Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Aug 2004
A potential signal of Bell's palsy after parenteral inactivated influenza vaccines: reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)--United States, 1991-2001.
Post-licensure experience with a new intranasal inactivated influenza vaccine in Switzerland recently identified an increased risk for Bell's palsy. We reviewed reports in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) to assess if parenteral inactivated influenza vaccines (influenza vaccines) may also increase the risk for Bell's palsy. ⋯ Our findings revealed a signal of possible association between influenza vaccines and an increased risk of Bell's palsy. A population-based controlled study is needed to determine whether this association could be causal and to quantify the risk.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Jul 2004
Assessment of doctor-shopping for high dosage buprenorphine maintenance treatment in a French region: development of a new method for prescription database.
To assess the extent of doctor-shopping for buprenorphine maintenance therapy in a French region with a specific indicator. ⋯ Doctor-shopping appears to be an important problem for buprenorphine maintenance treatment in France but may be resolved by regulatory interventions. The use of adequate indicators on prescription databases may help to limit the effects of such interventions on legitimate care. The method presented here may be used with slight adaptations for other medications to assess their abuse potential.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Jul 2004
Venous thromboembolism associated with cyproterone acetate in combination with ethinyloestradiol (Dianette): observational studies using the UK General Practice Research Database.
To derive risk estimates for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women prescribed cyproterone acetate combined with ethinyloestradiol (CPA/EE), a drug licensed in the UK for the treatment of women with acne or hirsutism. CPA/EE provides a treatment option for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). CPA/EE has been associated with an increased risk of VTE. ⋯ The risk of VTE associated with CPA/EE use does not differ significantly from that associated with the use of conventional COCs. These data are reassuring and together with knowledge of the risks associated with other treatments for acne, in particular, should influence prescribing practice.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · May 2004
Drug switching patterns among patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis using COX-2 specific inhibitors and non-specific NSAIDs.
To compare RA and OA patients' time-to-switch after newly initiating treatment with three most commonly used non-specific (NS)-NSAIDs and two COX-2 inhibitors, celecoxib and rofecoxib. ⋯ Patients on the COX-2 specific inhibitors (celecoxib and rofecoxib) were significantly less likely to switch their therapy than patients on NS-NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac). These results suggest that COX-2 specific inhibitors may be a more effective treatment option when compared with NS-NSAIDs in usual clinical practice.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Oct 2003
Pattern of prescriptions issued by nursing home-based physicians versus office-based physicians for frail elderly patients in German nursing homes.
The purpose of this study was to describe the physician prescription pattern for frail elderly patients in German nursing homes and to identify differences, if any, between that of physicians based in the nursing homes (A) and those with office-based practices (B). ⋯ These data are indicative of a considerable use of inappropriate medication for frail geriatric patients. Differences between the prescribing pattern among nursing home-based and office-based physicians were not substantial, however, the latter group prescribed relatively more drugs.