Clinical appropriateness, therapeutic equivalence, and cost of conversion of H2 antagonist therapy

A 12-month drug monitoring program targeting the use of H2 antagonists was initiated at the Erie County Medical Center, a 650-bed academic teaching hospital in Buffalo, NY. Discussed in this article are the development of indicators used to determine appropriateness of therapy, implementation of a H2 antagonist monitoring and screening program, examination of the effect of the program on budgetary expenditures for H2 antagonist therapy, evaluation of adverse effects and potential drug interactions associated with drug use, and measurement of possible drug cost savings resulting from the implementation of the program.