Current medical research and opinion
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Seven hundred and fifty cycles of treatment with a new triphasic oral contraceptive (WL-49(50). 'Trinordiol') containing the lowest quantity of steroids of all available preparations were evaluated in 75 healthy young women (mean age 19.6 years), 70% of whom had regular, normal cycles. Sixty-five percent had not used contraception before; the others had previously been on combined or progestagen-only oral contraceptives or had an IUD. The mean length of treatment with the triphasic preparation was 10 cycles. ⋯ Complaints of oestrogen-related symptoms such as breast tenderness and digestive disorders were probably due to the reduced progestagen content of the preparation compared with combined low fixed daily dose oral contraceptives. However, no increases in dysmenorrhoea and/or premenstrual tension were noted. It is concluded that the triphasic preparation provides effective contraception with excellent cycle control and minimal side-effects, which should help to increase the acceptability of low-dose combined oral contraceptives.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of a combination of orphenadrine/paracetamol tablets ('Norgesic') on myalgia: a double-blind comparison with placebo in general practice.
The clinical efficacy and tolerability of a combination preparation ('Norgesic') of 35 mg orphenadrine plus 450 mg paracetamol was compared with that of placebo in a controlled double-blind, parallel group, 7-day study comprising 44 patients suffering from pain due to tension of the cervical and upper thoracic musculature. The patients were allocated at random into two homogeneous groups, stratified by sex and initial pain intensity. One group received the combination, the other placebo. ⋯ Despite the low dosage used, orphenadrine/paracetamol produced statistically significant pain relief from initial levels by and from the second day of the study. Comparison between the groups showed that the analgesic efficacy of the combination was significantly superior to that of placebo from the third day of treatment. These results confirm the efficacy of a combination of orphenadrine/paracetamol in patients suffering from myalgia nuchae.
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Case Reports Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A controlled study of benzydamine oral rinse ("Difflam") in general practice.
Fifty-two patients suffering from presumed viral pharyngeal infection or tonsillitis were treated with either benzydamine or placebo oral rinse as a gargle at 3-hourly intervals in a randomized double-blind study. Patients on the active preparation experienced faster resolution of pain and dysphagia and at 7 days 88% were symptom-free compared with 38% on placebo.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
An open comparative trial of three doses of ciramadol used intravenously in renal colic.
In an open investigation, ciramadol, a partial agonist opioid, was found to be a potent analgesic when given intravenously in patients experiencing renal colic. Single intravenous doses of 20, 30 and 40 mg of ciramadol were given to 11, 11 and 12 patients with renal colic, respectively, and good pain relief was obtained in 10, 11 and 10 patients, respectively. Vomiting and nausea occurred in 9 patients, 4 in the 20 mg group, 2 in the 30 mg group and 3 in the 40 mg group. This adverse effect was related to standing and walking following the ciramadol injection.
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A retrospective analysis was performed of 405 patients, over the age of 65 years, who had been admitted with proven myocardial infarction to a coronary care unit, to investigate the relationship between the serum potassium level on admission and the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. On admission, 173 (42.7%) patients had a serum potassium of less than 4.0 mmol/l. During the first 24 hours in hospital, 57% of all patients exhibited a disturbance of cardiac rhythm. ⋯ The difference in incidence of this arrhythmia was highly significant (p less than 0.001). No patient who experienced ventricular fibrillation was on existing cardiac medication with either a diuretic, beta-adrenoreceptor blocking drug or digoxin. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of other cardiac arrhythmias between low and normal serum potassium groups.