n°89

June 2007

Issue Contents
Editorial

Free  Rational choices

p.90
Independent information helps choose among treatment options

Marketing Authorisations


Human papillomavirus vaccine (cervical cancer prevention) (new drug)

p.91-94
High hopes...

Zonisamide (refractory partial epilepsy) (new drug)

p.95-97
No advantage

Sodium oxybate (cataplexy) (new drug)

p.98-101
Fewer attacks of cataplexy in some patients

Modafinil (sleep apnoea) (new indication) For a minority of patients

p.102-103

Pregabalin (generalised anxiety) (new indication) Better to use a benzodiazepine

p.104

Free  Atorvastatin + amlodipine. Just a commercial ploy

p.105

Trastuzumab (adjuvant breast cancer treatment)

p.106
Improved survival but cardiotoxicity is a concern

Estradiol + drospirenone (hormone replacement therapy) (new indication)

p.106
Menopause: yet another poorply assessed combined oestrogen and progestin product

Type A botulin toxin

p.106
New indication in limb spasticity : inconsistent efficacy

Evra° dose change: an air of secrecy

p.107

Adverse Effects


Early treatment of premature infants with steroids Neurological sequelae

p.108-109

Invasive infections due to Saccharomyces boulardii (Ultra-levure

p.110

Tamsulosin and cataract surgery: hypotonic iris

p.111

Bevacizumab: serious neurological disorders and nasal perforations

p.112

Cutaneous adverse effects of inhaled steroids

p.112-113

Glitazones and bladder cancer

p.113

Isotretinoin: stroke and myocardial infarction

p.113

Evra° contraceptive patch: risk of thromboembolism

p.113-114

Renal failure and gadolinium: danger

p.114

Development of torcetrapib, a lipid-lowering drug, abandoned

p.114

Sibutramine: an Australian analysis of reported adverse effects

p.114

Terbinafine: agranulocytosis

p.114

Reviews


Human papillomavirus: Often harmless but in some cases carcinogenic

p.115-119

Bacterial conjunctivitis in children Antibiotic eye drops only if eyewashing is ineffective

p.120-121

Rimonabant, obesity and diabetes

p.122
Too many adverse effects for a minor effect on weight loss, without reduced rates of complications

Methadone replacement therapy

p.122
Facilitating immediate access

Omega-3 and cancer or dementia

p.122
No preventive effect

Outlook


Free  Post-market studies: broken promises

p.123

2006 Prescrire financial report

p.124-125

Free  Packaging of pharmaceuticals Still too many dangers but several encouraging initiatives

p.126

Free  The Prescrire Packaging Working Group

p.127

Free  Improving drug packaging: regulators can do better

p.127-128

Prescrire puts patients' needs first

p.132

Forum


Free  Street medicines in Niamey (Niger)

p.128

Free  Forsteo° compliance programme: just say no

p.129-130

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