Question

Considering the list of medications the patient has been prescribed, what can you suggest to make their drug therapy most cost-effective?

Brand and generic names_Dose/Route/Frequency_Therapeutic class (TC) & Pharmacologic Class (PC)

Crestor (rosuvastatin) 5 mg PO daily Statins (TC) HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (PC)

Glucophage (metformin hydrochloride) 500 mg PO daily Antidiabetic (TC) Biguanides (PC)

Lantus (insulin glargine) 10 units SQ every AM Antidiabetic (TC) Insulin, Long Acting (PC)

Lasix (furosemide) 20mg PO daily Diuretics (TC) Loop Diuretics (PC)

NovoLOG (insulin aspart) Sliding scale coverage Antidiabetic (TC) Insulin, Ultra Rapid Acting (PC)

Prinivil (lisinopril) 10mg PO daily Antihypertensive (TC) ACE inhibitor (PC)

Prilosec (omeprazole) 20mg PO daily Antiulcer agent (TC) Proton-pump inhibitor (PC)

Toprol XL (metoprolol) 25mg PO daily Antihypertensive (TC) Beta Blockers (PC)

Advil (ibuprofen) 400mg. PO PRN Q4-6 hours for pain NSAIDS (TC) Non-opioid Analgesics (PC)

Answer 1

The drug therapy can be made effective iin the following way

• The antidiabetic drug Glucophage can be taken after breakfast daily
• injection Lantus can be taken at bedtime because its a long acting usually taken late night
• Novolog before 10-15 minutes of food
• Lasis is a diuretic so to be taken at early morning because if taken later may interput the patients sleep by increased urination. Fluid intake and output to be monitored
• Prilosec to be taken in empty stomach
• Antihypertensive drugs can be taken at morning hours after breakfast
• Pain killer after food