reactions to Drugs
  • Imipenem Streamlining is Useful

July/August 2003, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • P&T Actions 2002-03
  • Therapeutic Interchange Update

June 2003, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Micromedex Now Available
  • Drug Shortage Resources
  • Beta Blockers and Airway Disease
  • Patients’ “Own Meds” Use in the Hospital

May 2003, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • Comfort Medications During Procedures
  • Results of Meperidine Use Audit
  • Medicaid Preferred Drug List
  • Use of “Medically Necessary” to Prevent Generic Interchange in the Inpatient Setting

April 2003, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • Levothyroxine on an empty stomach?
  • Intramuscular (IM) pain medications should be avoided
  • Armour thyroid lergies and Diuretic Use

March 2003, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Once-Daily versus Twice-Daily Administration and Compliance
  • “Sulfa” Allergies and Diuretic Use

February 2003, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • New Drugs in 2002

January 2003, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • New Verbal Order Policy
  • Unacceptable Medical Abbreviations Policy
  • Auralgan for Otitis Media?

2002, Volume 16

November/December 2002, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Writing Prescriptions for Controlled Substances
  • Changes in the Charity Care Formulary
  • 2002 Annual Index

October 2002, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • Medication Turn-Around Times
  • Why are Drug Prices Unpredictable?
  • Influenza Vaccine 2002-03

September 2002, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • New Nonformulary System
  • Vancomycin Dosing and Monitoring in Adults

July-August 2002, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • Alternatives to Meperidine for Post-Operative Shivering
  • Nasal Corticosteroids for Inpatient Use

June 2002, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Comparative Effects of Meperidine and Morphine on the Sphincter of Oddi
  • Use of Tessalon Perles
  • Safety of Dietary Supplements

May 2002, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • Potential Problems of Chronic and Acute Acetaminophen Use
  • Droperidol Warning: QT Prolongation

April 2002, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • Ordering and Interpreting Drug Levels–What You Can Do to Improve Results

March 2002, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Converting from IV to Oral Medications
  • New Pharmacy Intranet Site
  • Avandia or Coumadin?

February 2002, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • New drugs in 2001
  • Patients’ own ophthalmic drugs

January 2002, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Acetylcysteine: Not just an antidote anymore
  • Making sense out of “MAbs”

2001, Volume 15

November/ December 2001, Number 10

  • Formulary Update
  • Alternatives to nifedipine for hypertensive urgencies
  • Restricting the promotion of restricted drugs
  • 2001 annual index

October 2001, Number 9

  • Formulary Update
  • OxyContin: Issues and updates
  • Anthrax treatment
  • Lantus or Lente?

September 2001, Number 8

  • Formulary Update
  • Is Synthroid being removed from the market?
  • Information on patients’ allergies

July/August 2001, Number 7

  • Formulary Update
  • Is this patient allergic to penicillin?
  • Counterfeit-proof Rx pads required by September
  • Clonidine Abuse?
  • In case you don’t know…The Rules

June 2001, Number 6

  • Formulary Update
  • Shortage of Benadryl Injection
  • Controls not recommended with PPD testing
  • Tetanus-diphtheria toxoids and tetanus toxoid shortage

May 2001, Number 5

  • Formulary Update
  • Therapeutic interchange – update
  • More problems with medication supply

April 2001, Number 4

  • Formulary Update
  • When should you use Ultram?
  • Updated HIV treatment guidelines released
  • Oxycontin abuse on the rise

March 2001, Number 3

  • Formulary Update
  • Taking medications can be a pain in the . . . esophagus
  • Improving anti-emetic use

February 2001, Number 2

  • Formulary Update
  • Researchers can no longer purchase drugs from Pharmacy Stores
  • New Drugs In 2000

January 2001, Number 1

  • Formulary Update
  • Pantoprazole selected as only proton-pump inhibitor
  • Tetanus toxoid in short supply, but. . .
  • Tamiflu: Test not required
  • 4 brand name drugs – update