Dual atypical neuroleptic use: prescribing patterns at a Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic.
The use of two atypical neuroleptics (ANs) in a single patient is rising. In the study described herein, 57 patients receiving dual ANs were retrospectively evaluated at a Veterans Affairs outpatient medical center in South Carolina. Only 3% of all patients receiving ANs were prescribed two such drugs, and only 58% of patients taking dual ANs met the age-specific criteria for addition of a second drug. In 90% of cases, both prescriptions were written by the same prescriber. No evidence was noted of lack of communication between two prescribers treating the same patient.
College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, William Jennings Bryan Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Columbia, South Carolina, USA. John.Voris@med.va.gov
John C
JC
Voris
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013022:South Carolina; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents