Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Jul 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialA double-masked comparison of Naprelan and nabumetone in osteoarthritis of the knee. Naprelan Study Group.
The efficacy and safety of Naprelan (naproxen sodium) 1000 mg once daily (QD) and nabumetone 1500 mg QD were compared in a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-masked, 4-week study of adult outpatients with active osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Nabumetone 1500 mg was chosen for comparison because it is commonly prescribed in a QD dosing regimen for OA. After a washout period free of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 279 patients were enrolled and assigned randomly to treatment with either Naprelan 1000 mg QD (n = 92), nabumetone 1500 mg QD (n = 93), or placebo (n = 94). ⋯ Patients receiving nabumetone had statistically significant improvement from baseline in inactivity stiffness compared with placebo at week 2. There were no clinically important differences among treatment groups in the occurrence of adverse events or laboratory abnormalities. The results of this 4-week study of Naprelan 1000 mg QD compared with nabumetone 1500 mg QD demonstrate at least equal efficacy (superior efficacy was demonstrated for several parameters) and equal safety in adult outpatients with active OA of the knee.
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Clinical therapeutics · Jul 1997
ReviewTreatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections: role of clarithromycin and azithromycin.
The incidence of identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria has increased since the advent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic. Although Mycobacterium avium complex appears to be responsible for most episodes of nontuberculous disease, several other previously rare species are increasingly being detected, including Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium fortuitum/chelonei complex, and Mycobacterium genavense. ⋯ The search for more effective treatment regimens is ongoing in an attempt to enhance survival and reduce morbidity among immunocompromised patients. Novel antimicrobial combinations that include clarithromycin or azithromycin have been shown to be effective in treating several nontuberculous mycobacterial infections.
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Clinical therapeutics · Jul 1997
Prescribing of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anxiolytics, and sedative-hypnotics by general practitioners in The Netherlands: a multivariate analysis.
A study of the prescribing of anxiolytics and sedative-hypnotics and the occurrence of anxiety or sleep disorders before and after the initiation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy may provide insight into differences in individual SSRIs. The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether and in what way the likelihood of being prescribed an anxiolytic or sedative-hypnotic or receiving a diagnosis of an anxiety or sleep disorder differed in patients prescribed either fluoxetine or paroxetine by a general practitioner (GP) in the Netherlands, where these two agents are the most commonly prescribed SSRIs. Episodes of SSRI treatment were constructed from a recently available GP database in the Netherlands. ⋯ We found that patients who were prescribed fluoxetine as their index drug were less likely to receive a concomitant sedative-hypnotic on their index date compared with patients receiving paroxetine. After controlling for other observable factors, such as use of anxiolytics and sedative-hypnotics before SSRI therapy or on the index date or the existence of comorbid anxiety or sleep disorders, patients starting fluoxetine therapy were no more likely than patients starting paroxetine therapy to receive an anxiolytic or sedative-hypnotic or a diagnosis of an anxiety or sleep disorder during the 60-day post period. The likelihood of a patient's being diagnosed with or receiving a prescription for an anxiety or sleep disorder does not appear to be a differentiating factor between the prescribing of fluoxetine or paroxetine by GPs in the Netherlands.