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Oct. 4, 2021

Vancomycin and Oral Diabetic Agents with Victoria Arsenault, PharmD

Vancomycin and Oral Diabetic Agents with Victoria Arsenault, PharmD

Listen in as I pick Victoria Arsenault’s, PharmD, brain about two totally unrelated topics: vancomycin and oral diabetic agents.

#21 Vancomycin and Oral Diabetic Agents

Listen in as I pick Victoria Arsenault’s, PharmD, brain about two totally unrelated topics: vancomycin and oral diabetic agents.

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Learn more about emergency pharmacy at TILEmergencyPharmacist   

*TIL= Today I Learned* Residents & students of @ChillaPharmD  posting the things they are learning on their emergency medicine pharmacy rotation.

What is Vancomycin?

  • Glycopeptide antibiotic with great gram positive coverage
  • Drug of choice for MRSA infections
  • Indicated as a first line agent for empiric therapy in infectious work up

Side Effects of Vancomycin

NEPHROTOXICITY

Associated with trough levels >20 or doses > 4g/day, prolonged therapy, concomitant agents such as IV contrast, Piperacillin/Tazobactam (Zosyn),  loop diuretics, and aminoglycosides.

OTOTOXICITY

Associated with high peaks, can be transient or permanent, concomitant aminoglycoside use. Very rare.

VANCOMYCIN INDUCED INFUSION REACTION

  • Formerly called Red man syndrome
  • Histamine related infusion reaction
  • Erythema and itching usually trunk, neck, and chest
  • Mitigated by increasing infusion time (500 mg/hr) and/or antihistamine administration
  • NOT ANAPHYLAXIS

Upcoming Changes to Vancomycin Administration

Studies have shown that adjusting vancomycin dosing by using the area under the curve (or AUC) can best predict efficacy and safety for vancomycin. This basically assesses vancomycin exposure to the patient.

For AUC dosing we use two data points, peak and trough, to calculate more accurate pharmacokinetics. This method allows for troughs as low as 10 in severe infections!

From PulmCrit

The AUC method of dosing presents some work flow changes for both pharmacists and nurses. Nurses will need to be meticulous about collecting the peak and trough lab draws.

  • Troughs will always be 30 minutes to an hour prior to a dose
  • Peaks should be drawn an hour after an infusion dose is completed

THE BIG TAKEAWAY: AUC vancomycin dosing is a more accurate way to maximize the antibiotic’s efficacy while minimizing the risk of nephrotoxicity


Why do we often opt for insulin instead of oral diabetes meds in the hospital?

  • It is much easier to control hyperglycemia with insulin vs PO DM medications, also allows fast titrations
  • Being acutely ill can change glucose metabolism, making PO meds less predictable
  • Also easier for patients who may not be eating as some medications can cause hypoglycemia

When could you advocate for your patient to resume home oral diabetic agents?

  • If they have not received IV contrast in the last 48 hours
  • If their blood glucose levels are well controlled
  • If they are not NPO, although this may not be a factor depending on the medication (see table below)

Oral Diabetic Agents

Biguanides: Metformin MOA: insulin sensitizer, inhibits gluconeogenesis, increases endogenous insulin post prandial

Pros: Cheap, no hypoglycemia risk, weight neutral, strong A1C reduction: 1-2%

Cons: Diarrhea/GI upset (taking with food can decreased GI upset), pill burden
SGLT2 Inhibitors: Empagliflozin (Jardiance), Dapagliflozin (Farxiga), Canagliflozin (Invokana), Ertugliflozin (Steglatro) MOA: blocks reabsorption of glucose makes you pee out your sugar

Pros: no hypoglycemia risk, weight loss, CV/CHF/CKD benefit, decreases BP, moderate A1C reduction: 0.5-1%

Cons: UTI risk (females>males), increased UO, dehydration, hypotension, DKA
DPP-4 Inhibitors: Sitagliptin (Januvia), Linagliptin (Tradjenta), Saxagliptin (Onglyza), Alogliptin (Nesina) MOA: incretin mimetic (increases insulin production)

Pros: no hypoglycemia risk, weight neutral, well-tolerated, QD dosing, moderate A1C reduction (0.5 – 1%)

Cons: Abdominal discomfort
GLP-1 agonists: Trulicity, Rybelsus MOA: slows gastric motility, increases endogenous insulin production

Pros: Weight loss, no hypoglycemia risk, strong A1C reduction: 1-2%

Cons: Injections (except Rybelsus), needs refrigeration, not studied extensively in HD patients, nausea, GI upset, diarrhea, constipation
Sulfonylureas: Glipizide (Glucotrol), Glyburide (Diabeta), Glimepiride (Amaryl)

MOA: insulin secretagogue

Benefits: Cheap, strong A1C reduction (1-2%)

Cons: Hypoglycemia – do not take if not eating, weight gain
Meglitinides: Nateglinide (Starlix), Repaglinide (Prandin) MOA: Stimulates insulin secretion

Pro: Strong A1C reduction (1-2%)

Cons: Hypoglycemia – do not take if not eating

Listen in as I pick Victoria Arsenault's, PharmD, brain about two totally unrelated topics: vancomycin and oral diabetic agents.

Learn more about emergency pharmacy at TILEmergencyPharmacist   *TIL= Today I Learned* Residents & students of @ChillaPharmD  posting the things they are learning on their emergency medicine pharmacy rotation.

Use the promo code UMNG10 to get 10% off your order from Stoggles.

Up My Nursing Game is partnering with VCU Health Continuing Education to offer FREE continuing education credits for registered nurses. Click here to obtain nursing credit (1.00).

See the show notes at upmynursinggame.com.