This week’s BMJ has an interesting editorial on the rosiglitazone story. Recent hearings found that rosiglitazone has an 80% additional relative risk of myocardial infarction, comparable to previous concerns with COX2 inhibitor, Vioxx. However, as no licenting body demanded evidence on the risk of myocardial infarction, it is still impossible to accurately quantify the harm which we put patients in when prescribing the drug. The editorial outlines clearly the rosiglitazone story and the outlines the care that clinicians must take when prescribingnew drugs.
Danish drug company Novo Nordisk is to withdraw Mixtard30, a form of insulin used by 90,000 patients in the UK. DTB says this will be costly; if all patients switched to Novo Nordisk’s alternative Novomix30, this would cost the NHS £9M a year.
he June 2010 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin(DTB) [volume 48,
number 6] contains an editorial and three articles. The editorial
highlights the recent NICE guideline recommendation to use pregabalin
rather than gabapentin for neuropathic pain. The first article is a review
of the use of acupuncture for tension-type headaches and migraine. The
second article reviews the evidence for misoprostol for postpartum
haemorrhage. The third article discusses testosterone for “late-onset
hypogonadism” in men. A podcast outlining what is in the June issue is also
available via our website www.dtb.bmj.com.
The May 2010 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin(DTB) [volume 48,
number 5] contains an editorial and three articles. The editorial discusses
the problems surrounding the management of patients with alcoholic liver
disease in the community. The first article is a review of the use of
▼liraglutide in type-2 diabetes. The second article is an update on the use
of ▼Grazax for hay fever. The third article reviews the use of I.V
immunoglobulin therapy for infectious diseases. A podcast outlining what is
in the May issue is also available via our website www.dtb.bmj.com.
The April 2010 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) [volume 48, number 4] contains an editorial and three articles. The editorial discusses the use of prescribing support software used in primary care, to advise clinicians on local formulary choices. The first article is a review of silver dressings and the evidence for them. The second article discusses the use of vagus nerve stimulation for the management of epilepsy. The third article presents the results of a survey of DTB subscribers on their knowledge of, and attitude towards, herbal medicines. A podcast outlining what is in the March issue, a longer podcast discussing the survey and the full results of the survey are also available via our website www.dtb.bmj.com.
The March 2010 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) [volume 48,
number 3] contains an editorial and three articles. The editorial discusses
cardiovascular risk assessment tools. The first article is a review of the
cardiovascular safety concerns associated with NSAIDs. The second article
discusses managing asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism. The third
article reviews the use of body surface area to adjust drug doses. A
podcast outlining what is in the March issue is also available via our
website www.dtb.bmj.com.
The February 2010 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) [volume 48,
number 2] contains an editorial and three articles. The editorial discusses
concerns arising from the European Commission’s proposals for changing the
arrangements for licensing drugs and monitoring patient safety. The first
article is a review of the management of community-associated MRSA. The
second article discusses the use of ▼Pregabalin for generalised anxiety
disorder. The third article highlights changes to the reporting of HbA1c
levels. A podcast outlining what is in the February issue is also available
via our website www.dtb.bmj.com.
This study looks at the 50 top medical centres in the US and their policies on ghostwriting. The authors found that only 26% of institutions have policy on ghostwriting.
The January 2010 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) [volume 48,
number 1] contains an editorial and three articles. In an editorial and an
accompanying podcast in March 2009, we highlighted issues about ‘high
street mole clinics’. These included concerns that new imaging technologies
might be used in such clinics by clinicians lacking appropriate training.
Our editorial this month discusses some developments in this area. The
issue also includes a review of the management of medication overuse
headache, a review of the role of cognitive behavioural therapy for
schizophrenia, and a review of tocilizumab for rheumatoid arthritis. A
podcast outlining what is in the January issue is also available via our
website www.dtb.bmj.com.
The December 2010 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) [volume 47, number 12] contains an editorial and three articles. The editorial discusses the problems raised by C. difficile infections occurring outside hospital. The issue also includes a review of the management of gastro-oesophageal refux in infants, a review of the role of strong opioids for osteoarthritis in primary care, and a review of generic prescribing in epilepsy. A podcast outlining what is in the December issue is also available via our website www.dtb.bmj.com.
The October 2009 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) contains an editorial and three articles. The editorial discusses the use of generic and trade names in current prescribing. The issue also includes a review of the role of BNP testing in heart failure, and articles about the drugs imiquimod, and two new oral fixed-dose oral anti-coagulants-▼dabigatran and ▼rivaroxiban. A podcast outlining what is in the October issue is also available via our website www.dtb.bmj.com.