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n°106

April 2010

Prescrire International

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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