english.prescrire.org > Prescrire International > N°106 - April 2010

n°106

April 2010

Issue Contents
Editorial

Free  Clinical research: for whose benefit?

p.52
Explanatory versus pragmatic trials

Marketing Authorisations


Ulipristal (postcoital contraception) (New Drug)

p.53-55
No better than levonorgestrel

Rituximab (chronic lymphoid leukaemia) (New Indications)

p.56-58
No decisive advantage

Japanese encephalitis vaccine (New Drug)

p.59-61
Useful for selected adult travellers

Oral alitretinoin (severe chronic hand eczema)(New Drug)

p.62-63
Too risky

Zoledronic acid once-yearly (corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis) (New Indication)

p.63
No advantage

Aliskiren + hydrochlorothiazide (hypertension) (New Combination)

p.64
No evidence of benefits on hard endpoints

Trolamine over-the-counter (OTC switch)

p.64
Better emollients are available

Estradiol + dienogest (oral contraception) (New Combination)

p.65-67
No advantage

INN common stem: -gest-

p.67

Adverse Effects


Digoxin: serious drug interactions

p.68-70
Digoxin assay and clinical monitoring

Free  Telithromycin: visual disorders

p.71
Harms outweigh benefits

Varicella, herpes zoster and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: serious cutaneous complications

p.72-73
Use paracetamol instead

Tendon disorders due to statins

p.73
The first year of therapy is crucial

Trimetazidine: new French pharmacovigilance data

p.74
More harms than benefits

H1N1 influenza vaccines: reassuring early reports

p.74
Updates from regulators and WHO

Cefaclor: serum sickness (again)

p.75
Use the drug sparingly

Oseltamivir: beware neuropsychological effects in young patients

p.75
Confirmation of adverse effect profile

Omalizumab: cardiac adverse effects

p.75
Unfavourable risk-benefit balance

Sitagliptin: too many cases of pancreatitis

p.75
There are safer options

Reviews


From Prescrire's 2009 drug review: A recap of which new drugs to avoid

p.76-80
The drugs that Prescrire rated “nothing new” or "unacceptable” in 2009, listed by category of conditions treated

Diagnosis of depression in children and adolescents

p.81-83
Clinical pointers to a difficult diagnosis

23-valent pneumococcal polyoside vaccination

p.84
Efficacy not yet demonstrated

Outlook


Free  2009 Prescrire Awards

p.85-88
Many novelties exposing patients to unjustified harms

Free  2009 Prescrire Drug Awards

p.86

Free  2009 Prescrire Packaging Awards

p.87

Free  2009 Prescrire Information Awards

p.88

Free  A look back at 2009: one step forward, two steps back

p.89-94
Nearly 20% of new drugs authorised in France rated "not acceptable"

Free  The 2010 "Prescrire Encounters" "For accessible quality healthcare" Brussels May 2010

p.96

Masthead


Free  Masthead

p.50

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