European journal of clinical pharmacology
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Oct 2006
Comparative Study Clinical TrialProspective sonographic evaluation of fentanyl side effects on the neonatal gallbladder.
In an effort to minimise the stress and pain of mechanically ventilated neonates, the application of opioids has increased markedly. Abdominal adverse effects of opioid analgesics are constipation and increased pressure in the biliary system. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of continuous intravenous infusion of fentanyl on the volume of the neonatal gallbladder and to assess potential gastrointestinal side effects. ⋯ In our study fentanyl caused no major complications in the biliary system and intestine of ventilated preterm and term neonates. Sonographic investigations of the gallbladder under fentanyl treatment may be dispensable. Further investigations are required to assess adverse gastrointestinal effects.
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Sep 2006
Use of tricyclic antidepressants in older patients with painful neuropathies.
To describe patterns of use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (e.g., amitriptyline, nortriptyline) in older patients with painful neuropathies. ⋯ The high prevalence of conditions rendering the use of TCAs potentially inappropriate, along with relatively low daily dosages, suggest that many older patients with painful neuropathies who are prescribed these agents may be suboptimally treated.
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Aug 2006
Clinical TrialTransfer of reboxetine into breastmilk, its plasma concentrations and lack of adverse effects in the breastfed infant.
To investigate the transfer of reboxetine into milk, the absolute and relative infant doses via milk and to assess plasma concentrations and adverse unwanted effects in the breastfed infant. ⋯ The study suggests that reboxetine use by lactating women is safe for the breastfed infant. Nevertheless, our study had only four mother/baby pairs, and each decision to breastfeed should always be made on the basis of an individual risk/benefit analysis.
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Aug 2006
Clinical TrialProbe of CYP3A by a single-point blood measurement after oral administration of midazolam in healthy elderly volunteers.
Midazolam (MDZ) is used as an assessment of human cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) activity. A single blood measurement is used as a marker of its activity based on an observed correlation between MDZ clearance and the 1'-hydroxymidazolam (1'-OH-MDZ): MDZ plasma ratio is assessed at 0.5 h followig the intake of a single 7.5 mg oral dose of MDZ in healthy young volunteers. In addition, a 4-h plasma MDZ measurement has been found to be an excellent predictor of AUC and CYP3A activity. ⋯ Despite the small sample size, based on the results of healthy, elderly volunteers, a single MDZ plasma measurement taken at 6 h post-oral administration may represent an accurate marker of CYP3A phenotype. This single-time-point method could be used safely for predicting drug-drug or diet interactions and identifying individuals with genetic polymorphism that affect CYP3A activity.
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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Aug 2006
Use of an online surveillance system for screening drug interactions in prescriptions in community pharmacies.
Computerised surveillance systems have become available for screening potential adverse drug interactions during drug prescribing and dispensing. The purpose of this study was to analyse the frequency and profile of alerts given by one such system in two community pharmacies in Finland. ⋯ Although the incidence of potentially most hazardous interactions in prescriptions is rather low in this study (0.4%), the overall incidence is relatively high (9.8%). Implementation of the interaction surveillance system in the participating pharmacies makes it possible to study in the future in quantitative terms whether the quality of drug dispensing is improved.