International journal of clinical practice
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Sep 2006
Multicenter StudyPregabalin for peripheral neuropathic pain: results of a multicenter, non-comparative, open-label study in Indian patients.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerability, safety and efficacy of pregabalin in Indian patients with peripheral neuropathic pain. In this prospective, multicenter, non-comparative, open-label study, patients with peripheral neuropathic pain (n = 111) received pregabalin in doses ranging from 75 to 300 mg twice daily for 3 weeks. Primary efficacy measures included weekly pain score and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). ⋯ Pregabalin was well tolerated, and the most common adverse events were dizziness and somnolence. The short study duration precluded the assessment of longer term safety issues such as weight gain. This study has demonstrated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of pregabalin for peripheral neuropathic pain in Indian patients.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Aug 2006
ReviewQuality of life and childhood atopic dermatitis: the misery of living with childhood eczema.
The misery of living with atopic eczema (syn. dermatitis, AD) cannot be overstated for it may have a profoundly negative effect on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children and their family unit in many cases. As it is one of the commonest chronic relapsing childhood dermatosis (UK lifetime prevalence 16-20% by 20 years), with increasing worldwide prevalence, this has major social and financial implications for individuals, healthcare providers and society as a whole. This review explores the impact of AD on the lives of children and their family units and the use of some of the recently developed HRQoL measures, which have enabled investigation and categorisation of the physical, psychological and psycho-social effects of childhood eczema across all aspects of life. ⋯ It is therefore recommended that in future, they should be used in conjunction with objective measures of severity, as part of the assessment process of a child with atopic eczema. Lack of information on eczema and treatments heightens parental anxiety. Education of all individuals involved in the care of children with eczema is fundamental in the management of AD and it is essential to provide simple clear, unambiguous information on treatment and disease management in order to reduce the negative impact on HRQoL.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Aug 2006
Review Meta AnalysisSolifenacin significantly improves all symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome.
Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is a chronic condition characterised by urgency, with or without associated urge incontinence. Solifenacin succinate is a once daily, bladder selective antimuscarinic available in two doses (5 and 10 mg). The recommended dose is 5 mg once daily and can be increased to 10 mg once daily if 5 mg is well tolerated. ⋯ Data from these trials show that solifenacin 5 and 10 mg once daily is significantly more effective than placebo at reducing urgency, incontinence, micturition frequency and nocturia and at increasing volume voided per micturition. Adverse events were mainly mild-to-moderate in all treatment groups. The results of these phase III trials support the use of solifenacin in the treatment of OAB.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Aug 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyTreatment persistence with once-monthly ibandronate and patient support vs. once-weekly alendronate: results from the PERSIST study.
Osteoporosis is a common and debilitating condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The efficacy and safety of oral bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis are well established. However, patient adherence and persistence on treatment are suboptimal. ⋯ Secondary endpoint measurements of adherence (e.g. proportion of patients remaining on treatment at study end; proportion of patients discontinuing from the study) were also significantly different in favour of ibandronate plus patient support. In summary, the PERSIST study demonstrated that persistence on treatment was increased in patients receiving once-monthly ibandronate plus patient support compared with once-weekly alendronate. Increased persistence on bisphosphonate treatment is expected to improve patient outcomes and decrease the social and economic burden of osteoporosis.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jun 2006
Meta AnalysisCardiac safety of rivastigmine in Lewy body and Parkinson's disease dementias.
Cholinesterase inhibition in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may affect heart rate, sometimes inducing bradycardia. Additional cardiac safety considerations apply in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease (PDD), in whom cardiovascular autonomic nervous system dysfunction is common. We conducted a review of the safety data available for rivastigmine in these two conditions. ⋯ Compared with placebo, rivastigmine appeared to be associated with fewer vascular disorder adverse events (AEs) (p = 0.002) and fewer AEs of syncope (p = 0.018) in PDD patients (n = 541). A smaller randomised, placebo-controlled study of rivastigmine in DLB (n = 120) showed similar findings. Rivastigmine appears to have a favourable cardiac safety profile in PDD and DLB patients.