RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prescribing dronedarone for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: how is it done across the UK and is it safe?
JF European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
JO Eur J Hosp Pharm
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP ejhpharm-2017-001207
DO 10.1136/ejhpharm-2017-001207
A1 Eron Yones
A1 Jennifer Mullan
A1 Andrew Horwood
A1 Nicola Connell
A1 Sarah Odams
A1 Jean Maloney
A1 Andreas L Kyriacou
A1 Jonathan Sahu
A1 Justin M Lee
A1 Nicholas F Kelland
YR 2017
UL http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/early/2017/05/11/ejhpharm-2017-001207.abstract
AB Dronedarone, a useful treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, is often only prescribed in secondary care. To support a protocol shared between primary and secondary care, dronedarone use was audited in our centre and prescribing practices across UK secondary care centres were reviewed. From 2010 to 2015, a total of 181 patients were started on dronedarone. There were no deaths or serious adverse events. Median cessation time due to adverse effects was 52 days and 88% stopped dronedarone within 6 months. Of 17 local prescribing protocols across the UK, 12 involved shared care and 5 purely secondary care follow-up. In our review, dronedarone was safe and well tolerated. The use of shared care protocols is well established in other UK centres. The development of a local shared care protocol between primary and secondary care is feasible with existing systems in place to support its introduction.