Opioid antagonists to prevent olanzapine-induced weight gain: A systematic review

Introduction

Olanzapine (OLZ) is a second generation antipsychotic that is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder type 1 as monotherapy (acute manic or mixed episodes, maintenance), or as an add-on to lithium or valproate (manic or mixed episodes). It is one of the most effective antipsychotics for the treatment of schizophrenia, but concerns remain due to its significant metabolic adverse effects. Notably, OLZ has one of the highest rates of weight gain among all antipsychotic drugs. Previous studies report on potential mitigation of weight gain with opioid antagonists. A systematic review was conducted to summarize the impact of these agents on weight and BMI when used as adjuncts to OLZ.

Methods

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted with 3 searches between March 2, 2021 and March 27, 2022.

Results

Six studies met inclusion criteria, 5 of which assessed OLZ and samidorphan (SAM) and 1 of which assessed OLZ and naltrexone compared with OLZ monotherapy. A total of 1752 patients were included with 952 receiving SAM and 14 receiving naltrexone as an adjunct to OLZ. SAM was shown to mitigate OLZ-induced weight gain by 1.0 kg. Only 1 study assessed naltrexone with no statistically significant results for weight gain.

Discussion

SAM is effective at reducing OLZ-induced weight gain. Naltrexone did not reduce OLZ-induced increases in weight or BMI. However, there is a paucity of data on other opioid antagonists as adjuncts to OLZ treatment to prevent increases in weight or BMI.

Impact of Recent Methamphetamine Use on Vancomycin Clearance

PURPOSE

To determine whether recent methamphetamine use increases vancomycin clearance.

METHODS

This was a multi-center, retrospective, IRB-approved study at two tertiary care medical centers. Adult patients with a urine drug screen, ≥3 consecutive vancomycin doses, and an appropriately drawn vancomycin trough were assessed and classified as amphetamine positive or amphetamine negative. The primary outcome was vancomycin clearance.

RESULTS

88 patients were included in the analysis, with 44 patients in each group. Vancomycin clearance was greater in the amphetamine positive group (94.54 vs. 86.84 mL/min, p = 0.042, 95% CI 0.29-15.09). There was no significant difference in goal vancomycin trough achievement between groups (34.1% amphetamine positive vs. 43.2% amphetamine negative; p = 0.512). Per multifactorial logistic regression analysis, older age and male gender were associated with decreased vancomycin clearance, while higher BMI and cocaine positive urine drug screen were associated with increased vancomycin clearance.

CONCLUSION

Recent methamphetamine use may increase vancomycin clearance. Larger prospective trials with protocolized vancomycin dosing strategies are needed to further elucidate the impact of methamphetamine use on attainment of goal vancomycin troughs in addition to the potential impact on vancomycin clearance.

Guidance for Male Mentors to Support the Safety and Success of Female Mentees

Women constitute the majority of students at US schools and colleges of pharmacy but make up only a minority of senior faculty members. In academic pharmacy, male mentors play an essential role in supporting the professional success of female mentees. These male mentors must recognize their role in creating safe and equitable environments for female mentees to learn and collaborate. They should respect the unique experiences and concerns of female mentees, particularly regarding sexual violence and harassment, and conduct themselves in a manner that prioritizes safety. They should also strive to develop the same interpersonal connections with female mentees that they work to develop with male mentees, realizing that maintaining inequitable personal distance from women undermines their professional success. Specific suggestions for balancing the potentially competing concepts of mentee safety and personal connection are offered by the authors, a male faculty mentor and female student mentee pair.

Operation Naloxone: Overdose prevention service learning for student pharmacists

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A service learning program for student pharmacists was developed to train other university students to respond effectively to opioid overdoses with naloxone. Assessments were analyzed to determine the effect of program participation on student pharmacists' overdose-related knowledge retention and harm reduction attitudes.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING

Student pharmacists were invited to attend a 90-min train-the-trainer seminar to obtain foundational knowledge regarding opioid overdose risk, symptoms, and response. Attendees were eligible to participate in a series of 10 community outreach events to educate university students. These two-hour events included a 30-min team huddle, 60-min workshop, and 30-min team debrief. Student pharmacists were asked to complete a follow-up assessment to evaluate knowledge retention and harm reduction attitudes.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

Responses from students who participated in community outreach events (intervention) were compared to those who only attended the train-the-trainer seminar (control). A total of 116 subjects attended a train-the-trainer seminar and 94 completed the follow-up assessment. Thirty-six subjects voluntarily participated in at least one community outreach event while 58 did not participate. The intervention group demonstrated superior knowledge retention compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Cumulative harm reduction attitudes did not differ between groups (p = 0.89). The intervention group exhibited more positive attitudes regarding naloxone access for individuals who use illicit opioids (p = 0.015).

SUMMARY

The Operation Naloxone service learning program enabled student pharmacists to engage with their community while reinforcing overdose-related knowledge. Student pharmacists exhibited progressive attitudes regarding harm reduction interventions.