Table 5.
Suggestions Provided by Intervening Pharmacists.
| Suggestions provided | Number (%), n = 739 | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Drug addition | 151 (20.4) | Addition of dapagliflozin in hypertensive patients with heart failure |
| Drug switch | 126 (17.1) | Switch from bisoprolol to enalapril in patients with no specific indication for using beta-blocker, eg, heart failure, angina, post-myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation |
| Dose increasing | 43 (5.8) | Increase of atorvastatin dose from 5 to 10 mg for better reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol |
| Drug discontinuation | 27 (3.7) | Discontinuation of ivabradine where there were unclear indications of ivabradine |
| Drug monitoring optimization | 17 (2.3) | Suggestions to monitor serum potassium in patients receiving spironolactone and lisinopril (major drug-drug interaction) |
| Administration mode optimization | 375 (50.7%) | |
| Change in timing of administration | 220 (29.8%) | Suggestions to take gliclazide 30 minutes before meal time |
| Add instructions to the prescription for special dosage forms (long-acting, modified release, etc) | 74 (10.0%) | Suggestions or instructions to take drugs in patients receiving trimetazidine MR, nifedipine retard, alendronate, etc |
| Change in frequency of administration | 63 (8.5%) | Switch from taking losartan twice daily to taking it once daily |
| Change in the selection of drug form | 18 (2.4%) | Switch from amlodipine 5 mg to amlodipine 10 mg in patients who are taking 2 tablets of amlodipine 5 mg once daily |
| Total | 739 (100) |