Archives : 2012

Non-latex condoms: break more frequently

Latex condoms sometimes cause irritation and allergies, and so condoms made from other materials which do not have this drawback are used instead. However, non-latex condoms have been shown to break more frequently than latex ones.

1 September 2012

Type-2 diabetes: self-monitoring of blood glucose levels not a key factor in reducing complications

Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels does not play a big part in preventing complications associated with type-2 diabetes, but it does increase anxiety and mood disorders.

1 September 2012

Oral isotretinoin: patient information to prevent risks

It is crucial for patients and those around them to be given detailed information about the serious harms associated with oral isotretinoin. In France, a patient leaflet has been produced to add to this information.

1 September 2012

The 2012 "Prescrire Encounters": working together in the name of better care

Posters and videos from the 2012 "Prescrire Encounters", which were held in Angers, France on 25-26 May 2012, are available online.

1 August 2012

Improving healthcare by sharing patients' real-life experiences

Two UK websites allow patients and those close to them, as well as healthcare professionals, to share the diversity of personal experiences around health and illness.

1 August 2012

Healthcare professionals: working together

Healthcare professionals are increasingly working together, with each other as well as with patients, in the name of better care.

1 August 2012

Learning together: sharing continuing education with other healthcare professionals and with patients

For healthcare professionals, developing technical and interpersonal skills takes on a new dimension when continuing education is shared with members of different professions, or even with patients.

1 August 2012

France's neighbourhood healthcare centres: easier access to quality care

In France the neighbourhood healthcare centres known as "maisons de santé" are gaining ground, often as a way to work collaboratively and to offer new services.

1 August 2012

The International Nonproprietary Name (INN): numerous advantages

Using the INN (International Nonproprietary Name), a drug’s real name, ensures that key information gets across.

1 August 2012

Subscribe online for easy access to our database of articles in English

Subscribe today and enjoy instant access to the full database of articles in English published in Prescrire International since 1992. Subscribing online is fast and easy.

1 August 2012

Saying "no thanks" to the pharmaceutical industry's undue influence

In a published response to Andrew Jack's article "Mea culpa: are multi-billion dollar fines forcing drug companies to clean up their act?" (BMJ online, 18 July 2012), Prescrire points out that the need to root out undue influence does not stop there.

23 July 2012

A missed opportunity to strengthen patient safety: not seeing the forest for the trees

In a published response to the article "New EU drug safety committee ends national reporting of drug reactions" (BMJ online, 9 July 2012), Prescrire argues in favour of a cautious approach.

19 July 2012

Paracetamol during pregnancy: no particular danger for the child

FEATURED REVIEW Does paracetamol exposure in utero increase the risk of birth defects, particularly cryptorchidism persisting beyond one year of age? To answer this question, we conducted a review of the literature using the standard Prescrire methodology.
Full review (5 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 July 2012

In the July issue of Prescrire International: domperidone should be avoided

FREE DOWNLOAD It is unacceptable to expose patients with simple gastroesophageal reflux or nausea and vomiting to a risk of severe ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death.

Full text available for free download.

1 July 2012

Anti-cancer drugs: exorbitant prices

The soaring prices of new anti-cancer drugs are unrelated to development costs or to the clinical benefits these drugs offer.

1 July 2012

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers: serious intoxication in children

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are in widespread use but can provoke serious alcohol intoxication when accidentally swallowed by a child.

1 July 2012

Corporate influence over clinical research: considering the alternatives

This text in the July issue of Prescrire International is based on a lecture given at the annual Prescrire Awards ceremony in Paris by Marc-André Gagnon PhD, Assistant Professor in Public Policy at Carleton University (Canada) and Research Fellow in Ethics at Harvard University (USA).

1 July 2012

• Videos of the lecture "Corporate influence over clinical research: considering the alternatives"

VIDEO View the presentation (in French) given by Marc-André Gagnon at the annual Prescrire Awards ceremony in Paris on 26 January 2012.

1 July 2012

Arterial hypertension: don’t expose patients to the adverse effects of aliskiren

In the absence of proven efficacy based on robust clinical criteria, and given the risk of severe adverse effects, the use of aliskiren to treat arterial hypertension cannot be justified.

1 July 2012

Atopic eczema in infants: avoid topical fluticasone

Given their adverse effects, topical corticosteroids should not become trivialised, especially in infants.

1 July 2012

Period pains: no self-medication with flurbiprofen

Flurbiprofen is not the first-line nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for treating period pains. The French drug regulatory agency was right to refuse to encourage its use as self-medication.

1 July 2012

Ipilimumab in metastatic melanoma: more assessment is needed

FEATURED REVIEW Two trials in metastatic melanoma suggest that ipilimumab is beneficial. But the benefits in previously untreated patients are not particularly noteworthy, and serious adverse effects can undermine the quality of survival. Use of ipilimumab should be limited to clinical trials designed to better assess the harm-benefit balance and to determine the optimal dosage.
Full review (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 June 2012

In the June issue of Prescrire International:
Bevacizumab - lessons from the other side of the Atlantic

FREE DOWNLOADThe differences in the regulatory histories of bevacizumab in breast cancer between the United States and Europe clearly illustrate the issues associated with the evaluation of cancer drugs.
Full text available for free download.

1 June 2012

Beware of abuse and dependence with gabapentin and pregabalin

Increasing the dose, withdrawal syndrome sometimes resulting in hospitalisation, and abuse: three good reasons for re-evaluating the harm-benefit balance on a case-by-case basis for these substances used to treat some forms of epilepsy, neuropathic pain and generalised anxiety.

1 June 2012

Opinion leaders' brand image used to promote pharmaceutical companies

Pharmaceutical companies use key opinion leaders from the world of medicine in their promotional strategies.

1 June 2012

Papillomavirus vaccine: no risks to the unborn child

The data available at the beginning of 2012 on women exposed to papillomavirus vaccines during the first three months of pregnancy do not give cause for concern. In the light of the global data available, severe adverse effects in women are rare.

1 June 2012

International Society of Drug Bulletins holds its 9th General Assembly: "Fit for the future! Independence & sustainability"

The ISDB's 9th General Assembly in Vancouver affirms the organisation's continued vitality and its commitment to independent information.

1 June 2012

Drug-induced colour vision disorders

FEATURED REVIEW Acquired colour vision disorders may be caused by ocular, neurological or metabolic disorders, but they can also be drug-induced. In some cases, these disorders may precede or reveal the onset of severe and sometimes irreversible eye damage. The drugs implicated mainly include: phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors such as sildenafil; digoxin; anti-infectives including interferon alfa; ethambutol; metronidazole; and some antimalarials.
Full review (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 May 2012

In the May issue of Prescrire International: 2011 drug packaging review.
Too many dangers and too many patients overlooked

FREE DOWNLOAD Every year, Prescrire's analysis of drug packaging confirms the importance of taking packaging into account in assessing a drug's harm-benefit balance.
Full text available for free download.

1 May 2012

Warts: spontaneous healing is frequent

Plantar warts have a high healing rate over time. Treatments make little difference.

1 May 2012

Spotlight: Archives

Spotlight

2012

Non-latex condoms: break more frequently

Type-2 diabetes: self-monitoring of blood glucose levels not a key factor in reducing complications

Oral isotretinoin: patient information to prevent risks

The 2012 "Prescrire Encounters": working together in the name of better care

Improving healthcare by sharing patients' real-life experiences

Healthcare professionals: working together

Learning together: sharing continuing education with other healthcare professionals and with patients

France's neighbourhood healthcare centres: easier access to quality care

The International Nonproprietary Name (INN): numerous advantages

Subscribe online for easy access to our database of articles in English

Saying "no thanks" to the pharmaceutical industry's undue influence

A missed opportunity to strengthen patient safety: not seeing the forest for the trees

Paracetamol during pregnancy: no particular danger for the child

In the July issue of Prescrire International: domperidone should be avoided

Anti-cancer drugs: exorbitant prices

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers: serious intoxication in children

Corporate influence over clinical research: considering the alternatives

• Videos of the lecture "Corporate influence over clinical research: considering the alternatives"

Arterial hypertension: don’t expose patients to the adverse effects of aliskiren

Atopic eczema in infants: avoid topical fluticasone

Period pains: no self-medication with flurbiprofen

Ipilimumab in metastatic melanoma: more assessment is needed

In the June issue of Prescrire International:
Bevacizumab - lessons from the other side of the Atlantic

Beware of abuse and dependence with gabapentin and pregabalin

Opinion leaders' brand image used to promote pharmaceutical companies

Papillomavirus vaccine: no risks to the unborn child

International Society of Drug Bulletins holds its 9th General Assembly: "Fit for the future! Independence & sustainability"

Drug-induced colour vision disorders

In the May issue of Prescrire International: 2011 drug packaging review.
Too many dangers and too many patients overlooked

Warts: spontaneous healing is frequent