n°102

August 2009

Issue Contents
Editorial

Free  Health information - Honest and transparent

p.144

Marketing Authorisations

Gefitinib (non-small cell lung cancer) (A Second Look)

p.145-147
Still very disappointing

Ranolazine (stable angina) (New Drug)

p.148-150
Not worth the risk

Rivaroxaban (after hip or knee replacement surgery) (New Drug)

p.151-153
LMWH is safer

Micafungin (severe candidiasis) (New Drug)

p.154
Life-threatening hepatotoxicity

Caspofungin (invasive fungal infections) (New Indication)

p.155
Same indications in children as in adults

Nepafenac (after cataract surgery) (New Drug)

p.156
Just another NSAID eye drop

Gemcitabine (relapsed ovarian cancer) (New Indication)

p.156
Increases toxicity but not overall survival

Free  Panitumumab (metastatic colorectal cancer) (New Drug)

p.157
Don't make things worse!

Methylnaltrexone (opiate-induced constipation) (New Drug)

p.158
Barely more effective than placebo

Teriparatide (during corticosteroid therapy) (New Indication)

p.159
No fewer clinical fractures

INN commons stems: -xaban

p.159

INN commons stems: -tadine

p.159

Ixabepilone (metastatic breast cancer) (New Drug)

p.160
Similar to taxanes, but no better

Trabectedin (soft-tissue sarcomas) (New Drug)

p.161
Too many adverse effects

Betaine anhydrous (homocystinuria) (New Drug)

p.162
Continued evaluation needed

Adverse Effects

Adverse effects of papillomavirus vaccines in 2008

p.163

Drug binding and complex formation: one mechanism for potential drug interactions

p.164

Sevelamer reduces the efficacy of many other drugs

p.164-165

A washout period needed before switching from a neuroleptic to an amphetamine

p.165

Bevacizumab + sunitinib: microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia

p.165

Salmeterol and formoterol: asthma aggravation

p.166

Dextropropoxyphene: withdrawn in the EU

p.166

Imiquimod: liver damage

p.166

Dextropropoxyphene: withdrawn in the EU, withdrawal from the US market requested

p.166-167

Oseltamivir: cardiac and visual disorders

p.167

Mefloquine: interstitial pneumonia

p.167

Memantine: heart failure

p.167

Erlotinib: potentially fatal in cases of liver failure

p.167

Methylphenidate: abuse and dependence

p.168

Immunosuppressants: JC virus encephalopathy

p.168

Patent blue V: anaphylaxis

p.168

Reviews

Fibromyalgia

p.169-173

Identifying complications of central venous catheters

p.173-174

Corticosteroids: no drug prevention of fractures needed

p.175

Rosuvastatin for cardiovascular prevention: too many uncertainties

p.176

Antibiotic therapy for trachoma

p.176-177

Type 2 diabetes: target HbA1c of about 7%

p.177

Promoting breast feeding. Fewer infections than in bottle-fed babies

p.178

Promoting breast-feeding. Very few contraindications to breast-feeding

p.178

Outlook

Free  Drug companies and patient groups: who benefits?

p.179

Effects of cancer drugs on survival: often poorly evaluated

p.180-183

Adverse effects: much information lost

p.181

Marketing authorisations granted on a shaky basis: in Europe too

p.182

How do drug companies view prescribers?

p.183

Free  European directive: drug packaging provisions finally transposed into French law

p.183

Teaching critical appraisal in the interest of improving healthcare

p.184

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: French guidelines are biased

p.185

Free  The media and continuing education: links with drug companies must be made public

p.186

Q & A. Anthracycline extravasation and dexrazoxane

p.186

Free  The 2010 "Prescrire Encouters" in Brussels

p.188

Masthead

Free  Masthead

p.142

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