Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Jan 2010
ReviewAripiprazole in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: A review.
During the past decade, there has been some progress in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Current evidence supports the use of various second-generation, or atypical, antipsychotic medications, although few of these agents have been associated with long-term efficacy and tolerability. Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic that has been found to improve positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia with a favorable adverse-effect profile. ⋯ Based on the evidence reviewed, aripiprazole monotherapy appears to be effective and well tolerated in treating the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. It was associated with a low risk for the common adverse effects of antipsychotic therapy, including metabolic and endocrine alterations.
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Clinical therapeutics · Jan 2010
ReviewClevidipine for the treatment of severe hypertension in adults.
Intravenous antihypertensive agents are used when immediate control of blood pressure (BP) is required, including during the perioperative cardiac surgery period. Controlling postoperative BP is challenging because of the need to adequately reduce BP while maintaining appropriate end-organ perfusion. Clevidipine is an intravenous, ultra-short-acting, third-generation dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist with selectivity for arteriolar vasodilatation. It is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of severe hypertension. ⋯ In the Phase III trials reviewed, clevidipine was effective in controlling BP in the settings of perioperative cardiac surgery and severe hypertension and was associated with minimal adverse effects.
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Clinical therapeutics · Jan 2010
Patterns of discontinuation of atypical antipsychotics in the province of Québec: A retrospective prescription claims database analysis.
Patterns of discontinuation of atypical antipsychotic drugs, including the return to therapy after an interruption, have not been examined longitudinally. ⋯ This study population had a high risk of discontinuing initial atypical antipsychotic therapy within 1 year. Those who discontinued had a low likelihood of returning to treatment, and those who did return to treatment had a high likelihood of discontinuing again. These patterns of use may have serious consequences for patients' health and for the utilization of health services.