British journal of clinical pharmacology
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Jun 2005
Multicenter StudyPaediatric homoeopathy in general practice: where, when and why?
To investigate the extent of homoeopathic prescribing in primary care for childhood diseases and assess GP attitudes towards the use of homoeopathy in children. ⋯ In primary care paediatric prescribing of homoeopathic medicines most commonly occurs for self-limiting conditions in infants less than 1 year of age. Although the current level of homoeopathic prescribing is low, the widespread use in the community suggests that at least some knowledge of the main indications for homoeopathy and the preparations used would be of benefit to registered medical practitioners.
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Dec 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialMedication reviews in the community: results of a randomized, controlled effectiveness trial.
To examine the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary service model delivering medication review to patients at risk of medication misadventure in the community. ⋯ Most studies emphasize efficacy and the best achievable clinical outcomes rather than whether an intervention will be effective in practice. The current trial showed that three of the four domains in the clinical value compass showed trends of improvement or were indeed improved in the relatively short follow-up period of the trial, suggesting that a service based on this model could achieve similar benefits in practice. A domiciliary medication review programme similar to this model has now been implemented into national Australian practice, where GPs and pharmacists are reimbursed by the Australian government for the provision of these services.
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Apr 2004
Multicenter StudyRetrospective population pharmacokinetic analysis of cetirizine in children aged 6 months to 12 years.
To evaluate retrospectively the population pharmacokinetics of cetirizine, a second-generation antihistamine, in children. ⋯ Population analysis predicts a linear increase in cetirizine CL/F and V/F with age, with CL/F being slightly lower in female children, relative to males of the same age. However, this gender difference probably has no clinical consequences. Since V/F increased more rapidly with age than CL/F, a nonlinear increase in half-life was seen, from < 4 h in infants to near the adult value at 12 years of age. The current recommended dosing regimens that younger children should receive lower but more frequent doses, are confirmed by the present analysis.
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Jun 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialPopulation pharmacokinetics of levosimendan in patients with congestive heart failure.
The aim of this study was to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of levosimendan in patients with heart failure (NYHA grades III and IV) and its relationship to demographic factors, disease severity and concomitant use of digoxin and beta-blocking agents. ⋯ The population pharmacokinetics parameters of levosimendan in this patient group were comparable to those obtained by traditional methods in healthy volunteers and patients with mild heart failure. Bodyweight influenced the clearance and the central volume of distribution, which in practice is accounted for by weight adjusting doses. None of the other covariates, including digoxin and beta-blocking agents, significantly influenced the pharmacokinetics of levosimendan.
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Jun 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialAnalgesic efficacy of sustained release paracetamol in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Paracetamol is widely recommended as the initial treatment for pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). A sustained release (SR) paracetamol formulation (Panadol Extend) was compared with standard immediate release (IR) paracetamol (Panadol) in patients with knee pain secondary to OA. The primary parameter for assessment of efficacy was patient-assessed global pain relief as determined on day 8 of the treatment period. ⋯ SR paracetamol taken three times daily was statistically and therapeutically noninferior to IR paracetamol taken four times daily in patients with knee pain due to OA. SR paracetamol may be more convenient for patients with chronic pain and has the potential to enhance compliance and therefore pain relief.