ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study assesses the utilization of antipsychotic therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and describes characteristics of appropriate and inappropriate TDM at a state psychiatric hospital. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive review was conducted for antipsychotic TDM completed between December 1, 2009, and June 30, 2011, at a 65-bed adult inpatient extended-care and forensic state psychiatric hospital. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-three (n = 133) antipsychotic serum levels were collected from 44 patients during the study period. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the TDM were deemed inappropriate, 28% were appropriate, and 3% could not be designated appropriate or inappropriate owing to the lack of information regarding steady-state conditions. The primary reason for inappropriate TDM was lack of documentation with regard to the indication for TDM (n = 79, 59.3%), the intervention following laboratory analysis (n = 88, 66%), or both. Appropriate TDM was associated with a lower laboratory cost for antipsychotic serum level ($48.98 ± $53.49 versus $72.06 ± $51.02, P < .05), lower daily cost of scheduled psychiatric medications ($17.72 ± $23.03 versus $32.26 ± $31.05, P < .05), lower daily cost of total medications ($19.28 ± $24.91 versus $33.82 ± $31.03, P < .05), fewer scheduled psychiatric medications (2.95 ± 1.90 versus 4.04 ± 2.19, P < .01), and fewer total scheduled medications (5.95 ± 3.60 versus 7.60 ± 3.29, P < .05). Inappropriate TDM led to approximately $6,753 in avoidable laboratory costs over a 20-month period. DISCUSSION: Therapeutic drug monitoring is a complex process with many points at which errors may occur. The majority of antipsychotic levels at this state psychiatric hospital were not documented in a way that was clinically useful. Inappropriate TDM was associated with increased laboratory and medication costs.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a potentially irreversible, chronic syndrome related to antipsychotic medication use characterized by hyperkinetic abnormal involuntary movements. Various studies have shown that development of TD is possible with both first- and second-generation antipsychotics. Regular monitoring for emergence of TD symptoms is recommended in clinical practice for early recognition and intervention. METHODS: This is a retrospective, single-center, observational study of the effectiveness of a pharmacist-driven monitoring database for TD assessment. Subjects were adult inpatients at a state psychiatric hospital who received antipsychotic treatment for at least 3 or 6 months between January 2006 and December 2011. The primary objective was to assess compliance rates with TD monitoring based on facility policy before and after implementation of the database at 3 and 6 months following initiation of antipsychotic therapy. RESULTS: A significant improvement in compliance with TD monitoring policy was seen after implementation of the database (2.9% vs 66.7%; P < .001). Compliance with TD monitoring did not differ between classes of antipsychotic medication, hospital units, or age groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that pharmacists can help improve compliance with TD assessment and that monitoring databases may be useful for similar extended or long-term care settings to ensure timely assessment of patients for the development or progression of TD.
ABSTRACT
Paliperidone extended-release tablet (paliperidone ER; INVEGA()) is an oral antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia. The recommended dose range is 3-12 mg per day. Paliperidone ER utilizes the OROS((R)) delivery system, which allows for once-daily dosing. Its pharmacokinetic profile results in a more stable serum concentration. Paliperidone is 9-hydroxyrisperidone, the chief active metabolite of risperidone. It undergoes limited hepatic metabolism, thereby minimizing the risks of hepatic drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. Three 6-week trials in patients with acute schizophrenia reported that paliperidone ER was effective, well tolerated, and produced clinically meaningful improvements in personal and social functioning compared with placebo. Post-hoc analysis of these trials in various populations, including recently diagnosed, elderly and more severely ill patients, those with sleep disturbances and those with predominant negative symptoms demonstrated improvement as well. Paliperidone ER was also significantly better than placebo in the prevention of symptom recurrence in a 6-month maintenance study. The most common clinically relevant adverse events associated with paliperidone ER were extrapyramidal symptoms, tachycardia and somnolence. The incidence of Parkinsonism, akathisia and use of anticholinergic medications increased in a dose-related manner. Further, modest QTc interval prolongation was observed but did not produce clinical symptoms. Similar to risperidone, paliperidone ER is associated with increases in serum prolactin levels. Overall, paliperidone ER was effective, well tolerated and provides a new treatment option for patients with schizophrenia.
ABSTRACT
The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, and dosage and administration of aripiprazole are discussed. Aripiprazole is a third-generation antipsychotic agent indicated for use in the treatment of schizophrenia. Unlike other antipsychotics, aripiprazole demonstrates mixed D2 and serotonin (5-HT1A) receptor agonist-antagonist activity that is hypothesized to improve schlzophrenia's positive and negative symptoms; the drug has been referred to as a dopamine-serotonin stabilizer. Aripiprazole is well absorbed, with peak plasma concentrations occurring within three to five hours after administration. The oral availability is 87%. The mean elimination half-life is about 75 hours for aripiprazole and 94 hours for its active metabolite. In controlled, randomized, multicenter trials, aripiprazole has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia comparable to that of haloperidol and superior to placebo. In a single clinical trial, aripiprazole was superior to placebo in the treatment of acute mania. The most frequent adverse effects are headache, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and lightheadedness. Because aripiprazole is a substrate of both cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes 3A4 and 2D6, there is a potential for other drugs to affect its metabolism. The recommended starting dosage is 10 or 15 mg daily, preferably administered with meals. Aripiprazole offers an alternative to second-generation antipsychotic agents in the treatment of schizophrenia.
