Implementation of a pharmacist-managed clinic for patients with chronic nonmalignant pain.

PURPOSE: A pharmacist-managed chronic pain clinic (PMCPC) in a primary care setting is described. SUMMARY: As primary care providers (PCPs) may be unprepared or lack time to manage high-risk patients receiving opioids for chronic nonmalignant pain, alternative models of care are needed. The University of Colorado PMCPC is integrated into an internal medicine outpatient clinic. The PMCPC is staffed by 1 clinical pharmacist, with pharmacy students and residents also performing clinic duties. The pharmacy team reviews health records to determine eligibility for PMCPC services and documents referral requests in the electronic health record (EHR); on PCP acceptance of a referral, the pharmacy team assumes primary responsibility for the patient's pain management under a collaborative practice agreement. Using a collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) protocol, the pharmacy team conducts patient assessments, including an assessment for signs of aberrant drug-taking behaviors; provides initial and ongoing counseling and education; and makes recommendations to the PCP for opioid dosage adjustments and regimen additions and discontinuations. Experience at the clinic to date indicates that the PMCPC model is feasible and accepted by PCPs and patients. CONCLUSION: A PMCPC based in a primary care setting was established to improve the care of patients with chronic nonmalignant pain who are prescribed opioid therapy for a period of 3 months or longer. Clinic patients are referred to the clinic through the EHR and managed by a pharmacist under a CDTM protocol.

Zolpidem prescribing practices before and after Food and Drug Administration required product labeling changes.

BACKGROUND: Women have higher morning serum zolpidem concentrations than men after taking an evening dose, potentially leading to increased risk of harm. On 19 April 2013, the United States Food and Drug Administration required labeling changes for zolpidem, recommending an initial dose of no greater than 5 mg (immediate release) or 6.25 mg (controlled release) per night in women. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to compare prescribing practices before and after the 2013 zolpidem labeling change. A secondary objective was to evaluate serious adverse events potentially related to zolpidem. METHODS: Electronic medical records of adults receiving care through the University of Colorado Health system were accessed for study inclusion if patients were provided a first-time prescription for zolpidem either prior to or after the Food and Drug Administration labeling change. Patients were randomly chosen from eight strata based on age, gender, and date of zolpidem initiation (before/after the labeling change). Demographic and zolpidem prescribing data were collected. Low-dose zolpidem was considered 5 mg (immediate release) or 6.25 mg (controlled release) daily or less. Documentation of potentially related serious adverse events within the patients' records was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 400 patients were included in the study. The overall percentage of patients prescribed low-dose zolpidem increased from 44% to 58% after the labeling change (p = 0.0020). In a pre-specified subgroup analysis, the percentage of patients prescribed low-dose zolpidem increased in all groups, including young men (38%-50%, p = 0.23), elderly men (34%-40%, p = 0.53), and elderly women (60%-74%, p = 0.14), but the change was only significant in young women (42%-70%, p = 0.0045). CONCLUSION: After Food and Drug Administration-mandated labeling changes for zolpidem in 2013, the percentage of overall patients in our health system, and specifically young women, with initial prescriptions for low-dose zolpidem significantly increased as compared to before the labeling change.

Novel class of medications, orexin receptor antagonists, in the treatment of insomnia - critical appraisal of suvorexant.

Insomnia, a highly prevalent disorder, can be detrimental to patients' overall health and worsen existing comorbidities. Patients may have acute episodes of insomnia related to a traumatic event, but more commonly insomnia occurs chronically. While proper sleep hygiene and behavioral therapy play important roles in the nonpharmacologic management of short-term and chronic insomnia, medications may also be required. Historically, insomnia has been treated with agents such as benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine receptor agonists, and melatonin agonists. Dual orexin receptor antagonists represent a new class of medications for the treatment of insomnia, which block the binding of wakefulness-promoting neuropeptides orexin A and orexin B to their respective receptor sites. Suvorexant (Belsomra) is the first dual orexin receptor antagonist to be approved in the US and Japan and has demonstrated efficacy in decreasing time to sleep onset and increasing total sleep time. Its unique mechanism of action, data to support efficacy and safety over 12 months of use, and relative lack of withdrawal effects when discontinued may represent an alternative for patients with chronic insomnia who cannot tolerate or do not receive benefit from more traditional sleep agents. Suvorexant is effective and well tolerated, but precautions exist for certain patient populations, including females, obese patients, and those with respiratory disease. Suvorexant has only been studied vs placebo, and hence it is unknown how it directly compares with other medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for insomnia. Suvorexant is not likely to replace benzodiazepines or nonbenzodiazepine receptor antagonists as a first-line sleep agent but does represent a novel option for the treatment of patients with chronic insomnia.