Drug Misuse

FDA Wants Generic Opioids to Be More Abuse-Deterrent
March 30, 2016In the latest step to combat the epidemic of opioid abuse, U.S. officials urge generic drug makers to make changes to opioids.

Clinicians Respond to New CDC Opioid Guidelines
March 24, 2016Mainly supportive of guidelines, but concerns include a lack of evidence underlying some new recommendations.

Older cancer patients often take inappropriate meds
April 06, 2015A pharmacist-led comprehensive medication assessment showed a high prevalence of polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use among older patients with cancer.

Nearly one-quarter of children in remission from ALL miss doses of maintenance medication
June 17, 2014Children in remission from acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) must take 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) for 2 years to prevent disease reemergence; however, a study shows that an estimated 25% of children in remission are not taking this essential maintenance medication at least 90% of the time, tripling their relapse risk.

FDA urges opioid prescribers to participate in CME training
March 11, 2013Prescribers of extended-release/long-acting opioid analgesics are encouraged to participate in continuing medical education provided by manufacturers of these analgesics.

IOM urges international action to eradicate fake drugs
February 15, 2013Falsified and substandard medications pose public health problems around the world, and international action should be taken to combat the phenomenon.

FDA: Draft guidance issued on abuse-deterrent opioids
January 10, 2013To assist industry in developing new formulations of opioid drugs with abuse-deterrent properties.
Cancer pain often undertreated, especially among minorities
May 16, 2012One-third of outpatients with breast, prostate, colon/rectum, or lung cancer were receiving insufficient pain treatment, particularly minorities.
Nurses report quality of care is better with EHRs
February 16, 2012Nurses working in hospitals with basic electronic health records report fewer problems with patient safety and quality-related outcomes.
Unintentional chemotherapy exposure is substantial among oncology nurses
August 30, 2011A survey completed by approximately 400 oncology nurses practicing in ambulatory settings indicated that 16.9% had had their skin or eyes exposed to the toxic drugs they deliver.
Introduce palliative care for pain at cancer diagnosis
July 08, 2011Palliative care interventions should be introduced at diagnosis as a part of disease management rather than not until the end of life, suggests a review of cancer pain management.
New assay reduces false negatives in breast cancer ER status
July 04, 2011A method employing fluorescent detection appears to be more adept than conventional immunohistochemistry in identifying estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers.

Understanding and managing drug shortages in oncology
May 17, 2011Disruptions in supply impact patient care. Nurses should know when to use a substitution drug and when to wait for the next shipment.
Morphine sulfate label revised to avoid dosing errors
February 01, 2011Roxane Laboratories has made labeling and product-packaging changes to its morphine sulfate oral solution 100 mg per 5 mL (20 mg/mL) due to accidental overdoses that resulted in adverse events and deaths.
Abstral approved for breakthrough cancer pain
January 27, 2011A tablet delivering transmucosal fentanyl, Abstral is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients who are already using opioids around the clock.
Oncology Nurse Advisor Forum - May 2010
May 01, 2010The advisor forum answers questions about drug screens, coping with chemo brain, anemia in patients with MDS, and more.
Prescribing opioids for drug misusers
January 22, 2010This article reviews current practices of opioid prescribing in palliative care and suggests some pointers for safe prescribing for these patients.
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