Anxiety disorders are some of the most common psychiatric disorders, with potentially debilitating consequences on individual function. Existing pharmacotherapies for anxiety disorders are limited by delay to therapeutic effect, dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and abuse potential. Therefore, safe and evidence-based complementary or alternative therapies may be important allies in the care of patients with anxiety disorders. Essential oils are lipophilic and concentrated botanical extracts that exhibit many properties of drugs, although they are not Food and Drug Administration approved and have limitations characteristic of herbal preparations. Lavender essential oil has an extensive anecdotal history of anxiolytic benefit that has recently been supported by clinical efficacy studies. The 2 primary terpenoid constituents of lavender essential oil, linalool and linalyl acetate, may produce an anxiolytic effect in combination via inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels, reduction of 5HT1A receptor activity, and increased parasympathetic tone. The objectives of this article are to provide a brief overview of lavender oil in aromatherapy, explore variability in the constituents of lavender oil, summarize its pharmacology and safety profile, as well as describe its body of research that has been conducted for anxiety.

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy charged the Clinical Practice Affairs Committee to review and update the College's 1995 White Paper, "Rewards and Advancements for Clinical Pharmacy Practitioners." Because of the limited data on the present state of rewards and advancements for clinical pharmacists, an online survey of "front-line" clinical pharmacists and pharmacy managers was conducted (1126 total respondents, 14% response rate). The resulting White Paper discusses motivators and existing systems of rewards and advancements for clinical pharmacists, as well as perceived barriers to implementation of these systems. Clinical pharmacists reported work-life balance, a challenging position, and opportunities for professional advancement as the most important factors for career success. At the time of the survey, financial rewards appeared not to be a major motivator for clinical pharmacists. Managers underestimated the importance that clinical pharmacists place on work-life balance and favorable work schedules. Although almost two thirds of the clinical pharmacists surveyed had not developed a professional development plan, 84% indicated an interest in career planning. Both clinical pharmacists and managers rated the lack of a clear reward and advancement structure as the most important barrier to effective systems of rewards and advancements. Pharmacy managers and administrators are encouraged to develop effective systems of rewards and advancements for clinical pharmacists that positively impact patient care and the institution's mission; these systems will benefit the clinical pharmacist, the health care institution, and the patient.

Overall, these finding suggest that in a naturalistic emergency department setting, haloperidol monotherapy is less effective--at least in requiring AMI--than olanzapine with or without a benzodiazepine or haloperidol plus a benzodiazepine. Moreover, these later 3 regimens seemed comparable. Prospective studies examining the treatment of real-world agitation, including head-to-head comparisons of the haloperidol-benzodiazepine combination with newer IM antipsychotics, are needed.

We designed a study to determine the efficacy and safety of amlodipine given once daily in the pediatric population. Twenty-one patients (mean age 13.1 years) with either essential (n=160) or renal (n=5) hypertension, and newly diagnosed (n=15) or poorly controlled or intolerant on existing antihypertensive therapy (n=6), were included. Patients received amlodipine once daily at a starting mean dose of 0.07+/-0.04 mg/kg per day. The total daily dose of amlodipine was increased 25%-50% every 5-7 days if the mean home blood pressure measurements (HBPM) were above the 95th percentile for age and gender. A baseline followed by a repeat 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitor study (ABPM) was performed in 20 patients when the mean HBPM was below the 95th percentile goal. The mean titrated dose required to control BP was 0.29+/-0.11 mg/kg per day for those < 13 years, 0.16+/-0.11 mg/kg per day for those > or = 13 years, 0.23+/-0.14 mg/kg per day for essential, hypertension and 0.24+/-0.13 mg/kg per day for renal hypertension. The ABPM demonstrated that amlodipine provided effective BP control as primary therapy in 14 essential patients. Adverse effects included fatigue (n=6), headache (n=5), facial flushing (n=4), dizziness (n=3), edema (n=3), abdominal pain (n=3), chest pain (n=2), nausea (n=1), and vomiting (n=1). Quality of life appeared to improve during therapy. Amlodipine was an effective once daily antihypertensive agent with an acceptable safety profile. Higher doses of amlodipine were required for younger patients, and monotherapy was effective in patients with essential hypertension.