Pharmacist

Side effects of drugs are often misdiagnosed as symptoms of another medical condition, and the result is that patients are prescribed more drugs to treat adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Prescribing cascades contribute to polypharmacy, which has several associated risks, such as drug interactions, increased frequency or severity of side effects and poor medication adherence. They can also exacerbate the harmful effects of unrecognized ADRs, impact a patient’s quality of life and lead to avoidable hospital admissions and health system costs. Health practitioners should always investigate the possibility of an ADR presenting itself as a new symptom, especially in older adults, and avoid prescribing additional drug treatment until this possibility has been thoroughly investigated.

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Cadogan CA, et al. Appropriate Polypharmacy and Medicine Safety: When Many is not Too Many. Drug Saf. 2016 Feb;39(2):109-16. PMID: 26692396.

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There is no evidence to support the use of low-dose codeine pain medication over non-opioid analgesics. Codeine is an addictive opioid with potential for abuse and dependence. Over-the-counter codeine products are often supplied in combination with non-opioid analgesics (i.e., NSAIDs and acetaminophen). In addition to concerns regarding codeine abuse and dependence, misuse of these codeine-containing combination analgesics may also result in serious adverse effects due to high doses of the simple analgesics (ibuprofen, acetaminophen or aspirin). Effects of high doses of simple analgesics may include liver toxicity, gastric perforation, haemorrhage and peptic ulcer, renal failure, chronic blood loss anaemia and low blood potassium (with potential fatal heart and neurological complications).

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Canadian Pharmacists Association. CPhA welcomes Health Canada’s action plan on acetaminophen safety [Internet]. 2016 Sept 15 [cited 2017 Jun 23].

Chetty R, et al. Severe hypokalaemia and weakness due to Nurofen misuse. Ann Clin Biochem. 2003 Jul;40(Pt4):422-3. PMID: 12880547.

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de Craen AJ, et al. Analgesic efficacy and safety of paracetamol-codeine combinations versus paracetamol alone: a systematic review. BMJ. 1996 Aug 10;313(7053):321-5. PMID: 8760737.

Frei MY, et al. Serious morbidity associated with misuse of over-the-counter codeine-ibuprofen analgesics: a series of 27 cases. Med J Aust. 2010 Sep 6;193(5):294-6. PMID: 20819050.

McAvoy BR, et al. Over-the-counter codeine analgesic misuse and harm: characteristics of cases in Australia and New Zealand. N Z Med J. 2011 Nov 25;124(1346):29-33. PMID: 22143850.

Robinson GM, et al. Misuse of over-the-counter codeine-containing analgesics: dependence and other adverse effects. N Z Med J. 2010 Jun 25;123(1317):59-64. PMID: 20657632.

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Two-thirds of Canadians over 65 take five or more different medications and more than 40% of seniors 85 and older take 10 or more drugs. With each new drug, the risk of adverse drug reactions and subsequent hospitalization of the patient increases. In order to ensure the safety and appropriateness of therapy, all health care practitioners should have access to the therapeutic indication for a patient’s drug therapy and start or renew medication only once they have determined that the benefits of therapy outweigh the risks to the patient.

Sources:

Alberta College of Pharmacists. Check up on “checking” [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2017 Jun 23]. Available from: https://pharmacists.ab.ca/sites/default/files/3-CCCsheet_checking.pdf.

Frank C, et al. Deprescribing for older patients. CMAJ. 2014 Dec 9;186(18):1369-76. PMID: 25183716.

Hilmer SN, et al. Thinking through the medication list: appropriate prescribing and deprescribing in robust and frail older patients. Aust Fam Physician. 2012 Dec;41(12):924-8. PMID: 23210113.

Holmes HM. Rational prescribing for patients with a reduced life expectancy. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Jan;85(1):103-7. PMID: 19037198.

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Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in Canada and many are becoming available as over-the-counter medications. While generally safe and well-tolerated for short-term use as needed in the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease, PPIs can cause a number of adverse effects which may increase with a patient’s age, long-term use or when the drug is inappropriately prescribed. Some adverse effects associated with long-term use of PPIs include increased risk of fracture, Clostridium difficile infection and diarrhea, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), vitamin B12 deficiency, and hypomagnesemia. Guidelines indicate a preference for short-term use, H2-receptor antagonists or lifestyle changes over the chronic use of PPIs, and recommend discontinuing PPIs in adults who have completed a minimum of 4 weeks of treatment and whose symptoms have resolved. This does not apply to patients with Barrett esophagus, severe esophagitis grade C or D, or a documented history of bleeding gastrointestinal ulcers.

Sources:

Choosing Wisely Canada. Bye-bye PPI [Internet]. 2017 July [cited 2017 Jun 26].

Farrell B, et al. Deprescribing proton pump inhibitors: Evidence-based clinical practice guideline. Can Fam Physician. 2017 May;63(5):354-64. PMID: 28500192.

Rx Files. PPI Deprescribing: Approaches for stopping or dose reduction of PPIs in those who may not need lifelong treatment [Internet]. April 2015 [cited 2017 Jun 26].

Yu LY, et al. A review of the novel application and potential adverse effects of proton pump inhibitors. Adv Ther. 2017 May;34(5):1070-1086. PMID: 28429247.

Zagaria, ME. PPIs: Considerations and resources for deprescribing in older adults. US Pharm. 2016;12(41):7-10.

Between 2005 and 2012, the sedating properties of certain atypical antipsychotics have led to a 300% increase in their off-label use for insomnia. Guidelines report a lack of evidence of benefit for atypical antipsychotics as first-line therapy and warn against their possible adverse effects, including weight gain and metabolic disorders. While antipsychotics may be appropriate in some patients with insomnia who have not benefited from other treatments, the use of these medications as first-line therapy for insomnia is discouraged due to the lack of evidence of benefit and potential for harmful adverse effects.

Sources:

Canadian Psychiatric Association. First-line treatment for insomnia should not include routine use of antipsychotics, say Canadian psychiatrists [Internet]. 2015 Jun [cited 2017 Jun 26]. Available from: .

Coe HV, et al. Safety of low doses of quetiapine when used for insomnia. Ann Pharmacother. 2012 May;46(5):718-22. PMID: 22510671.

Maglione M, et al. Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotics: An Update. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2011 Sep. Report No.: 11-EHC087-EF. PMID: 22132426.

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Thompson W, et al. Atypical antipsychotics for insomnia: a systematic review. Sleep Med. 2016;12(6):13-17. PMID: 27544830.

Tripathi A, et al. Antipsychotics for nonpsychotic illness. Current Psychiatry. 2013;12(2):22.

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed drugs in Canada for anxiety disorders and insomnia. Strong evidence shows that long-term use of benzodiazepines in elderly patients is associated with tolerance, dependence and adverse effects, including sedation, impaired memory and cognition, falls, hip fractures, depression and increased hospital admissions. Prescribing guidelines recommend exploring alternative non-pharmacological and pharmacological options prior to prescribing benzodiazepines. If determined to be beneficial for the patient, benzodiazepines should not usually be prescribed for long-term use and discontinuation strategies should be built into the patient’s treatment plan, such as gradual dose tapering, cognitive-behavioural therapy and alternative or tapering medications.

Sources:

Ashton H. The diagnosis and management of benzodiazepine dependence. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2005 May;18(3):249-55. PMID: 16639148.

Baillargeon L, et al. Discontinuation of benzodiazepines among older insomniac adults treated with cognitive-behavioural therapy combined with gradual tapering: a randomized trial. CMAJ. 2003;169(10):1015-20. PMID: 14609970.

Chang F. Strategies for benzodiazepine withdrawal in seniors: Weaning patients off these medications is a challenge. Can Pharm J. 2005 Nov 1; 138(8):38-40.

Chen L, et al. Discontinuing benzodiazepine therapy: An interdisciplinary approach at a geriatric day hospital. Can Pharm J. 2010 Nov 1;143(6):286-95.

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Glass J, et al. Sedative hypnotics in older people with insomnia: meta-analysis of risks and benefits.

BMJ. 2005 Nov 19;331(7526):1169. PMID: 16284208.

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Pollmann A, et al. Deprescribing benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in community-dwelling adults: a scoping review. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2015 Jul 4;16:19. PMID: 26141716.

Pottie K, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for deprescribing benzodiazepine receptor agonists.  Unpublished manuscript [Internet]. 2016 Mar (cited 2017 Jun 26).