Prescrire international
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Prescrire international · Aug 2009
Rivaroxaban: new drug. After hip or knee replacement surgery: LMWH is safer.
(1) The standard anticoagulant therapy for prevention of thrombosis after hip or knee replacement surgery is subcutaneous injection of a low-molecular-weight heparin, such as enoxaparin; (2) Rivaroxaban is an oral factor-Xa inhibitor anticoagulant approved for use in these indications in the European Union; (3) Four double-blind controlled trials in more than 12 000 patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery failed to show that rivaroxaban was any more effective than enoxaparin on relevant clinical outcomes; there was no reduction in mortality, nor in the incidence of pulmonary embolism and symptomatic deep venous thrombosis; (4) In the selected populations enrolled in these trials, the bleeding risk was similar in the rivaroxaban and enoxaparin groups. However, it is possible that very underweight or overweight patients have an increased bleeding risk with rivaroxaban; (5) More information is needed on the nephrotoxicity of rivaroxaban, and a risk of mitochondrial toxicity cannot be ruled out. ⋯ However, it seems best to monitor renal function. It should also be noted that there is no effective antidote if severe bleeding occurs; (8) In practice, for frail elderly patients, who are often polymedicated, it seems more prudent to continue using low-molecular-weight heparin, a drug with which we have more experience.
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(1) Fibromyalgia is characterised by a range of symptoms that include muscle pain, fatigue and sleep disorders. Anxiety and depression are often also present. The cause is unknown. ⋯ The best-assessed alternative therapies (acupuncture and physical exercise) only have a limited effect; (9) In practice, when a patient presents with symptoms compatible with fibromyalgia, the first step is to rule out a treatable condition. Quality of life may be improved by first acknowledging that the pain is real, and possibly by providing psychological, medical, social and occupational support. The limited efficacy of available drugs, and their potential adverse effects, should be discussed with the patient.
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Prescrire international · Aug 2009
Caspofungin: new indication. Same indications in children as in adults.
Caspofungin is no more effective than amphotericin B in children but its adverse effect profile is somewhat different. Caspofungin has not been compared with azole antifungals.