Tikosyn (dofetilide) is a Class III antiarrhythmic agent used for the conversion or maintenance of patients with either atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Tikosyn is excreted predominantly by the renal system. Proper dosing, which involves the estimation of creatinine clearance rates, is critical in preventing the cardiac arrhythmia torsades de pointes. The pharmacy department of Charlton Memorial Hospital developed a Tikosyn physician order form — using the Excel computer spreadsheet program — that prints estimated creatinine clearance rates and proper dofetilide dosages. Using the same spreadsheet concept, other institutions can develop physician order forms in an efficient manner.
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