PHARMACOM LLC

A Consulting Company

April 2020

Medication Errors Due to Drug Name Similarity

Medication errors can occur when drug names look similar. There are reports of insulin and influenza vaccine being mixed up, apparently because their names look similar, the vials look similar, and both are stored in the refrigerator. Insulin was accidentally given to patients instead of influenza vaccine at a flu clinic, and the patients receiving insulin were hospitalized with hypoglycemia. Vaccines should be separated from insulin in the refrigerator. Dispensing safeguards such as bar-code scanning should always be used. Other errors have occurred with methotrexate and metolazone, nizatidine and tizanidine, and doravirine and Dovato (dolutegravir/lamivudine) because of similar names or abbreviations.

New Migraine Drug Approvals

Two oral medications have been approved to treat acute migraine in adults. Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) is a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist. The most common side effects are nausea, tiredness, and dry mouth. Reyvow (lasmiditan) is a selective serotonin

5-HT1F agonist. It is a Schedule V controlled substance that may cause euphoria and hallucinations. The most common side effects are dizziness, fatigue, sedation, nausea, and vomiting. Patients should not drive for at least eight hours after taking Reyvow.

Carcinogenic Biomarkers in E-Cigarette Users

E-cigarette use is associated with the presence of carcinogenic biomarkers in the urine. A systematic review was conducted using 22 studies that measured compounds linked to bladder cancer or biomarkers of those compounds. E-cigarette users had significantly higher levels of several carcinogens compared to people who did not use e-cigarettes. Although there is no direct link between vaping and bladder cancer, the presence of urinary carcinogens and the ongoing popularity of e-cigarettes is highly concerning.

Updated Antibiotic Resistant Threats Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the US each year. Prevention efforts in hospitals have reduced deaths by nearly 30% since 2013. However, the CDC is concerned about antibiotic-resistant infections that are increasing in the community. More information is provided in the "Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019," available at https://www.cdc.gov/DrugResistance/biggest-threats.html.

April is National Autism Awareness Month

April is National Minority Cancer Awareness Month

April 6-12 is National Public Health Week

April 26-May 3 is National Infant Immunization Week