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Pharmacotherapy May 2020Among pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions (DDIs), psychotropic drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) are of particular interest because...
Among pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions (DDIs), psychotropic drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) are of particular interest because psychopharmacologic agents mark one of the fastest growing therapeutic drug classes over the past 2 decades, and prescribing multiple psychotropic drugs has become increasingly prevalent in clinical practice. However, the documentation of pDDIs across drug references has lacked consistency. Thus we set out to review the primary evidence directly supporting 58 pDDIs that were uniformly reported as "major" or "contraindicated" in three prominent drug references: Clinical Pharmacology, Micromedex, and Lexicomp. We identified 134 citations from Micromedex in December 2017 and 4251 citations from Medline in March 2018 involving any of the 58 pDDIs. The included articles directly observed a clinical adverse effect or effects on drug plasma concentrations from the concomitant use of the two listed drugs in each pDDI. These articles were classified as controlled studies (e.g., randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, or observational studies) or uncontrolled studies (case reports). A total of 124 studies with 2716 patients were included in this review. Commonly evaluated adverse effects related to the studied pDDIs included decreased effectiveness, central nervous system depression, neurotoxicity, QT-interval prolongation, and serotonin syndrome. Among the 58 pDDIs, 18 (31%) were not supported by any primary studies. Among the remaining 35 pDDIs supported by studies on clinical adverse effects, only 14 (40%) included evidence from controlled study designs. Only 7 (12.1%) of the 58 pDDIs had evidence from studies with a combined sample size of more than 100 patients. This literature review highlights the poor quality of evidence supporting major or contraindicated psychotropic DDI warnings. Most DDIs lacked support from controlled studies that evaluated clinically significant adverse effects, leaving uncertainty about the clinical relevance of the warning. More postmarketing studies are needed to evaluate the safety of psychotropic combination therapy.
Topics: Drug Interactions; Drug Labeling; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Humans; Psychotropic Drugs
PubMed: 32107798
DOI: 10.1002/phar.2382 -
Pharmacotherapy Oct 2012As the number of psychotropics on the market expands, the likelihood increases that a patient requiring anticoagulation with warfarin will receive concurrent treatment... (Review)
Review
As the number of psychotropics on the market expands, the likelihood increases that a patient requiring anticoagulation with warfarin will receive concurrent treatment with a psychotropic drug. Because warfarin undergoes hepatic metabolism and is highly protein bound, it is particularly prone to drug interactions; in addition, its relatively narrow therapeutic window places patients at risk of either hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. Although warfarin's interactions with other drugs have long been studied, the most recent review of the literature of warfarin's interactions with psychotropics was over a decade ago. Thus, we conducted a systematic review of the literature documenting the interaction between warfarin and psychotropics, with a focus on interactions mediated through the cytochrome P450 system and protein binding. A search of the MEDLINE database was performed, and reports of warfarin interactions with psychotropics were identified. The results suggest that interactions between warfarin and psychotropic drugs are important and likely underrecognized. They also have notable implications for both safety and drug compliance. When certain psychotropics are started or discontinued in patients receiving warfarin therapy, or when warfarin is introduced to a patient receiving a stable dose of a psychotropic, clinicians should monitor a patient's international normalized ratio (INR) closely to ensure it remains within therapeutic range. Psychotropics that pose a particular risk of increasing the INR when used with warfarin include fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, quetiapine, and valproic acid. Psychotropics that may significantly decrease the INR when used with warfarin include trazodone, St. John's wort, carbamazepine, and the polycyclic aromatic carbons in tobacco cigarettes; however, nicotine itself, as in nicotine replacement strategies, is not known to alter warfarin's anticoagulant effect. In certain cases, the need for anticoagulation may also necessitate switching to a different psychotropic.
Topics: Animals; Anticoagulants; Biotransformation; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Drug Interactions; Drug Monitoring; Humans; Psychotropic Drugs; Warfarin
PubMed: 23033232
DOI: 10.1002/j.1875-9114.2012.01119 -
Drug Safety Oct 2017Little is known about the frequency and nature of medication errors (MEs) and adverse drug events (ADEs) that occur in mental health hospitals. (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Little is known about the frequency and nature of medication errors (MEs) and adverse drug events (ADEs) that occur in mental health hospitals.
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review aims to provide an up-to-date and critical appraisal of the epidemiology and nature of MEs and ADEs in this setting.
METHOD
Ten electronic databases were searched, including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, PsycINFO, Scopus, British Nursing Index, ASSIA, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1999 to October 2016). Studies that examined the rate of MEs or ADEs in mental health hospitals were included, and quality appraisal of the included studies was conducted.
RESULT
In total, 20 studies were identified. The rate of MEs ranged from 10.6 to 17.5 per 1000 patient-days (n = 2) and of ADEs from 10.0 to 42.0 per 1000 patient-days (n = 2) with 13.0-17.3% of ADEs found to be preventable. ADEs were rated as clinically significant (66.0-71.0%), serious (28.0-31.0%), or life threatening (1.4-2.0%). Prescribing errors occurred in 4.5-6.3% of newly written or omitted prescription items (n = 3); dispensing errors occurred in 4.6% of opportunities for error (n = 1) and in 8.8% of patients (n = 1); and medication administration errors occurred in 3.3-48.0% of opportunities for error (n = 5). MEs and ADEs were frequently associated with psychotropics, with atypical antipsychotic drugs commonly involved. Variability in study setting and data collection methods limited direct comparisons between studies.
CONCLUSION
Medication errors occur frequently in mental health hospitals and are associated with risk of patient harm. Effective interventions are needed to target these events and improve patient safety.
Topics: Databases, Factual; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Humans; Medication Errors; Psychotropic Drugs
PubMed: 28776179
DOI: 10.1007/s40264-017-0557-7 -
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology Aug 2020The Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a severe, multiorganic, and potentially life-threatening drug-induced hypersensitivity...
INTRODUCTION
The Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a severe, multiorganic, and potentially life-threatening drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction, linked to several common drugs, including antiepileptics, antibiotics, and several psychotropic drugs, including clozapine. Due to the importance of clozapine in the management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia, a systematic review and characterization of clozapine-related DRESS syndrome is long overdue.
AREAS COVERED
This systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Library databases were independently reviewed up to 1 November 2019 for articles reporting clozapine-related DRESS syndrome cases. The RegiSCAR score system was applied to systematically characterize the clinical presentations of selected studies.
EXPERT OPINION
Clozapine-related DRESS syndrome was reported in six patients from four articles. Five patients received polypharmacy. Skin rash and liver involvement with elevated liver enzymes were very common. No fatal cases were found. Treatment mainly included clozapine discontinuation and immunosuppression. The mismatch between incidences of DRESS with other responsible drugs, the common misdiagnosis of this syndrome, and the fact that an extensive literature search only identified six cases suggests that clozapine-related DRESS may be overlooked. It is, therefore, necessary to optimize diagnostic strategies to identify immune-related side effects of clozapine.
Topics: Antipsychotic Agents; Clozapine; Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome; Humans; Polypharmacy; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 32576056
DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2020.1787831 -
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Jul 2018The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature for studies that investigated the association between use of psychotropic medications and presence...
The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature for studies that investigated the association between use of psychotropic medications and presence of sleep bruxism (SB). Observational studies were selected in a two-phase process. Searches were performed on six electronic databases, and a grey literature search was conducted on three databases. SB diagnosis was based on questionnaires or clinical examinations; no polysomnography examinations were performed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. Overall quality of evidence was evaluated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. Five analytical cross-sectional studies were included, evaluating antidepressants, anticonvulsants and psychostimulants. One study was judged as low risk of bias, three as moderate risk and one high risk. Antidepressants were evaluated in adult populations only; duloxetine (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.16; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] = 1.12-4.17), paroxetine (OR = 3.63; 95% CI = 2.15-6.13) and venlafaxine (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.34-3.86) were positively associated with SB risk. No increased odds of SB were observed considering use of citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine and sertraline. With regard to anticonvulsants, only barbiturates were associated with SB in children (OR = 14.70; 95% CI = 1.85-116.90), while no increased odds were observed for benzodiazepine, carbamazepine and valproate. The only psychostimulant evaluated was methylphenidate, and an association with SB was observed in adolescents (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.03-2.68). Findings from this SR suggested that medications such as duloxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, barbiturates and methylphenidate might be associated with SB; however, overall quality of evidence was considered very low, and therefore, caution is recommended.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Mental Disorders; Observational Studies as Topic; Polysomnography; Psychotropic Drugs; Sleep Bruxism
PubMed: 29663484
DOI: 10.1111/joor.12633 -
PloS One 2012Psychotropic medication use is associated with weight gain. While there are studies and reviews comparing weight gain for psychotropics within some classes, clinicians... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Psychotropic medication use is associated with weight gain. While there are studies and reviews comparing weight gain for psychotropics within some classes, clinicians frequently use drugs from different classes to treat psychiatric disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To undertake a systematic review of all classes of psychotropics to provide an all encompassing evidence-based tool that would allow clinicians to determine the risks of weight gain in making both intra-class and interclass choices of psychotropics.
METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS
We developed a novel hierarchical search strategy that made use of systematic reviews that were already available. When such evidence was not available we went on to evaluate randomly controlled trials, followed by cohort and other clinical trials, narrative reviews, and, where necessary, clinical opinion and anecdotal evidence. The data from the publication with the highest level of evidence based on our hierarchical classification was presented. Recommendations from an expert panel supplemented the evidence used to rank these drugs within their respective classes. Approximately 9500 articles were identified in our literature search of which 666 citations were retrieved. We were able to rank most of the psychotropics based on the available evidence and recommendations from subject matter experts. There were few discrepancies between published evidence and the expert panel in ranking these drugs.
CONCLUSION
Potential for weight gain is an important consideration in choice of any psychotropic. This tool will help clinicians select psychotropics on a case-by-case basis in order to minimize the impact of weight gain when making both intra-class and interclass choices.
Topics: Body Weight; Humans; Psychotropic Drugs; Weight Gain
PubMed: 22719834
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036889 -
International Psychogeriatrics Nov 2016Despite the numerous warnings of European and national drug agencies as well as clinical guidelines since the year 2004, psychotropic drugs are still frequently used in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Despite the numerous warnings of European and national drug agencies as well as clinical guidelines since the year 2004, psychotropic drugs are still frequently used in dementia. A systematic review comparing the use of psychotropic drugs in nursing homes from different European countries is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine prescription rates of psychotropic drug use in nursing home patients between different Western European countries since the first warnings were published.
METHODS
A literature review was performed and the various psychotropic prescribing rates in European nursing homes were investigated. The prescription rates of antipsychotic and antidepressants were pooled per country. Other classes of psychotropic drugs could not be pooled because of the limited number of studies found.
RESULTS
Thirty-seven studies on antipsychotic drug use and 27 studies on antidepressant drug use conducted in 12 different European countries. The antipsychotic use in nursing homes ranged from 12% to 59% and antidepressant use from 19% to 68%. The highest rates of antipsychotic drug prescription were found in Austria, Ireland, and Belgium while for antidepressants in Belgium, Sweden, and France.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite warnings about the side effects and recommendation to focus on non-pharmacological interventions, antipsychotics and antidepressants are commonly used drugs in nursing homes. The data suggest that Norway does best with regards having a low antipsychotic drug usage. Studies are needed to explain the differences between Norway and other European countries.
Topics: Cross-Cultural Comparison; Dementia; Europe; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Inappropriate Prescribing; Nursing Homes; Potentially Inappropriate Medication List; Psychotropic Drugs
PubMed: 27469071
DOI: 10.1017/S1041610216001150 -
Drugs & Aging Mar 2018Psychotropic medicines are commonly used in nursing homes, despite marginal clinical benefits and association with harm in the elderly. Organizational culture is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Psychotropic medicines are commonly used in nursing homes, despite marginal clinical benefits and association with harm in the elderly. Organizational culture is proposed as a factor explaining the high-level use of psychotropic medicines. Schein describes three levels of culture: artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions.
OBJECTIVE
This integrative review aimed to investigate the facets and role of organizational culture in the use of psychotropic medicines in nursing homes.
METHOD
Five databases were searched for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method empirical studies up to 13 February 2017. Articles were included if they examined an aspect of organizational culture according to Schein's theory and the use of psychotropic medicines in nursing homes for the management of behavioral and sleep disturbances in residents. Article screening and data extraction were performed independently by one reviewer and checked by the research team. The integrative review method, an approach similar to the method of constant comparison analysis was utilized for data analysis.
RESULTS
Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria: 13 used quantitative methods, 9 used qualitative methods, 1 was quasi-qualitative, and 1 used mixed methods. Included studies were found to only address two aspects of organizational culture in relation to the use of psychotropic medicines: artifacts and espoused values. No studies addressed the basic assumptions, the unsaid taken-for-granted beliefs, which provide explanations for in/consistencies between the ideal use of psychotropic medicines and the actual use of psychotropic medicines.
CONCLUSIONS
Previous studies suggest that organizational culture influences the use of psychotropic medicines in nursing homes; however, what is known is descriptive of culture only at the surface level, that is the artifacts and espoused values. Hence, future research that explains the impact of the basic assumptions of culture on the use of psychotropic medicines is important.
Topics: Databases, Factual; Humans; Inappropriate Prescribing; Nursing Homes; Organizational Culture; Psychotropic Drugs
PubMed: 29569174
DOI: 10.1007/s40266-018-0527-5 -
Journal of Child and Adolescent... May 2021Majority of youth with autism are taking two or more medications (psychotropic or nonpsychotropic) simultaneously, also known as polypharmacy. Yet the efficacy and the...
Majority of youth with autism are taking two or more medications (psychotropic or nonpsychotropic) simultaneously, also known as polypharmacy. Yet the efficacy and the potential outcomes of polypharmacy in this population are widely unknown. This systematic literature review described the trends of polypharmacy among autistic youth, and identified factors associated with polypharmacy. Sixteen studies were included, encompassing over 300,000 youth with autism. Rates of polypharmacy varied quite substantially across studies, ranging from 6.8% to 87% of autistic youth. Having psychiatric comorbidities, self-injurious behaviors, and physical aggression, as well as being male and older, were associated with higher rates of polypharmacy. Findings emphasize the importance of further research to determine appropriate practices related to the monitoring of adverse side effects, and the long-term impact of polypharmacy among autistic youth.
Topics: Adolescent; Aggression; Autistic Disorder; Child; Comorbidity; Humans; Polypharmacy; Psychotropic Drugs; Self-Injurious Behavior; United States
PubMed: 33970024
DOI: 10.1089/cap.2020.0110 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Mar 2024The evidence of treatment options' efficacy on acute bipolar manic episodes is relatively less in youths than adults. We aimed to compare and rank the drug's efficacy,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The evidence of treatment options' efficacy on acute bipolar manic episodes is relatively less in youths than adults. We aimed to compare and rank the drug's efficacy, acceptability, tolerability, and safety for acute mania in children and adolescents.
METHOD
We systematically reviewed the double-blinded, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing drugs or placebo for acute manic episodes of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents using PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and https://clinicaltrials.gov from inception until November 20, 2022. Response to treatment was the primary outcome, and random-effects network meta-analyses were conducted (PROSPERO 2022: CRD42022367455).
RESULTS
Of 10,134 citations, we included 15 RCTs, including 2372 patients (47 % female), 15 psychotropic drugs, and the placebo. Risperidone 0.5-2.5 mg/day, aripiprazole 30 mg/day olanzapine, quetiapine 400 mg/day, quetiapine 600 mg/day, asenapine 5 mg/day, asenapine 10 mg, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole 10 mg were found to be effective (in comparison with placebo) in children and adolescents, respectively (τ = 0.0072, I = 10.2 %). The tolerability of aripiprazole 30 mg/day was lower than risperidone 0.5-2.5 mg/day and olanzapine. Oxcarbazepine had the highest discontinuation due to the adverse effects risk ratio.
LIMITATIONS
Efficacy ranking of the treatments could be performed by evaluating relatively few RCT results, and only monotherapies were considered.
CONCLUSIONS
Efficacy, acceptability, tolerability, and safety are changing with the doses of antipsychotics for children and adolescents with acute bipolar manic episodes. Drug selection and optimum dosage should be carefully adjusted in children and adolescents.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Risperidone; Olanzapine; Aripiprazole; Bipolar Disorder; Quetiapine Fumarate; Mania; Network Meta-Analysis; Antipsychotic Agents; Dibenzocycloheptenes
PubMed: 38211745
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.067