english.prescrire.org > Prescrire International > N°78 - August 2005

n°78

August 2005

Issue Contents
Editorial

Free  Informed decisions: think of the INN

p.122
Think in terms of the INN : one key to optimising use of drugs

Marketing Authorisations

Leflunomide (Arava

p.123-126
In psoriatic rheumatism: too many risks, too little efficacy

Melagatran and ximelagatran (Melagatran AstraZeneca

p.127-132
No real simplification of anticoagulant therapy

Pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, and rosiglitazone + metformin: glitazone + oral antidiabetic combination: inadequately evaluated

p.133-139

Olanzapine (Zyprexa

p.140-142
Prevention of bipolar disorder: unconvincing trials

Everolimus

p.143
In post-transplant rejection: no better than sirolimus

Botulin toxin A

p.143
In primary axillary hyperhydrosis: after local antiperspirant therapy and before surgery

Ibandronic acid

p.143
In breast cancer patients with bone metastases: just another injectable bisphosphonate

Adverse Effects

Hasty approval, more withdrawals

p.144
Hasty approval jeopardises patient safety

Bupropion: Seizures in an infant exposed through breast-feeding

p.144

Venlafaxine and cardiac effects

p.145
UK agency warns against use of venlafaxine in patients with heart diseases, electrolyte disturbances or hypertension

Paracetamol + dextropropoxyphene: planned withdrawal from the British market

p.145
Too many risks, and efficacy no better than paracetamol alone

Neuropsychiatric disorders on ibuprofen

p.145
Thinking about the role of NSAIDs may help

Drotrecogin alfa: excess mortality in the least severely ill patients

p.145
Should be restricted to precisely defined severe sepsis

Reviews

Ischaemic stroke: acute-phase drug therapy: Mostly aspirin and heparin

p.146-152
Aspirin alone prevents around 5 deaths per 1000 treated patients. Low-dose unfractionated heparin is combined with aspirin only in special situations. Thrombolytic therapy is controversial. Antihypertensive drugs seem justified in some cases.

Outlook

Free  Prescribers "under the influence"

p.153
Physicians should participate in independent training programmes, and

Free  The

p.154

Free  News of Prescrire network

p.154-155
Reliable information is rarely presented despite legal obligations; benefits are overstated and risks are minimized

Free  Still too many analgesic mixtures

p.155
Combinations with combined disadvantages

Free  We deserve to know the truth about the safety of our prescription drugs

p.159
Irish petition

Forum

Free  Blood pressure targets and the 2003 WHO/ISH guidelines

p.156-157
We need guidelines based on strong evidence

Free  Generics: the limits of bioequivalence

p.158
No major safety problem has been reported

The complete contents of 
this issue of Prescrire International
are available for download by
Prescrire International subscribers.
Certain texts are also available to
non-subscribers for free download,
as indicated. 

 

Subscribe