Current Drug Safety - Volume 18, Issue 4, 2023

Vancomycin is considered the drug of choice against many Gram-positive bacterial infections. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is essential to achieve an optimum clinical response and avoid vancomycin-induced adverse reactions including nephrotoxicity. Although different studies are available on vancomycin TDM, still there are controversies regarding the selection among different pharmacokinetic parameters includi Read More

Preservatives are the ingredients that are utilized in order to improve the shelf life of products (Medicines, food). These tend to slow down or stop the degradation or decomposition processes, therefore, enhance the shelf life of the products. These agents either interfere with the chemical reaction or check the growth of microorganisms in the products. Preservatives are classified according to the mode of action or source Read More

The drugs are projected to cure, prevent and treat diseases; however, there are also chances of mild or severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the patients. Pharmacovigilance (PV) enhances the approach to safe medicines and healthcare, but integration into public healthcare remains a challenge in many countries. The Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) is a nationwide programme launched by the Ministry of Read More

Background: Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is the second most widely used illegal psychoactive substance smoked worldwide after tobacco, mainly due to the psychoactive effects induced by D-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC). Cannabidiol (CBD) is extracted from cannabis and may be used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Some patents on cannabidiol are discussed in this review. The cannabinoid is a non-psychoactive is Read More

Haemovigilance is the monitoring of the essential components of blood transfusion from its initial stages to the final outcome considering all the safety parameters and hazards that co-exist with it. It primarily aims to ensure the quality as well as safety related to the use of blood and blood products utilizing the standard healthcare framework and a tailored vigilance program for efficient outcomes. Initially, the art of vigilanc Read More

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic global disease, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing worldwide. Objective: Our objective was to compare the secondary outcome of treatment with Infliximab (IFX) and Adalimumab (ADA) in the UC patients. Methods: This was a one-year prospective observational study of moderate- to -severe UC patients treated with ADA or IFX. Patients' secondary health outcomes were Read More

Background: Febrile neutropenia is a prevalent oncologic complication. Initiating rapid treatment with empirical antimicrobials in febrile neutropenia patients reduces mortality due to infections. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate antimicrobial utilization among FN patients in Lebanon in terms of drug choice, dose, and duration of the treatment. This is a retrospective, multicenter, observational study conducted at three differen Read More

Background: In traditional herbal medicine, the Coriandrum sativum (CS) seeds are widely used to prevent and/or treat several diseases. Despite this, research into studying their toxicity is very limited. Objective: This study aims at studying the acute and subacute toxicity of aqueous extract of coriander seeds (AECS) in Wistar rats. Methods: For acute toxicity, five dose levels (500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 5000 mgkg-1bw) were te Read More

Introduction: Brazil has been facing the pandemic of COVID-19 since march 2020. More than 540,000 people have died from this disease in the country. Some estimates indicate that the population exposed to SARS-CoV-2 represents 1 to 20%. However, these data are questionable due to the number of asymptomatic and untested individuals. As a result, vaccination for COVID- 19 has become the main means of achieving Read More

Background: COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1 nCoV- 19 Corona Virus Vaccine was granted emergency use authorization (EUA) as the first vaccine in India in January 2021. Knowing what to anticipate after vaccination will reduce vaccine hesitancy in the public. This study aimed to identify and measure the adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Goa Read More

Objectives: Several factors influence medication patterns. The purpose of this study was to look into the role of social determinants in the use of prescribed and non-prescribed medications in a population-based setting of people over 18 in a southern metropolis of Iran (Shiraz) for 2 years. Study Design: Prospective population-based cross-sectional. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional survey was done in 2018-202 Read More

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the small airways. Chronic inflammation often causes hyper responsiveness of airways with wheezing, breathing difficulty, cough and chest tightness. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the drug usage pattern of anti-asthma drugs among asthma patients. Methods: The present study was a prospective, observational cross-sectional study carried out a Read More

Background: Considering the dearth of research on the complications of Sinopharm coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in immunocompromised individuals and the lack of available data on COVID-19 vaccination from Iran. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of vaccine of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine and its complications in bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients. ; Methods: This w Read More

Background: Warfarin (WAR) is an anticoagulant with a narrow therapeutic index and is principally metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 enzymes. The inhibitors of these enzymes may alter the systemic exposure to WAR. Quercetin (QUE), a bioflavonoid, may modify the bioavailability of drugs used concurrently by inhibiting CYP3A4, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP1A2, and Pglycoprotein (P-gp). Objective: The current study scrutinized th Read More

Background: Ischemic stroke accounts for around 87% of all strokes worldwide and is the second leading cause of mortality and a significant factor of disability in adults. The objective of this study was to assess the adherence to international treatment guidelines for ischemic stroke in Lebanese hospitals and evaluate factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in th Read More

Introduction: β-lactam antibiotics, mainly cephalosporins, and carbapenems, have been the mainstay of treatment for infections caused by Enterobacterales. However, their role in treating clinical infections has become limited because of the increase in resistance. There is a need to have cost-effective and rapid methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods for newer antibiotics like ceftazidime-avibactam a Read More

Introduction/background: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms reaction (DRESS) syndrome is a serious, potentially life-threatening drug side effect associated with more and more drugs. However, antipsychotics have rarely been involved in such condition. Case Report: We report here a suspected case of chlorpromazine induced DRESS syndrome in a 33-year-old woman with a history of allergic r Read More

Background: Drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction is a potentially life-threatening condition reported among patients of different age groups. Phenytoin is a prototypic drug prescribed for the treatment of a variety of seizure disorders. Allergic reaction to phenytoin therapy in a newborn is relatively a rare clinical manifestation that is not frequently reported. Objective: The objective of this study is to report a suspected case Read More

Background: Methotrexate is an antimetabolite anticancer drug frequently used in the treatment of extensive chronic plaque psoriasis. Psoriasis patients on treatment with immunosuppressants have an increased risk of developing malignancies. Objective: To present a rare case of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) in a psoriasis patient postacute methotrexate toxicity. Case Report: A 47-year-old female, a known ca Read More

Background: There have been increasing reported cases of new-onset or aggravation of pre-existing dermatoses after the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination. Case Presentation: An elderly male was presented with multiple annular scaly plaques all over the body two weeks following administration of the first dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The lesions further aggravated after taking the second dose o Read More