European journal of clinical pharmacology
-
Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Nov 2003
Comparative StudyPerception of the risk of gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including coxibs): differences among general practitioners, gastroenterologists and rheumatologists.
To compare the perception of risk of gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (including coxibs) in general practitioners, gastroenterologists and rheumatologists. ⋯ This study shows differences in the perception of risks of gastrointestinal ADRs. Rheumatologists systematically considered NSAIDs as less harmful than general practitioners and gastroenterologists did. In contrast, the widely demonstrated difference in gastrointestinal risk among the different groups of NSAIDS (with, for example, a higher risk for oxicams) was not pointed out by the three studied groups of physicians. There are differences in the perception of gastrointestinal risks of NSAIDs (including coxibs) among physicians according to their medical education and medical specialisation.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Sep 2003
Clinical TrialVariations of serum potassium level and risk of hyperkalemia in inpatients receiving low-molecular-weight heparin.
To observe the variations of serum potassium level in patients receiving low-molecular weight heparin, assess the consequent risk of hyperkalemia and evaluate the clinical contributory factors. ⋯ Short-term treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin induces a significant increase in serum potassium level but the related incidence of relevant hyperkalemia is low. However, given the high absolute number of patients currently exposed to the risk in many clinical settings and the limitation of risk prediction, clinicians should prevent this life-threatening complication by a high index of suspicion and, accordingly, a quite routine monitoring of serum potassium.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Aug 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of melagatran, the active form of the oral direct thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran, are not influenced by acetylsalicylic acid.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin) on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of melagatran in healthy volunteers. Melagatran is the active form of the oral direct thrombin inhibitor, ximelagatran. ⋯ In young healthy volunteers, ASA had no effect on the PK or PD properties of melagatran at the studied dose. That the combination of ximelagatran with ASA may be used with acceptable safety must be verified in the relevant patient populations.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Aug 2003
Historical ArticlePlacebo effect and placebos: what are we talking about? Some conceptual and historical considerations.
Placebos and the placebo effect have always been present in medical history. However, they have not received the same consideration over the years. ⋯ Knowledge of the conceptual and historical considerations of placebo may help to understand its role in medical practice. Even without a consensual definition, and assuming that the placebo effect does not seem to be fully dependent on a placebo administration, one issue seems unquestionable: the placebo effect is present in clinical practice and in clinical trials, no matter which name we choose to call it.