2023 Incentive Grant Recipient

2023 Incentive Grant Recipient: Chelsea Herrarte, PharmD

 

 

Project Proposal: Evaluation of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) prescribing in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) within Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)

Chelsea Herrarte, PharmD currently serves as the PGY1 Community Pharmacy Resident at HealthLinc in Mishawaka, IN. 

Diabetes and dementia are two of the most prevalent crises to public health, especially to our aging population. Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) agents continue to be an option for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), even included in the most recent guidelines published by the American Diabetes Association in 2022. However, there exists compelling evidence to acknowledge the risk of prolonged use of anticholinergic agents, including TCAs, on the development of dementia and cognitive decline. There is little information available to describe the patterns of use of TCAs in DPN, particularly within vulnerable adults often cared for in Federally Qualified Health Centers.

"Therefore, our objective was to better understand prescribing patterns of providers when including TCAs as treatment for DPN with particular attention to concomitant treatments and evaluations of risk and benefit through deprescribing."

 "I am honored to receive an Incentive Grant this year and look forward to the future of what this project could do to enhance patient care. I am most excited to learn more about current practices and eager for the role pharmacists will have in implementing our findings to continue to provide excellent service."