Carlos Estrada-De La Rosa

Carlos Estrada-De La Rosa


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 January 2026 in Pharmacy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CRCarlos Estrada-De La Rosa
Carlos Estrada-De La Rosa
FAFelipe Avalos
Felipe Avalos
Daniel Osmar Suárez-RicoDaniel Osmar Suárez-Rico
Daniel Osmar Suárez-Rico
MZMartin Zermeño-Ruiz
Martin Zermeño-Ruiz
CCCesar Ricardo Cortez-Álvarez
Cesar Ricardo Cortez-Álvarez
Raymundo Escutia GutiérrezRaymundo Escutia Gutiérrez
Raymundo Escutia Gutiérrez
Background/Objectives: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are used routinely in cases requiring sedation for anxiety, insomnia, and procedures that require pain management, and daily use of these agents may extend over several months; therefore, monitoring patients is essential to reduce the risk of developing dependence. However, the high patient volume in pain and palliative-care settings often limits physicians’ ability to both conduct consultations and perform comprehensive evaluations. In this context, the pharmacist plays a key role in supporting patient care by contributing professional activities that enhance patient well-being, such as conducting systematic reviews of electronic medical records. This pharmacist-led EMR assessment enables the identification of benzodiazepine dependence patterns and supports a more robust epidemiological evaluation within the institution. Methods: A descriptive observational study (January 2022–May 2025) using electronic medical records and prescription data was conducted. Consecutive adults with an active BZD prescription and a documented BDEPQ-MX (Benzodiazepine Dependence Questionnaire, Mexican version) were included. Outcomes were BDEPQ-MX categories (No dependence; Pleasurable effects; Perceived need; Dependence) and a binary endpoint was stablished as “any dependence” (either scored in Perceived need or Dependence category) vs. No dependence (either scored as No dependence or Pleasurable effects categories). Group comparisons used χ2, Student’s t, and one-way ANOVA. A logistic regression modeled any dependence; a general linear model (GLM) examined the BDEPQ-MX total score. Results: Of 181 complete cases, BDEPQ-MX categories were No dependence 33.2% (60/181), Pleasurable effects 7.2% (13/181), Perceived need 17.1% (31/181), and Dependence 42.5% (77/181); hence, 59.7% met “any dependence.” Women comprised 67.4% overall. Compared with No dependence, the any-dependence group had higher comorbidity (83.3% vs. 65.8%, p = 0.006) and markedly greater duration of BZD use (months) (22.6 ± 11.5 vs. 5.9 ± 4.9, p < 0.001), with no difference in daily dose (p = 0.6). Benzodiazepine medications shifted toward alprazolam in dependence (38.9% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.009) and away from clonazepam (43.5% vs. 58.9%, p = 0.042). In the adjusted model, the male sex was associated with lower odds of any dependence (aOR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11–0.76; p = 0.013), while the duration of BZD use (per month) increased the odds (aOR 1.32, 1.20–1.45; p < 0.001). In the GLM, the duration showed the largest effect on BDEPQ-MX total (F = 203.26; p < 0.001; partial η2 = 0.545). Conclusions: In this outpatient pain and palliative-care population, benzodiazepine-related dependence phenomena were common: 59.7% of patients met the criteria for dependence based on the pharmacist-led EMR review. The involvement of the pharmacist was essential, as this systematic evaluation would have been difficult to perform within routine medical consultations. The pharmacist’s contribution enabled a detailed epidemiological characterization, revealing that the exposure duration—more than daily dose—was the principal, modifiable correlate of dependence, and that alprazolam was disproportionately represented in the higher-dependence categories. These findings underscore the value of pharmacist-supported surveillance to identify and measure BZD dependance.

29 March 2026 in Pharmacy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CRCarlos Estrada-De La Rosa
Carlos Estrada-De La Rosa
FAFelipe Avalos
Felipe Avalos
Nancy Evelyn Navarro RuizNancy Evelyn Navarro Ruiz
Nancy Evelyn Navarro Ruiz
ELErika Fabiola López-Villalobos
Erika Fabiola López-Villalobos
Roberto de Jesús Sandoval-MuñizRoberto de Jesús Sandoval-Muñiz
Roberto de Jesús Sandoval-Muñiz
Raymundo Escutia GutiérrezRaymundo Escutia Gutiérrez
Raymundo Escutia Gutiérrez
Background/Objectives: Gabapentinoids are first-line treatments for neuropathic pain (NP); however, real-world evidence regarding their safety and effectiveness in complex clinical populations remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety profile of gabapentinoid therapy in patients managed within a specialized pain relief institution. Methods: A retrospective cohort study (n = 109) was conducted (January 2024 to December 2024). Effectiveness was assessed via DN4 and VAS over one year. Time to improvement was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves. Results: The cohort (mean age 66.2 ± 15.3 years) presented 100% comorbidity and polypharmacy (66.1% opioids; 67.9% antidepressants). Although all patients showed improvement, only 35.8% achieved “maximal improvement.” Pregabalin demonstrated faster VAS reduction than gabapentin (p = 0.029), though long-term success was comparable (p = 0.30). Significantly, 100% of patients reported at least one adverse drug event (ADE), primarily somnolence (66.1%), though no serious ADEs occurred. Lower baseline pain scores were significant predictors of therapeutic success. Conclusions: Gabapentinoids are effective for long-term NP management; however, their use is consistently associated with non-serious ADEs. In specialized settings characterized by extensive CNS-active polypharmacy, proactive pharmacovigilance and multidisciplinary oversight are essential to balance analgesic effectiveness with medication safety.