International journal of clinical practice
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Aug 2005
Meta AnalysisTopiramate 100 mg/day in migraine prevention: a pooled analysis of double-blind randomised controlled trials.
Topiramate has been shown to be effective as a preventive treatment for migraine in three large placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trials. Because the protocols were similar in design using the same primary and secondary endpoints, data from these studies were pooled to evaluate the consistency of efficacy, efficacy by gender and tolerability of topiramate 100 mg/day (n = 386) versus placebo (n = 372). Topiramate was superior to placebo as measured by the reduction in mean monthly migraine frequency, monthly migraine days and monthly migraine duration. ⋯ The therapeutic effect was consistent throughout the different studies and independent of gender. The most common adverse effect was paraesthesia, mostly of mild-to-moderate severity. The findings confirm that, at a dose of 100 mg/day, topiramate is an effective and well-tolerated drug for migraine prevention.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Aug 2005
Impact of Ramadan on demographics and frequencies of disease-related visits in the emergency department.
Summary The objective of this study was to determine whether Ramadan is changing frequencies and demographics of visits due to certain diseases. Data obtained from the charts of the adult patients admitted into the emergency department (ED) due to 10 predetermined entities between 2000 and 2004 were analysed. Demographic variables analysed separately for certain entities visiting the ED in Ramadan were not found to be different from visits in other times of year. ⋯ Mean age of the patients admitted to the ED due to diabetes-related conditions in Ramadan was significantly lower than in pre- and post-Ramadan months (59.91 +/- 14.60 and 62.11 +/- 14.61, respectively) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.032). The patients with diabetes presenting in Ramadan were found significantly younger than their peers in the rest of the year. For other diseases, Ramadan does not appear to be a risk factor.