Conclusion  The majority of drug-selection errors would seem learn more to be caused by insufficient attention paid to the specified drug

strength. Dispensing frequency is an important factor influencing the likelihood of a drug-selection errors occurring, but it is also shown here that a large proportion of the drug-selection errors involved specifications exhibiting high orthographic similarity. “
“Objectives  The aim of this study was to evaluate drug-use patterns, investigate the factors influencing patient outcome, and determine the cost of drugs utilized in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods  In an observational prospective study, drug prescriptions for 113 patients admitted to the ICU of a hospital in Iran were recorded. The cost of drugs in ICU and the entire hospital was also calculated. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to present the results. Key findings  The mean age of patients was 50.3 years (SD = 20.4). The average ICU stay was 6 days. The mean length of stay was significantly lower in surgical patients compared to medical patients (odds ratio (OR) = 0.91, selleck screening library 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–0.97). Mortality rate was significantly higher among medical patients (OR = 10.5, 95% CI 3.7–29.8). There was a significant positive association between the total number of prescribed drugs or antibiotics

received by patients and mortality. Patients received an average of 8.2 drugs at admission, 10.1 drugs during the first 24 h and an average of 14.6 drugs over their entire stay at the ICU. Among drug groups, antibiotics Fossariinae and sedatives were most ordered drugs in ICU. Conclusions  Antibiotics are responsible for the majority of ICU drug costs. Appropriate selection of antibiotics in terms of type, dose and duration of therapy could tremendously reduce the

expenses in hospitals without negatively influencing the quality of healthcare. “
“Objectives  Amiodarone is a low-solubility, high-permeability drug with a narrow therapeutic index and reported bioavailability problems associated with switching formulations. The aim of this study was to identify whether there is variability in drug release and physical characteristics of different commercially available amiodarone hydrochloride formulations in Australia. Methods  Four available formulations (innovator Cordarone (COR) and generic products G1, G2 and G3) were tested for drug dissolution, content uniformity, hardness, weight variation, friability and disintegration in accordance with the US Pharmacopeia specifications. Key findings  The tested formulations exhibited variable dissolution behaviours: G1 and G3 exhibited the fastest dissolution, G2 dissolution was the slowest and Cordarone showed a medium dissolution.