Expert opinion on drug safety
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Expert Opin Drug Saf · Jan 2012
ReviewAre constipation drugs effective and safe to be used in children? A review of the literature.
Functional constipation is a common and often enduring problem in childhood. Although functional constipation is well defined by the Rome III criteria, these criteria have not always been integrated in general practice. Early diagnosis and treatment are key factors with respect to successful long-term outcome, as chronic constipation has a negative effect on the quality of life and is a burden for the public healthcare system. The safety of laxatives used for paediatric-functional constipation is based on well-designed trials carried out mostly in adults. Therefore, we conducted a review of the literature outlining the evidence for the efficacy and safety of laxatives used in chronic paediatric-functional constipation. ⋯ In adults, new promising drugs are on the virtue of breaking through in the treatment of chronic constipation. Carrying out well-defined placebo-controlled trials in children should be the next step before using these drugs.
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Expert Opin Drug Saf · Jan 2012
ReviewSafety and tolerability of extended-release niacin with laropiprant.
Niacin is one of the oldest drugs used in the treatment of dyslipidemia. Previously its use has been limited because of excessive flushing. Now an agent laropiprant (LRP) has been developed, which blocks the flushing pathway. Therefore, it is time to collate available information to assess the safety and tolerability of combining niacin with LRP. ⋯ The addition of LRP to ERN, by reducing the side effect 'flushing', may enable lipidologists and physicians to use niacin more widely as part of lipid modification therapy, especially since the combination can be safely added to statins. However, it has to be accepted that the addition of LRP does not completely abolish flushing. The favorable safety profile supports the use of LRP to achieve higher therapeutic dosing of niacin.