Human psychopharmacology
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Human psychopharmacology · Oct 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA double-blind placebo-controlled trial of milnacipran in the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a systemic disorder of widespread pain which is thought to result from abnormal pain processing within the central nervous system. There are no currently approved treatments for this indication. Antidepressants appear, however, to be effective, especially those with an action on noradrenergic neurotransmission. ⋯ Furthermore, 37% of twice daily milnacipran-treated patients reported at least 50% reduction in pain intensity, compared with 14% of placebo-treated patients (p < 0.05). 84% of all milnacipran patients escalated to the highest dose (200 mg/day) with no tolerability issues. Most adverse events were mild to moderate in intensity, and transient in duration. These results suggest that milnacipran may have the potential to relieve not only pain but several of the other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
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Human psychopharmacology · Jul 2004
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyComparative efficacy of newer hypnotic drugs for the short-term management of insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To compare the clinical effectiveness of zaleplon, zolpidem or zopiclone (Z-drugs) with either benzodiazepines licensed and approved for use in the UK for the short-term management of insomnia (diazepam, loprazolam, lorazepam, lormetazepam, nitrazepam, temazepam) or with each other. ⋯ Twenty four eligible studies were identified with a total study population of 3,909 (17 studies comparing a Z-drug with a benzodiazepine and 7 comparing a Z-drug). Insufficient or inappropriately reported data meant that meta-analysis was possible only for a small number of outcomes. There are few clear, consistent differences between the drugs. Some evidence suggests that zaleplon gives shorter sleep latency but shorter duration of sleep than zolpidem, reflecting the pharmacological profiles of the drugs.
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Human psychopharmacology · Jun 2004
Review Historical ArticleMedicines and the drug control treaties: is buprenorphine for opioid addiction at risk of being lost?
Over the past century, a worldwide system for the control of drugs with abuse potential has developed through the adoption of a series of international treaties. The important multilateral conventions currently in force are the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (Single Convention), the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 (Psychotropic Convention) and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. From the beginning, the aim of these drug control treaties has been to control the abuse and trafficking of substances with abuse potential while assuring that the availability of these drugs for medical and scientific purposes is not unduly restricted. ⋯ This change would result in the classification and regulation of buprenorphine as a narcotic drug rather than a psychotropic substance. Such a move is unwarranted medically and scientifically and would provoke increased controls on buprenorphine that would fundamentally disrupt the medical practice of pain management and opioid replacement therapy around the world. The negative impact of inappropriate regulatory controls when licensed medicines come under such scrutiny are described.