Archives : 2013

Omega-3: ineffective in preventing cardiovascular events

Omega-3 supplements have no proven efficacy in reducing the risk of a new cardiovascular event.

1 September 2013

Providing care to pregnant women: do no harm

French medical journal Prescrire devotes its annual special issue to the prudent use of medicines by pregnant women.

1 August 2013

Pregnancy: drugs to avoid

A special issue of French medical journal Prescrire examines the risks of medications during pregnancy. Some drugs are known to cause birth defects in the fetus (teratogenic), and are not compatible with pregnancy.

1 August 2013

Choosing a treatment with a pregnant woman

In a special issue of French medical journal Prescrire: an approach aimed at avoiding adverse drug effects during pregnancy.

1 August 2013

Medication during pregnancy: 10 principles to avoid adverse effects in the unborn child

In the special issue of French medical journal Prescrire: for a woman who is pregnant, or who might be or become pregnant, taking medications can expose the unborn child to harmful effects, often poorly known, and sometimes extremely serious and irreversible. A few principles can be useful in avoiding them.

1 August 2013

Do not use drugs to prevent onset of lactation

FEATURED REVIEW We reviewed the available evidence on methods used to prevent onset of lactation. Breast discomfort, however intense, does not justify exposing women to the serious adverse effects linked to postpartum administration of dopamine agonists or oestrogens.
Full review (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 July 2013

In the July issue of Prescrire International: Quetiapine and cardiac muscle disorders

FREE DOWNLOAD Reports of myocarditis and cardiomyopathy in patients taking the neuroleptic quetiapine are a cause for concern. Quetiapine is chemically similar to clozapine and olanzapine, both of which are known to sometimes provoke these adverse effects.

Full text available for free download.

1 July 2013

HIV: condoms remain the most effective means of prevention

In situations where there is a high risk of HIV transmission, the combination of emtricitabine + tenofovir reduces the risk of the virus being sexually transmitted, but only by half. The condom is a more effective means of prevention.

1 July 2013

Meals, a powerful influence on healthcare professionals too

Gifts from pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals, particularly dinner invitations, influence them a great deal, even subconsciously. It’s important to know when to say no.

1 July 2013

Traumatic bleeding: tranexamic acid reduces mortality

In victims of severe traumatic bleeding, the administration of tranexamic acid, preferably in the hour following the trauma, and in any case within 3 hours, has a favourable harm-benefit balance.

1 July 2013

The debate over EU Clinical Trials Regulation: towards a model that meets real public health needs

In a text published in The Lancet (Vol 381, p1719-1720), Prescrire observes that the debate on proposed European clinical trials regulation offers a major opportunity to redirect clinical research and development towards a model that meets real public health needs. Improved access to clinical trial data would allow independent analysis and early detection of safety problems.

1 July 2013

Bleeding with dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban: no antidote, and little clinical experience

FEATURED REVIEW Dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban are oral anticoagulants used to prevent or treat thrombosis. Difficulties in the management of bleeding weigh heavily in the balance of potential harm versus potential benefit of these drugs.
Full review (5 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 June 2013

In the June issue of Prescrire International - Strontium ranelate (Protelos°) for osteoporosis in men: more dangerous than beneficial

FREE DOWNLOAD Strontium ranelate is used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis in women. Serious and even life-threatening adverse effects have been reported since market release in 2005. The drug is now also licensed for the treatment of osteoporosis in men.
Full text available for free download.

1 June 2013

Prescrire: financial independence and transparent finances

Prescrire publishes its accounts each year.

1 June 2013

Personalised medicine based on pharmacogenetics: a critical approach is called for

As of early 2013, real therapeutic advances in the field of pharmacogenetics are still few and generally modest.

1 June 2013

Colorectal cancer: "antioxidants" have no preventive effect

"Antioxidants" have no place in the prevention of colorectal cancers. Furthermore, they may be harmful.

1 June 2013

Guard against drug companies' influence on healthcare professionals, starting with medical students

Teachers and students in the healthcare field have a key role to play in keeping pharmaceutical companies at arm's length, so as not to jeopardise the quality of their training and their practice.

1 June 2013

Washington conference produces a "Call to action on selling sickness"

Prescrire has endorsed the "Call to action on selling sickness", a statement that came out of the conference "Selling Sickness, 2013: People before Profits" held in Washington DC in February 2013. The statement is reproduced here.

15 May 2013

Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism:
prevention of recurrences

FEATURED REVIEW After the initial phase of treatment for deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, the goal is to prevent recurrences, which can be fatal. In practice, it is best to choose between low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and warfarin, on a case-by-case basis.
Full review (5 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 May 2013

In the May issue of Prescrire International: Panitumumab (Vectibix°) as adjunctive therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer

FREE DOWNLOAD This text from the New Products section of the May issue of Prescrire International concludes that panitumumab has no place in either first- or second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Full text available for free download.

1 May 2013

Prescrire looks back at drugs packaging in 2012: too many dangerous flaws

The analyses carried out over the past year by Prescrire's editors reveal that in too many cases, drug packaging is dangerous for children. Too many patient leaflets contain incomplete information on adverse effects, resulting in the most vulnerable patients being the least protected.

1 May 2013

Oral methotrexate: risk of a fatal overdose

The packaging of oral methotrexate-based drugs should be improved so as to avoid fatal dosage errors.

1 May 2013

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: avoid pirfenidone (Esbriet°)

The lack of an effective treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare disease, does not justify the use of pirfenidone: this drug's harm-benefit balance is unfavourable.

1 May 2013

Health research: fraud is too widespread!

It is high time to put an end to the blind faith placed in researchers’ findings, and to make it possible for their results to be verified.

1 May 2013

Mephenesin: abuse and dependence

Mephenesin is a muscle relaxant with psychotropic effects, leading to abuse and dependence. It is better to avoid mephenesin, especially in patients with a history of abuse and dependence.

1 May 2013

Lessons learnt and to be learnt: PRAC and CHMP say no to dangerous drug

In a published response to Gary Taube's essay "The science of obesity: what do we really know about what makes us fat?" (BMJ online, 16 April 2013), Prescrire welcomes the European Medicines Agency's refusal to grant marketing authorisation to the fixed-dose combination of topiramate and phentermine.

26 April 2013

ADR: a new global phenomenon, thanks to the ICH

EXCLUSIVE Dateline Paris, 1 April 2013. French journal Prescrire reports unbelievable news regarding the creation of the worldwide Agency for Drug Reconciliation (ADR).

1 April 2013

• Decline in vigilance: worldwide epidemic!

Something fishy is going on here! In an increasingly interconnected world, we all need an annual April "booster shot", to take a good, hard look at our perception of information.

1 April 2013

Bismuth + metronidazole + tetracycline (Pylera°) for peptic ulcer associated with Helicobacter pylori: why risk adding bismuth?

FEATURED REVIEW The standard treatment for peptic ulcer associated with Helicobacter pylori is a combination of omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin. The 4-drug regimen comprising omeprazole + bismuth subcitrate potassium + metronidazole + tetracycline is at least as active against the infection, but there are too many questions regarding its adverse effects. Better to avoid bismuth pending further evaluation.
Full review (4 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 April 2013

In the April issue of Prescrire International: Prescrire's editors look back at new drugs and new indications in 2012

FREE DOWNLOAD The therapeutic advances identified by the editors of independent French journal Prescrire in 2012 were minimal. And 15 new drugs or indications reviewed during the past year are actually dangerous.

Full text available for free download.

1 April 2013

Spotlight: Archives

Spotlight

2013

Omega-3: ineffective in preventing cardiovascular events

Providing care to pregnant women: do no harm

Pregnancy: drugs to avoid

Choosing a treatment with a pregnant woman

Medication during pregnancy: 10 principles to avoid adverse effects in the unborn child

Do not use drugs to prevent onset of lactation

In the July issue of Prescrire International: Quetiapine and cardiac muscle disorders

HIV: condoms remain the most effective means of prevention

Meals, a powerful influence on healthcare professionals too

Traumatic bleeding: tranexamic acid reduces mortality

The debate over EU Clinical Trials Regulation: towards a model that meets real public health needs

Bleeding with dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban: no antidote, and little clinical experience

In the June issue of Prescrire International - Strontium ranelate (Protelos°) for osteoporosis in men: more dangerous than beneficial

Prescrire: financial independence and transparent finances

Personalised medicine based on pharmacogenetics: a critical approach is called for

Colorectal cancer: "antioxidants" have no preventive effect

Guard against drug companies' influence on healthcare professionals, starting with medical students

Washington conference produces a "Call to action on selling sickness"

Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism:
prevention of recurrences

In the May issue of Prescrire International: Panitumumab (Vectibix°) as adjunctive therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer

Prescrire looks back at drugs packaging in 2012: too many dangerous flaws

Oral methotrexate: risk of a fatal overdose

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: avoid pirfenidone (Esbriet°)

Health research: fraud is too widespread!

Mephenesin: abuse and dependence

Lessons learnt and to be learnt: PRAC and CHMP say no to dangerous drug

ADR: a new global phenomenon, thanks to the ICH

• Decline in vigilance: worldwide epidemic!

Bismuth + metronidazole + tetracycline (Pylera°) for peptic ulcer associated with Helicobacter pylori: why risk adding bismuth?

In the April issue of Prescrire International: Prescrire's editors look back at new drugs and new indications in 2012