Lisinopril use in a large military medical center.

The results of a drug use evaluation of lisinopril at a large teaching military medical center are reported. Indicators and thresholds were developed and approved by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. The medical charts of 227 patients for whom lisinopril was prescribed from June 1991 to June 1992 were reviewed for appropriateness of prescribing, appropriateness of monitoring, occurrence of any adverse drug reactions, and detection of drug interactions. Prescribing was appropriate in 97% and monitoring was appropriate in all reviewed cases. The most common adverse drug reactions detected were cough (7%), hypotension (3%), and rash (2%). Patients were also prescribed several drugs that may interact with lisinopril. Lisinopril appeared to be well tolerated and efficacious. Forty patients (18%) experienced adverse drug reactions related to lisinopril. There did not appear to be any major deficiencies with lisinopril prescribing and no corrective action needed to be taken other than educational activities for the appropriate use of lisinopril. Information from this drug use evaluation is useful in formulary decision making.

A retrospective review of the use of lipid-lowering agents in combination, specifically, gemfibrozil and lovastatin.

We conducted a retrospective review examining lipid profiles, creatine phosphokinase (CK) levels, and alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) in patients receiving the combination of gemfibrozil and lovastatin. Serum lipid levels were significantly improved with therapy over those before therapy. Of the 70 patients receiving the combination, 5 experienced mild elevations in CK, 1 a mild elevation in ALT, and 1 mild elevations in both. No patient reported muscle weakness or muscle pain. The combination of these two medications appeared to be at least additive, highly effective, and well tolerated. The mean total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased from 278, 306, and 180 mg% to 200, 151, and 129 mg%, respectively, and the mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased from 34 to 40 mg%. This retrospective data analysis suggests that the combination of gemfibrozil and lovastatin may be safe in patients with normal renal function when the dosage of lovastatin is limited and when CK and ALT levels are monitored carefully.

Reports of erythematous macular skin eruptions associated with diltiazem therapy.

Diltiazem is a commonly prescribed calcium-channel antagonist for hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The incidence of rash associated with diltiazem therapy is reported to be 1.3 percent. We describe two patients who developed erythematous, macular skin eruptions, approximately two weeks following institution of diltiazem. The skin eruptions resolved after symptomatic treatment and the patients received further therapy with another calcium-channel antagonist. Diltiazem-associated skin eruptions are a rare adverse effect; however, the incidence of rash may occur more frequently than reported in postmarketing surveillance studies.

Apparent failure of edetic acid chelation therapy for the treatment of coronary atherosclerosis.

Patients diagnosed with incurable or fatal diseases may seek alternatives to standard medical therapy and spend significant amounts of money for these therapies. One alternative medical therapy, chelation therapy with edetic acid (EDTA), has gained considerable popularity for the alleged treatment of atherosclerotic vascular disease; however, its efficacy for this indication remains unproven and its use is controversial. We present a case in which chelation therapy was unsuccessful in treating coronary atherosclerosis and review reports that substantiate a lack of efficacy using chelation therapy in the treatment of coronary atherosclerosis. Treatment of atherosclerotic-related diseases using chelation therapy should be discouraged by health professionals. Patients should be counseled regarding the risk of improper diagnosis and treatment of their disease.