Background
A 68-year-old woman with narcolepsy was prescribed an oxybate therapy for the first time.
Optum Frontier Therapies provided expert clinical care and personalized support from the start to promote a safe and effective therapy experience.
Solution
Specialized clinical expertise and 24/7/365 pharmacist access are core components of Optum Frontier Therapies service. Here’s how that expertise and access helped the patient navigate therapy and achieve meaningful outcomes:
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Assessment
A clinical pharmacist conducted a baseline evaluation using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) of 0 to 24. The patient scored 20, indicating severe excessive daytime sleepiness.*
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Education
The pharmacist walked the patient through dosing, administration and the importance of adherence, along with what to expect from the therapy, gradual dose adjustments and potential side effects.
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Support
During the final week of dose escalation, the patient contacted Optum Frontier Therapies to report anxiety, jitters and confusion. This triggered immediate clinical follow-up.
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Intervention
A pharmacist immediately notified the prescriber to report the side effects and recommend a temporary dose reduction. The pharmacist then explained the dose adjustment to the patient and began routine monitoring for safety and clinical value.
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Follow-up
One month later, an Optum Frontier Therapies clinician confirmed the patient was tolerating the lower dose well and adhering to the regimen.
Results
At the 3-month mark, the prescriber increased the patient’s dosage, and Optum Frontier Therapies dispensed the new dosage without delay. Since starting therapy, the patient’s ESS score improved from 20 to 8 — defined as average, or normal daytime sleepiness — showing meaningful clinical progress and a significant improvement in quality of life.*
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*Cleveland Clinic. Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Last reviewed Nov. 6, 2023.