The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - issues affecting you and your patients

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
– Volume 1, Issue 8 September 2009

EDITOR'S COMMENTS
	Embracing innovation

NEWS
	Medication incident reporting has increased
	Perioperative fluvastatin therapy improves cardiac outcome

CARDIOLOGY UPDATE
	Key updates in cardiology Several new studies likely to impact cardiology practice in the near future were presented at this year's European Society of Cardiology congress. Sotiris Antoniou describes the key findings.

CLINICAL UPDATE
	Improving compliance with nicotinic acid therapy Tredaptive (nicotinic acid and laropiprant; MSD) has recently been launched in the UK following European approval for the treatment of dyslipidaemia and primary hypercholesterolaemia. Mojgan Sani describes how this new formulation may improve compliance.

THERAPEUTICS
	Differences in extended release methylphenidate for ADHD Pharmacokinetic differences between the three extended release preparations of methylphenidate lead to variations in release profiles and thus administration regimens. This article highlights the key points that pharmacists should be aware of. By Vanessa Redmond.


DRUG APPRAISAL
	Dabigatran vs rivaroxaban for thromboprophylaxis Dabigatran etexilate and rivaroxaban were both licensed recently for thromboprophylaxis following hip or knee surgery. In this article, the North Central London Formulary and Medicines Management Group review the evidence for the efficacy and safety of both drugs. By Anthony Grosso and Pritesh Bodalia.

COMMENTARY
	Trial data: the non-inferiority and superiority paradox A growing number of clinical trials are being designed as non-inferiority studies. However, vigilance is needed to determine the clinical appropriateness of the margin of non-inferiority used in these studies. By Anthony Grosso.

PRESCRIBER'S CORNER
	Managing newly diagnosed pulmonary fibrosis Prescriber's Corner describes situations encountered by pharmacist prescribers and invites you to consider clinical decisions about the patient. In this case, you must provide support to a patient diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis following two years of methotrexate therapy. By Andrew Husband and Judith Heed.

MEETING
	Clinical pharmacy services must be open to innovation Pharmacy needs innovation to get it through financial hardships, attendees at this year's British Pharmaceutical Conference were told. Hannah Pike and Shona Kirk report.

PROFILE
	Improving prescribing quality in mental health Carol Paton is joint clinical lead at the prescribing observatory for mental health (POMH), a unique organisation that allows participating trusts to benchmark their quality of practice against national data. This article describes Mrs Paton’s role at POMH and elsewhere. By Shona Kirk.

SHARING PRACTICE
	Pharmacist prescribing in an acute medical unit Last year a pharmacist independent prescribing service was introduced in the acute medical unit at Hammersmith Hospital, London. Kandarp Thakkar and Binita Jani describe the implementation and evaluation of this service.

LAST WORD
	The battle for hearts and minds Now that the new professional leadership body has received the green light, the real battle for members begins. This will involve addressing the issues that really matter to both pharmacists and patients, starting with the safety of medicines, says Philip Brown.


The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy is an editorially independent publication. Copyright of the The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacy. No reproduction in any format is allowed unless permission is granted by the publisher.