Drug and therapeutics bulletin
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Each year in the UK, about 1 in 2,500 people experiences neuropathic pain that is still present 3-6 months after acute herpes zoster (shingles). This condition, known as postherpetic neuralgia, is the most common complication of herpes zoster and can be chronic, intractable and distressing. ⋯ Versatis (Grunenthal Ltd), a topical preparation of lidocaine formulated in a plaster, has recently been licensed for treating patients with postherpetic neuralgia. Does it offer useful benefit?
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Over 1 in 5 adults in the UK are estimated to have allergic rhinitis and around half of these people are allergic to grass pollen. Despite optimal use of intranasal corticosteroids and oral antihistamines, some patients continue to have troublesome symptoms. For example, in one general practice survey, 62% of patients taking both these treatments described control of their symptoms as partial or poor. ⋯ Sublingual immunotherapy has been proposed as an alternative to the subcutaneous route. Grazax (ALK-Abelló) is the first product licensed in the UK for sublingual immunotherapy. Here we consider its role in the management of patients with hay fever.