E-DRUG: Independent Drug and Healthcare Newsletter for May 2020
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Independent Drug & Healthcare Newsletter from the non-profit journal
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In Prescrire's Spotlight this month
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NEWS UPDATE New data on the cardiac adverse effects of the combination of hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil°) with azithromycin (Zithromax° or other brands)
As of mid-April 2020, more and more clinical data are confirming that the combination of hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil°) with azithromycin (Zithromax° or other brands) carries a risk of serious cardiac adverse effects: prolongation of the QT interval with a high risk of cardiac arrhythmia and torsade de pointes, and cardiovascular mortality, which is increased by the addition of azithromycin. Several cases of cardiac arrest have been reported.
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NEWS UPDATE Covid-19 and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil°): new data show no evidence of efficacy
The results of a new randomised comparative but non-blinded trial of high-dose hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil°) versus standard care in 150 patients hospitalised for covid-19 have been published. The only notable difference between the groups was the high incidence of adverse effects in the group treated with hydroxychloroquine. The results of other studies (non-randomised and providing only low-quality evidence) show no evidence that hydroxychloroquine has efficacy against covid-19.
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FEATURED REVIEW Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR): no link with autism
Studies based on a very significant number of children, taken together, do not show any link between MMR vaccination and the occurrence of autistic disorders. The authors of the two studies claiming the opposite used incorrect data or applied inappropriate analytical methods.
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FREE DOWNLOAD In the May issue of Prescrire International: Dulaglutide (Trulicity°) and type 2 diabetes. No reduction in all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality
In patients with type 2 diabetes who had a modest elevation of HbA1c, a recent trial suggested that addition of dulaglutide to hypoglycaemic therapy slightly reduced the risk of stroke, but did not reduce either all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality.
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Rumours that kill
Health care is a field in which rumours flourish: it is not always easy to tell true from false or rumour from robust evidence. Health decisions are safest when based on data that have been extricated from the various forms of bias and influence that can distort information about health care.
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Dry eye: sometimes associated with antimuscarinic drugs
When faced with a patient with dry eye, recognising the possible role of antimuscarinic drugs (also known as atropinics) helps in choosing the best treatment strategy: discontinuing these drugs or possibly replacing them with another drug, reducing the dose or introducing treatment to alleviate the symptoms of dry eye disease.
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Pregabalin (Lyrica° or other brands) and gabapentin (Neurontin° or other brands): known dangers and uncertainties during pregnancy
Taken during pregnancy, pregabalin and gabapentin expose the newborn to harmful effects.
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Cytotoxic drugs: risks for healthcare professionals
Exposure to cytotoxic drugs, which are often genotoxic, carcinogenic or reprotoxic, poses a risk to the health of healthcare and other professionals.
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COMING SOON Enjoy these features, and more, in our upcoming issues
Subcutaneous buprenorphine and opioid dependence
* Adjuvant therapy for certain types of melanoma
* Tramadol: increased mortality?
* Weekly methotrexate: welcome measures to prevent fatal errors
* Antispasmodics for abdominal pain...
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