Importance of Pharmacotherapy;- Pharmacotherapy (pharmacology) is the treatment of a disorder or disease with medication. In the treatment of addiction, medications are used to reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms, reduce alcohol and other drug cravings, and reduce the likelihood of use or relapse for specific drugs by blocking their effect.
Importance of Pharmacotherapy
The following are the importance of Pharmacotherapy;
· Helps in optimization of drug treatment in complex pharmacotherapy patients such as;
o Patients with multiple medications
o Patients with multiple disease states or conditions
o Patients on narrow therapeutic index medications
o Patients on medications requiring laboratory monitoring
o Helps in optimization of drug therapy in patients with high risk for loss of continuity of care such as;
o Patients with multiple prescribers
o Patients with recent transitions of care (e.g., hospital discharge, rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility discharge)
· Helps in reduction of medication nonadherence especially in patients with;
o Irregular refill history
o History of failure to pick up new prescriptions
o Stockpiling or incorrect pill counts
o Financial burden (e.g., uninsured or underinsured)
o Low health literacy
o Patient’s beliefs indicate resistance to treatment
o High-cost regimens
o Noticeable decline in the health or functionality
· Improves patients-pharmaceutical personnel relationship which is important for better therapeutic outcome
References
Wells BG, DiPiro J, Schwinghammer T (2013), Pharmacotherapy Handbook (6th Ed). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, Matzke GR, Wells BG, Posey ML, (2008): Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach (7th ed): New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Katz M D., Matthias KR., Chisholm-Burns M A., Pharmacotherapy(2011) Principles & Practice Study Guide: A Case-Based Care Plan Approach: New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Schwinghammer TL, Koehler JM (2009) Pharmacotherapy Casebook: A Patient-Focused Approach (7th ed): New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.