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In Prescrire's Spotlight

Drugs to avoid in the name of better patient care: 2020 update The independent French medical journal Prescrire's annual review of drugs to avoid includes documented cases of 105 drugs authorised in the European Union that are more dangerous than beneficial. The aim is to make it easier to choose safe, effective treatments, primarily to avoid exposing patients to unacceptable harms. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Annual Prescrire Drug Awards announced in Paris: 6 winning drugs, but no "Pilule d'Or" The independent French medical journal Prescrire announced its Drug Awards for 2019, at its yearly awards ceremony in Paris on 30 January. Three drugs made the "Honours List" and three others were recognised as "Noteworthy", but there was no "Pilule d'Or" (Golden Pill) awarded this year. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ The Prescrire Packaging Awards for 2019: one winner and plenty of losers The independent French medical journal Prescrire held its annual awards ceremony in Paris on 30 January. A Prescrire Packaging Award recognised Isentress° granules for oral suspension (raltegravir) for its clear, informative instruction booklet, whereas 34 "Red Cards" were handed out for substandard or dangerous packaging. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Prescrire's Information Awards for 2019: just 6 drug companies (out of 112 contacted) are honoured for the quality of information provided Prescrire's annual Information Awards recognise drug companies which respond to Prescrire's requests with complete and relevant information. In 2019, only a half-dozen drug companies (out of 112 companies contacted by Prescrire's editors with information requests) embraced transparency, in the best interest of patients. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Baclofen (Baclocur°) and alcohol dependence. At moderate doses, a modest aid in controlling alcohol consumption FEATURED REVIEW The GABA analogue baclofen (Baclocur°, Ethypharm), used since the 1970s as a muscle relaxant, has now been granted marketing authorisation in France for the reduction of alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent patients in whom the other drug treatments have failed. What is known about baclofen's harm-benefit balance in this clinical situation as of late 2019? Full review (4 pages) available for download by subscribers. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ In the February issue of Prescrire International - High thrombotic risk and antiphospholipid antibodies: avoid direct oral anticoagulants FREE DOWNLOAD In the Adverse Effects section this month: should patients taking a direct oral anticoagulant switch to a vitamin K agonist such as warfarin, in light of the French drug regulatory agency's recent advisory? Full text available for free download. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Independent information does exist, but deserves more attention and visibility In a published response to the article "Pathways to independence: towards producing and using trustworthy evidence"  published online at bmj.com (BMJ 2019;367:l6576), Prescrire points out that independent sources of information do exist, and many, like Prescrire, are members of the International Society of Drug Bulletins. 06 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ SSRI antidepressants: persistant sexual dysfunction Antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) expose patients to sexual adverse effects that may persist long after discontinuation of the drug. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Severe vomiting in pregnancy: the priority is to rehydrate In cases of severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, priority treatment combines parenteral rehydration and rest. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Oral desensitisation to peanuts: too many adverse effects Oral desensitisation to peanuts increases rather than reduces the risk of subsequent serious allergic reactions. 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Enjoy these features, and more, in our upcoming issues COMING SOON Ertugliflozin in type 2 diabetes • Rotarix° oral vaccine: still being mistakenly administered by intramuscular injection • Paracetamol in late pregnancy: a risk factor for premature closure of the ductus arteriosus • Painful endometriosis... > Subscribe now 1 February 2020

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ The Mediator° disaster: so much time wasted, so many lives destroyed The independent French medical journal Prescrire began asking questions about the appetite-suppressant drug Mediator° (benfluorex) in 1986, and called for its withdrawal some 12 years before the French authorities finally took action.  In our special online section, a recap of how the disaster unfolded, and the tragic consequences for victims. 1 December 2019

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Subscribe today for full access to top-quality content from Prescrire International Subscribe now Enjoy access to subscriber-only content available on our website, including every article published in Prescrire International since 1992. Prices for a one-year subscription start at 150 euros (less for students and residents of lower-income countries). 1 December 2018

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ "Top Texts of 2019", new from the editors of Prescrire International  NEW: FREE SPECIAL EDITION  Check out this brand new sampling of texts selected by our editors to introduce you to Prescrire International, a wholly independent monthly journal, written by and for healthcare professionals 28 August 2019

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Receive the free, monthly "Independent Drug & Healthcare Newsletter" Click here to sign up for the free Newsletter from the editors of the non-profit journal Prescrire International, with highlights of the contents of the latest issue. 1 September 2018

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