# \[e-drug\] Independent Drug and Healthcare Newsletter for May 2020
**URL:** https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-independent-drug-and-healthcare-newsletter-for-may-2020/45793
**Category:** e-drug
**Created:** [May 4, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-independent-drug-and-healthcare-newsletter-for-may-2020/45793 "2020-05-04T15:32:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@international](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/international)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-independent-drug-and-healthcare-newsletter-for-may-2020/45793/1 "2020-05-04T15:32:49Z")
E-DRUG: Independent Drug and Healthcare Newsletter for May 2020
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent Drug & Healthcare Newsletter from the non-profit journal
> View the contents
> **[N°215 - May 2020](https://english.prescrire.org/en/SummaryDetail.aspx?Issueid=215)**
>
> Prescrire International
If your friends or colleagues would be interested, forward this email and invite them to sign up for the free Newsletter.
> **[Sign up to receive the newsletter](https://english.prescrire.org/en/83/552/0/0/About.aspx)**
>
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Subscribe to Prescrire International
> **[Subscribe now, or renew subscription](https://english.prescrire.org/en/83/178/0/0/About.aspx)**
>
> Offers
In Prescrire's Spotlight this month
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[New data on the cardiac adverse effects of the combination of...](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58640/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Prescrire IN ENGLISH - Spotlight ''Covid-19 and hydroxychloroquine...](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58639/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR): no link with autism](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58661/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Dulaglutide (Trulicity) and type 2 diabetes. No reduction in all-cause...](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58660/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Rumours that kill](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58662/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Dry eye: sometimes associated with antimuscarinic drugs](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58663/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Pregabalin (Lyrica° or other brands) and gabapentin (Neurontin° or other...](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58664/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Cytotoxic drugs: risks for healthcare professionals](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58665/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow Prescrire International on Facebook and Twitter
Keep up with the latest from Prescrire's editors, and join a commiunity of healthcare professionals from around the world committed to Prescrire's values of independence and quality information, first and foremost in the interest of patients.
Follow us on Facebook: [Prescrire International | Paris](https://www.facebook.com/PrescrireInternational)
Follow us on Twitter: [https://twitter.com/PrescrireInt](https://twitter.com/PrescrireInt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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...
> Subscribe now
> **[Error 404](https://english.prescrire.org/en/205/1863/0/0/About.aspx?code=500)**
>
> Error messages
Share this with a friend or colleague: Forward this email
Prescrire International \
---
### Author:  [@LiliyaEZ](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/LiliyaEZ)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-independent-drug-and-healthcare-newsletter-for-may-2020/45793/2 "2020-05-05T03:50:24Z")
E-DRUG: Independent Drug and Healthcare Newsletter for May 2020
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent Drug & Healthcare Newsletter from the non-profit journal
> View the contents
> **[N°215 - May 2020](https://english.prescrire.org/en/SummaryDetail.aspx?Issueid=215)**
>
> Prescrire International
If your friends or colleagues would be interested, forward this email and
invite them to sign up for the free Newsletter.
> **[Sign up to receive the newsletter](https://english.prescrire.org/en/83/552/0/0/About.aspx)**
>
> Offers
Like what you see?
Subscribe to Prescrire International
> **[Subscribe now, or renew subscription](https://english.prescrire.org/en/83/178/0/0/About.aspx)**
>
> Offers
In Prescrire's Spotlight this month
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[New data on the cardiac adverse effects of the combination of...](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58640/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Prescrire IN ENGLISH - Spotlight ''Covid-19 and hydroxychloroquine...](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58639/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR): no link with autism](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58661/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Dulaglutide (Trulicity) and type 2 diabetes. No reduction in all-cause...](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58660/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Rumours that kill](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58662/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Dry eye: sometimes associated with antimuscarinic drugs](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58663/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Pregabalin (Lyrica° or other brands) and gabapentin (Neurontin° or other...](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58664/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> Read more
> **[Cytotoxic drugs: risks for healthcare professionals](https://english.prescrire.org/en/81/168/58665/0/NewsDetails.aspx)**
>
> Spotlight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow Prescrire International on Facebook and Twitter
Keep up with the latest from Prescrire's editors, and join a commiunity of
healthcare professionals from around the world committed to Prescrire's
values of independence and quality information, first and foremost in the
interest of patients.
Follow us on Facebook: [Prescrire International | Paris](https://www.facebook.com/PrescrireInternational)
Follow us on Twitter: [https://twitter.com/PrescrireInt](https://twitter.com/PrescrireInt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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...
> Subscribe now
> **[Error 404](https://english.prescrire.org/en/205/1863/0/0/About.aspx?code=500)**
>
> Error messages
Share this with a friend or colleague: Forward this email
Prescrire International \