Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Apr 2009
Modified visual analog scale symptom-intensity and overall-bother measures for the assessment of symptoms in studies of pharmacologic stress agents.
Drugs used to induce stress for cardiac imaging studies often cause discomfort. Patient-reported intensity of discomfort should be considered when comparing such agents. ⋯ Findings support the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the modified VAS symptom-intensity measure, and the reliability and validity of the overall-bother measure for use in patients completing PS procedures.
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Clinical therapeutics · Apr 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomized, controlled study comparing a lidocaine patch, a placebo patch, and anesthetic injection for treatment of trigger points in patients with myofascial pain syndrome: evaluation of pain and somatic pain thresholds.
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), a regional pain condition caused by trigger points in muscle or muscle fascia, produces muscle pain, tenderness, and disability. The gold standard of treatment for MPS-infiltration of trigger points with anesthetic-may provoke discomfort to the patients and require medical intervention. ⋯ Lidocaine patches were effective in, and highly acceptable to, these patients with MPS and high tissue hypersensitivity.
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Clinical therapeutics · Apr 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyPretreatment with flurbiprofen axetil, flurbiprofen axetil preceded by venous occlusion, and a mixture of flurbiprofen axetil and propofol in reducing pain on injection of propofol in adult Japanese surgical patients: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Pain on injection of propofol is a common clinical problem. Flurbiprofen axetil, an injectable prodrug of flurbiprofen, with or without venous occlusion has been reported to reduce this pain. A search of the existing literature did not identify comparative studies of 3 different techniques, including pretreatment with flurbiprofen axetil, flurbiprofen axetil preceded by venous occlusion, and mixture of propofol and flurbiprofen axetil, for reducing pain on injection of propofol. ⋯ In this study of adult Japanese surgical patients, pretreatment with flurbiprofen axetil 50 mg preceded by venous occlusion was found to be more effective in reducing pain on injection of propofol than the other flurbiprofen axetil administration strategies tested.
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Clinical therapeutics · Apr 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyPharmacokinetics and bioequivalence evaluation of two formulations of 10-mg amlodipine besylate: an open-label, single-dose, randomized, two-way crossover study in healthy Chinese male volunteers.
Amlodipine is a third-generation dihydropyridine calcium antagonist for the treatment of angina and hypertension. The relative bioavailability of a newly developed dispersible tablet as compared with an established branded formulation has not been reported in a Chinese population. ⋯ In this small study in healthy Chinese adult male volunteers, a single 10-mg dose of the dispersible tablet formulation (test) of amlodipine besylate met the regulatory criteria for bioequivalence to the established tablet formulation (reference) based on the rate and extent of absorption. Both formulations were well tolerated.
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Clinical therapeutics · Apr 2009
Comparative StudyDifferences in annual medication costs and rates of dosage increase between tumor necrosis factor-antagonist therapies for rheumatoid arthritis in a managed care population.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Differences in the dosage and mode of administration of these agents may result in differential rates of dosage adjustment and costs of care. ⋯ Patients initiating TNF-antagonist treatment for RA with infliximab incurred annual medication costs that were nearly 30% greater than costs in those initiating therapy with adalimumab or etanercept, in part because of the significantly greater rate of GTED in infliximab recipients.