1: J Pharm Belg. 2005;60(1):17-22.

[Appropriate use of medicines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,
osteoarthritis and osteoporosis--pharmacists' role]
[Article in French]

Spinewine A.

Aspirante FNRS, Universite catholique de Louvain, Bruxelles.
anne.spinewine@facm.ucl.ac.be

The care of patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis
often requires a pharmacologic approach. The co-prescription of several
medicines is regularly needed in order to optimise treatment. Several recent
studies, however, have identified instances of inappropriate medicines use in
these patients. This mainly includes "misuse" (inappropriate medicines use in
terms of dosing, choice of drug, treatment modalities, treatment duration,
interactions,...) and "underuse" (omission of drug therapy that is indicated for
the treatment or prevention of a disease or condition). The following examples
are discussed: insufficient or inappropriate pain control, use of codeine and
tramadol in CYPD2D6 poor metabolisers, underuse or delayed use of
disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, medication errors with methotrexate,
underuse of medicines for the treatment of osteoporosis. By being aware of these
events of inappropriate medicines use, the pharmacist should be better able to
deliver pharmaceutical care to these patients. The aim is to improve patients'
quality of life.

PMID: 15828488 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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