One on one. Taking statins.

PURPOSE: The issues regarding the discontinuation and reinstitution of long-term therapies, including cardiovascular agents, anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents, central nervous system agents, and herbal medicines, in the perioperative period are discussed. SUMMARY: It is estimated that one fourth of all patients undergoing a surgical procedure are taking long-term medications. The issues surrounding the decision to discontinue such medications before surgery and when to reinstitute them are complex. In the preoperative period, it is important to avoid the use of medications that may negatively interact with anesthetic agents. Postoperatively, the concern shifts toward avoiding withdrawal symptoms that may develop and possible progression of the underlying disease if the medications are not restarted in a timely fashion. The potential for decreased gastrointestinal motility in the postoperative patient, which may reduce the efficacy of oral medications, must also be considered. Antihypertensive medications may cause cardiovascular complications, such as hypotension or myocardial ischemia. Psychoactive medications may cause prolonged sedation and withdrawal symptoms may develop. Antithrombotic agents may increase the risks of bleeding during surgery. Several herbal medicines may cause a combination of these effects. CONCLUSION: The decision to withhold and restart medications should be based on available clinical data and expert opinion. Health care professionals should exercise diligence in obtaining an accurate medication history on all preoperative patients and in reviewing the medications in the postoperative orders.

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PubMed2004

New developments in levodopa therapy.

More than 30 years after its development, levodopa is still the most effective treatment for the symptomatic control of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although a number of therapies have been developed in an attempt to improve PD management, such as dopaminergic agonists and inhibitors of COMT and MAO-B, most patients still depend on levodopa alone because of its superior ability to control PD symptoms. The issue of toxicity has been raised by in vitro studies suggesting that levodopa might be toxic to dopaminergic neurons, but this has since been answered by in vivo studies finding no evidence of toxicity and possibly even neurotrophic-like effects. A more pressing concern regarding levodopa is its association with the development of motor complications after long-term use. Pulsatile dopaminergic stimulation as a result of erratic absorption and the short half-life of levodopa have been central issues in attempts to explain this occurrence. Evidence suggests that altering the delivery of levodopa to provide a more continuous supply of this drug to the brain may result in improved control of PD symptoms.

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