E-DRUG: Contents of Prescrire International N° 89
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Prescrire International is the English language edition of the reference French journal la revue Prescrire. It contains comparative evaluation of new drug interventions, reviews of adverse effects, and papers on drug policy issues.
Prescrire International is totally funded by subscribers, with no support from pharmaceutical industry or government. It is published six times a year and health professionals in low income countries can also benefit from the journal thanks to Solidarity Subscription Rates. Drug companies are excluded from applying to Solidarity Rates.
Contents of Prescrire International,
June 2007 Volume 16 N° 89
Editorial
. Rational choices
Independent information helps choose among treatment options
NEW PRODUCTS
. Human papillomavirus vaccine
(cervical cancer prevention)
High hopes.
. Zonisamide (refractory partial epilepsy)
No advantage
. Sodium oxybate (cataplexy)
Fewer attacks of cataplexy in some patients
. Modafinil (sleep apnoea)
For a minority of patients
. Pregabalin (generalised anxiety)
Better to use a benzodiazepine
. Atorvastatin + amlodipine
(cardiovascular prevention)
. Editor's opinion: Fixed-dose combinations
Just a commercial ploy
. Trastuzumab (adjuvant breast cancer treatment)
Improved survival but cardiotoxicity is a concern
SHORTCUTS
. Estradiol + drospirenone (hormone replacement
therapy)
. Type A botulin toxin
Secrecy
. Evra° dose change: an air of secrecy
(contraceptive patch)
Secrecy surrounds a dosage change
ADVERSE EFFECTS
. Early treatment of premature infants with
steroids: neurological sequelae
. Invasive infections due to Saccharomyces
boulardii (Ultra-levure°)
. Tamsulosin and cataract surgery: hypotonic iris
. Bevacizumab: serious neurological disorders
and nasal perforations
. Cutaneous adverse effects of inhaled steroids
. Glitazones and bladder cancer
. Isotretinoin: stroke and myocardial infarction
. Evra° contraceptive patch: risk of thromboembolism
. Renal failure and gadolinium: danger
. Development of torcetrapib, a lipid-lowering drug,
abandoned
. Sibutramine: an Australian analysis of reported
adverse effects
. Terbinafine: agranulocytosis
REVIEWS
. Human papillomavirus
Often harmless but in some cases carcinogenic
. Bacterial conjunctivitis in children
Antibiotic eye drops only if eyewashing is ineffective
Minireviews
. Rimonabant, obesity and diabetes
. Methadone replacement therapy
. Omega-3 and cancer or dementia
OUTLOOK
Editorial
. Post-market studies: broken promises
About Prescrire
. 2006 Prescrire financial report
Safety
. Packaging of pharmaceuticals
. The Prescrire Packaging Working Group
Improving drug packaging: regulators
. can do better
FORUM
. Street medicines in Niamey (Niger)
Forsteo° compliance programme:
. just say no