European journal of clinical pharmacology
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Jul 2014
Risk of hip fracture among older people using anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs: a nationwide prospective cohort study.
Anxiolytics and hypnotics are widely used and may cause injurious falls. We aimed to examine associations between exposure to anxiolytics and hypnotics and the risk of hip fracture among all older people in Norway. Further, we wanted to examine associations between exposure to hypnotics and time of fracture. ⋯ Older people had an increased risk of hip fracture during anxiolytic or hypnotic drug use, including short-acting benzodiazepine anxiolytics and z-hypnotics that were previously considered less harmful; cautious prescribing is therefore needed. People using z-hypnotics were at greatest excess risk at night; this association deserves further investigation.
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Jun 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of omega-3 fatty acids on depressive symptoms and inflammatory markers in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
This study was designed to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on depression and chronic inflammation in hemodialysis patients. ⋯ Supplemental use of omega-3 fatty acids decreases depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients apart from their anti-inflammatory effects.
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · May 2014
Prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing and prescribing omissions in older Irish adults: findings from The Irish LongituDinal Study on Ageing study (TILDA).
We sought to estimate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIP) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) using a subset of the STOPP/START criteria in a population based sample of Irish adults aged ≥ 65 years using data from The Irish LongituDinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). ⋯ Our findings indicate prescribing omissions are twice as prevalent as PIP in the elderly using a subset of the STOPP/START criteria as an explicit process measure of potentially inappropriate prescribing and prescribing omissions. Polypharmacy was independently associated with both PPO and PIP. Application of such screening tools to prescribing decisions may reduce unnecessary medication, related adverse events, healthcare utilisation and cost.
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Apr 2014
The impact of legislation on drug substances used off-label in paediatric wards--a nationwide study.
This nationwide study is aimed at describing to what extent the European Paediatric Regulation has met therapeutic needs in children. ⋯ PIPs only cover a small proportion of the drugs found to be used off-label in this study. Despite waivers granted, drug substances were used nonetheless. Unmet regulatory needs are still considerable in some therapeutic areas in neonates as well as in children.