[e-drug] Contents of Prescrire International N° 89

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E-DRUG: Contents of Prescrire International  N° 89
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Prescrire International is the English language edition of the reference French journal la revue Prescrire. It contains comparative evaluation of new drug interventions, reviews of adverse effects, and papers on drug policy issues. 

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Contents of Prescrire International, 

June 2007 Volume 16  N° 89
 
Editorial
. Rational choices             

Independent information helps choose among treatment options
 
NEW PRODUCTS
. Human papillomavirus vaccine
(cervical cancer prevention)        

High hopes.

. Zonisamide (refractory partial epilepsy)             
No advantage

. Sodium oxybate (cataplexy)        
Fewer attacks of cataplexy in some patients

. Modafinil (sleep apnoea)              
For a minority of patients

. Pregabalin (generalised anxiety)             
Better to use a benzodiazepine

. Atorvastatin + amlodipine
(cardiovascular prevention)     

. Editor's opinion: Fixed-dose combinations
Just a commercial ploy 

. Trastuzumab (adjuvant breast cancer treatment)         
Improved survival but cardiotoxicity is a concern

SHORTCUTS

. Estradiol + drospirenone (hormone replacement 
therapy) 

. Type A botulin toxin 
      
Secrecy
. Evra° dose change: an air of secrecy 
(contraceptive patch) 

Secrecy surrounds a dosage change

ADVERSE EFFECTS
 
. Early treatment of premature infants with
steroids: neurological sequelae            

. Invasive infections due to Saccharomyces
boulardii (Ultra-levure°)          

. Tamsulosin and cataract surgery: hypotonic iris     

. Bevacizumab: serious neurological disorders 
and nasal perforations       

. Cutaneous adverse effects of inhaled steroids 

. Glitazones and bladder cancer  

. Isotretinoin: stroke and myocardial infarction  

. Evra° contraceptive patch: risk of thromboembolism        

. Renal failure and gadolinium: danger 

. Development of torcetrapib, a lipid-lowering drug, 
abandoned      

. Sibutramine: an Australian analysis of reported 
adverse effects  

. Terbinafine: agranulocytosis             

REVIEWS
 
. Human papillomavirus  
Often harmless but in some cases carcinogenic

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

Minireviews

. Rimonabant, obesity and diabetes 

. Methadone replacement therapy 

. Omega-3 and cancer or dementia           

OUTLOOK
 
Editorial
. Post-market studies: broken promises           

About Prescrire
. 2006 Prescrire financial report             

Safety
. Packaging of pharmaceuticals              

. The Prescrire Packaging Working Group             

Improving drug packaging: regulators 

. can do better 
 
FORUM
 
. Street medicines in Niamey (Niger)             

Forsteo° compliance programme: 

. just say no      

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