Replacing short-acting nifedipine with alternative medications at a large health maintenance organization

Am J Hypertens. 1998 Apr;11(4 Pt 1):471-7. doi: 10.1016/s0895-7061(97)00494-9.

Abstract

In response to recent evidence about the safety of calcium channel blockers, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC), a large health maintenance organization, implemented a plan in April 1996 to reevaluate the medications of 1349 patients who were taking short-acting nifedipine. Following the intervention, 79.8% of patients taking short-acting nifedipine discontinued use, and 45.6% switched to once-daily felodipine. By presenting physicians and patients with recent evidence about the safety of short-acting nifedipine, a large health maintenance organization was able to motivate broad-scale changes to safer alternative drug therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / adverse effects*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Drug Utilization / trends
  • Felodipine / administration & dosage
  • Felodipine / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Maintenance Organizations*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Nifedipine / adverse effects*
  • Nifedipine / therapeutic use
  • Retreatment
  • Safety

Substances

  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Nifedipine
  • Felodipine