SMC recommendations for doripenem : second or third line treatment of intra-abdominal infections
The Scottish Medicines Consortium issued an advice on the current indications for doripenem (Doribax): Doripenem (Doribax) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections in adults. In patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection, doripenem is associated with clinical cure rates non-inferior to those of another carbapenem. Doripenem should be […]
Study aid for antiviral agents: table summarizing their spectrum of activity
The following images created by the Dept. of Pharmacology at University of Utah are great for reviewing antifungals before a test like USMLE: This table contains the following agents: Trifluridine, Vidarabine, acyclovir, ganciclovir, foscarnet, azt, ddI, ribavirin, amantadine.
Video: agonist and antagonist concepts explained with simple examples
This video was developed by nursing students to explain in plain English the concepts of agonist, antagonist and intrinsic activity. The make use of simple analogies to make clear pharmacodynamics topics.
Antidepressants podcast: comments on the latest ACP clinical guidelines
Essential Evidence Plus, formerly InfoPOEMs is a service by John Wiley and Sons that aims to give physicians succinct medical evidence that will impact in their medical practice. In this podcast Dr. Ebell and Dr. Wilkes (National Public Radio) discuss the POEM that analyzes the ACP guidelines (published in Annals of Internal Medicine) on antidepressants. […]
PowerPoint presentation: “Marketing Practices of the Pharmaceutical Industry”
Southern Collaboration in Research to Impact Prescription of Therapeutics (SCRIPTS) is a project aimed to"help prescribers enhance their ability to evaluate drug related information to improve their prescribing practices and describe proper prescribing practices to improve quality of patient care". It is sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. They developed a very interesting and […]
Metoclopramide and tardive dyskinesia: FDA adds boxed warning
The FDA issued a press release (dated February 26, 2009) in which they announce that the agency will require Metoclopramide (Maxolon, Reglan, Degan, Maxeran, Primperan, and Pylomid) manufacturers to include a boxed warning about the risk of long term or high dose use: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that manufacturers of metoclopramide, […]
Study aids for antifungals pharmacology: diagram showing MOA and table summary for activity spectrum
The following images created by the Dept. of Pharmacology at University of Utah are great for reviewing antifungals before a test like USMLE: Diagram of sites of action of major antifungals Table: Spectrum of activity of antifungal agents Agents: Amphotericin, nystatin, flucytosine, azoles: miconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, griseofulvin Technorati : Antifungals, mechanism of action, tables
New 2009 NICE clinical guideline for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued in February 2009 an update of the rheumatoid arthritis guideline. Pharmacist Matt Robinson at his excellent “Prescribing advice for GP’s” commented the most relevant points of the guidance: This guideline recommends that treatment is started early during active disease in order to minimise damage […]
Etravirine (Intelence) for HIV infection: not recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium
This is an excerpt from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) advice on etravirine (Intelence). ADVICE: following a full submission etravirine (Intelence), in combination with a boosted protease inhibitor and other antiretroviral medicinal products, is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in antiretroviral treatment-experienced […]
PowerPoint presentation on cardiovascular pharmacology for nurses. Drugs to treat hypertension, heart failure, MI, shock and arrhythmias reviewed
The following cardiovascular pharmacology presentation is a practical overview on hypertension, drugs used in heart failure, MI, shock and antiarrhythmics: More on nursing pharmacology
Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA): the case of the serotonin hypothesis and SSRIs ads
I would like to recommend Pharmamotion readers one of the most popular articles in PLoS Medicine: Serotonin and Depression: A Disconnect between the Advertisements and the Scientific Literature. Jeffrey R. Lacasse, Jonathan Leo The article is a definitely a must read for those interested in direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) issues. However,for those who don’t have enough […]
MHRA: Tibolone (Livial) increases risk of breast cancer recurrence
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK) warned in the February 2009 Drug Safety Advice about the increased breast cancer recurrence in patients treated with tibolone (Livial): Treatment for breast cancer (e.g., tamoxifen) can commonly exacerbate menopausal symptoms. Although tibolone is contraindicated in women with known or suspected breast cancer, and in those with […]
Zonisamide (Zonegran): FDA warns about risk of metabolic acidosis and issues recommendations
The FDA issued an alert (February 23, 2009) about the risk of metabolic acidosis in patients treated with zonisamide (Zonegran). An excerpt from the alert on this anticonvulsant adverse effect: Following a review of updated clinical data, the FDA has determined that treatment with zonisamide can cause metabolic acidosis in some patients. Zonisamide is indicated […]
Scottish Medicines Consortium accepted Adalimumab (Humira) for adolescents that do not respond to other DMARDs
An excerpt from the Drug Advice issued by the Scottish Medicines Consortium on adalimumab (Humira): adalimumab (Humira) is accepted for restricted use in NHS Scotland, in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in adolescents aged 13-17 years who have an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs […]