more emphasis on preventing bleeding due to anticoagulants in elderly patients

January 2012

You'll see more emphasis on preventing bleeding due to anticoagulants in elderly patients.

Warfarin causes about one-third of hospitalizations for emergency-related adverse drug events in older adults.

But don't think of Pradax (dabigatran) or Xarelto (rivaroxaban) as safer. Their overall bleeding risk is about the same as warfarin.

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Table of Contents

Opioids OxyContin will be replaced with OxyNeo to help reduce abuse
Anticoagulants more emphasis on preventing bleeding due to anticoagulants in elderly patients
Women's Health possible higher risk of blood clots with drospirenone OCs or the Evra contraceptive patch
Women's Health Prevegyne (PRE-ve-geen), a vitamin C tablet used VAGINALLY for bacterial vaginosis
Psychiatry Abilify (aripiprazole) will be the first atypical antipsychotic approved for adolescents
Interactions whether citalopram (Celexa, etc) can be used with oral contraceptives or PPIs
Interactions Dexilant (dexlansoprazole) is good for patients on Plavix (clopidogrel) who need a PPI
Hypertension the best time of day to take blood pressure meds
Dyslipidemia whether more KIDS should be screened and treated for high cholesterol
Osteoarthritis Patients often ask what works best for osteoarthritis pain
Cardiology You'll see ondansetron (Zofran, etc) join the list of drugs with stronger warnings about QT prolongation
Diabetes new screening device for diabetes called Scout DS