Role of Community Pharmacies for the Detection of Potentially Inappropriate Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor Prescriptions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors are largely the treatment of choice for gout, but allopurinol is often inappropriately used for asymptomatic hyperuricemia. There is little evidence that allopurinol is useful in preventing cardiovascular diseases and therapeutic decisions must the balance the expected benefit with the potential harm.

Objective

To investigate the appropriateness of XO inhibitor use in relation to evidence-based indications and examine the role of community pharmacies in the detection of inappropriate prescriptions of these drugs.

Methods

This is an observational study conducted in eight community pharmacies. Each pharmacist was asked to interview a sample of patients who had received prescriptions of XO inhibitors. Patients were asked to com

SUBMITTER: Pasina L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4883203 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature