November 2024
Questions About How to Vaccinate Adults Who are Using Immunosuppressive Meds
It is tricky to know which vaccines are okay to give to patients on immunosuppressive meds and when to give them. Some vaccines may be risky to give to these patients and others may not work as well. Our Letter articles discuss common meds and doses that are considered immunosuppressive. We also point out which vaccines should be avoided in these patients, and which are okay to give, along with vaccine dosing considerations for these patients. Readers can find more med-specific guidance in our FAQ chart, Vaccinating Immunocompromised Patients.
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Community Topic: Whether to Redose an Oral Med After Vomiting
Patients often ask if they should retake an oral medication after vomiting. Our Letter articles provide an overview of considerations to help with this decision. We give advice on when to lean toward or generally avoid redosing along with several specific medication examples. Readers can get step-by-step guidance in our colorful algorithm, Redosing Oral Medications After Vomiting.
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Hospital Pharmacy: Think Outside the Box to Help Conserve IV Fluids
IV fluid shortages stemming from the effects of Hurricane Helene on Baxter’s North Carolina facility are expected to last for months. Our Letter articles provide several strategies to help hospitals conserve IV fluids. We provide guidance about how to optimize use of oral fluids and meds, along with advice about switching IV meds to IV push when possible. We also describe ways to save large-volume fluids and considerations for inventory management.
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Clinicians will be asked about the role of beet supplements, as these took the top spot in sales growth for herbal supplements in 2023. Our NatMed article reviews evidence for beets for athletic performance and heart health. For example, beet supplements may improve performance during aerobic activities for some people. Also, beets may slightly lower blood pressure in healthy patients, but it is unclear if there is a benefit for patients with hypertension. Additionally, our article addresses safe dosing and possible side effects of beets, including a harmless, but possibly surprising, pink or red discoloration of urine.
Clinicians will be asked about the role of beet supplements, as these took the top spot in sales growth for herbal supplements in 2023. Our NatMed article reviews evidence for beets for athletic performance and heart health. For example, beet supplements may improve performance during aerobic activities for some people. Also, beets may slightly lower blood pressure in healthy patients, but it is unclear if there is a benefit for patients with hypertension. Additionally, our article addresses safe dosing and possible side effects of beets, including a harmless, but possibly surprising, pink or red discoloration of urine.
Going to ASHP Midyear next month? We will be there too, and we'd love to meet! Stop by the TRC Healthcare booth #1054, or better yet schedule time for a quick meeting.
We have a lot of exciting solutions to share with you ranging from our industry-leading CE and compounding training offerings to the world's largest natural medicines database, our technician knowledge assessment program that helps expedite onboarding, our pharmacy-specific legislative and regulatory solution, and more!
What We'll Have at Our Booth:
Don't forget to secure a meeting to see how we can best meet your organization's needs. Hope to see you in New Orleans!
Listen to this month’s podcast, Cultural Competency in Healthcare, where our expert panel discusses cultural differences and how biases can lead to disparities in healthcare.
Pharmacist’s Letter and Prescriber Insights subscribers can get CE credit for listening to our podcasts.
By Adam West, Course and Curriculum Manager at CriticalPoint
FDA’s “current thinking”
The Insanitary Conditions at Compounding Facilities Guidance for Industry is intended for “compounding facilities” that prepare drugs at any capacity. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that “guidance documents do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency’s current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited.
By Adam West, Course and Curriculum Manager at CriticalPoint
FDA’s “current thinking”
The Insanitary Conditions at Compounding Facilities Guidance for Industry is intended for “compounding facilities” that prepare drugs at any capacity. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that “guidance documents do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency’s current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited.
Navigating the stringent regulations for sterile compounding and hazardous drug handling in states like Texas. That’s why we developed CriticalPoint: Sterile Compounding Competency Assessment – a high-quality, affordable training solution developed specifically to meet strict state requirements.
Unlike other providers, our program is designed to ensure compliance without requiring in-person training sessions. Your pharmacists and technicians can complete their required training online and at their own convenience.
Key Benefits:
Specifically created for your team of APRNs, physicians, and PAs, Prescriber Insights delivers concise, evidence-based, and actionable content on how new drug therapies should fit into practice.
Trusted by over 90,000 clinicians, Prescriber Insights helps your team deliver better patient care while staying compliant.