Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Feb 2009
Review Comparative StudyPharmacotherapy of acute coronary syndrome: the ACUITY trial.
Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, has unique attributes including predictable pharmacokinetics, a reduction in bleeding complications and avoidance of heparin induced thrombocytopenia. ⋯ In the ACUITY trial, bivalirudin monotherapy was associated with rates of ischemic events that were noninferior to those associated with heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition, but was associated with a significantly reduced incidence of major bleeding. Bivalirudin seems to be an attractive antithrombotic agent in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing early invasive management.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Feb 2009
ReviewAlogliptin: a new, highly selective dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Alogliptin is a potent, highly selective dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor now undergoing clinical testing to support a new drug application for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. ⋯ Alogliptin is effective as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, either as monotherapy or in combination with metformin, thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas and insulin. It is well tolerated and has an excellent safety profile. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of alogliptin.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Dec 2008
Clinical TrialEfficacy and safety of transdermal fentanyl for treatment of oral mucositis pain caused by chemotherapy.
We investigated the efficacy and safety of transdermal fentanyl for severe mucositis pain caused by chemotherapy. ⋯ Transdermal fentanyl is an effective, convenient and well-tolerated treatment for severe mucositis pain caused by chemotherapy that can improve patients' quality of life.
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The commonest cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes and pain occurs in approximately 30% of diabetic patients with neuropathy. It is extremely distressing for the patient and poses significant difficulties in management, as no treatment to date provides total relief and the side effects of therapy limit dose titration. ⋯ Furthermore, a better understanding of the mechanisms that modulate pain may lead to more effective relief of painful symptoms. This review provides an update on the assessment and treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Dec 2008
Clinical TrialBeneficial acute antidepressant effects of aripiprazole as an adjunctive treatment or monotherapy in bipolar patients unresponsive to mood stabilizers: results from a 16-week open-label trial.
Several lines of research suggested that aripiprazole might be a useful treatment for acute bipolar depression. The aim of this open-label trial is to give more evidence of the clinical effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole in acute bipolar depression. ⋯ Aripiprazole was associated with beneficial effects on mood in patients with bipolar depression, and appears well tolerated with very small changes in mean body weight. These results highlight the potential benefits of aripiprazole for bipolar disorder patients. However, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are necessary to confirm aripiprazole's efficacy, tolerability and safety in bipolar depression.