Current medical research and opinion
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Effectiveness of varenicline as an aid to smoking cessation: results of an inter-European observational study.
Varenicline tartrate, a selective partial agonist of the α4β2 nicotinic receptor, has been shown to be an effective smoking cessation aid with an acceptable safety profile in a number of randomized, controlled trials. The aim of the CHOICES (Champix Observational Investigation in the Cessation of Smoking) study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of varenicline in real-world clinical practice. ⋯ The CHOICES study shows that in a real-world clinical practice setting outside a clinical trial environment, varenicline is an effective smoking cessation aid with an acceptable safety profile.
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Multicenter Study
Long-term effectiveness and tolerability of sublingual fentanyl orally disintegrating tablet for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain.
Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is a transient exacerbation of cancer pain in patients with otherwise stable, persistent background pain. This study evaluated the long-term effectiveness and tolerability of sublingual fentanyl orally disintegrating tablet (sublingual fentanyl ODT), for the treatment of BTcP in opioid-tolerant patients with cancer. ⋯ Sublingual fentanyl ODT was effective and well tolerated for the long-term treatment of BTcP in opioid-tolerant cancer patients. There was an increase in satisfaction with pain medication during the study, and sublingual fentanyl ODT showed an acceptable safety profile over 12 months of treatment.
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Multicenter Study
Observational, nonintervention, multicenter study for validation of the Bowel Function Index for constipation in European countries.
Constipation is a common adverse event of treatment with opioids for chronic non-malignant pain and may result in a considerable reduction in health-related quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Bowel Function Index (BFI) in european patients suffering from constipation secondary to opioid analgesic treatment for chronic, non-malignant pain. ⋯ Although this study was limited by the relatively small sample size, it is a part of an extensive validation program. This study suggests that the BFI is a reliable and valid measure of constipation-related symptomatology in chronic pain patients. This measure may be a valuable indicator of patients' experience of symptoms of opioid treatment of chronic pain in future trials.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Comparison of escitalopram vs. citalopram and venlafaxine in the treatment of major depression in Spain: clinical and economic consequences.
Population based study to determine the clinical consequences and economic impact of using escitalopram (ESC) vs. citalopram (CIT) and venlafaxine (VEN) in patients who initiate treatment for a new episode of major depression (MD) in real life conditions of outpatient practice. ⋯ ESC appears to be dominant in the treatment of new MD episodes when compared to CIT and VEN, resulting in higher remission rates and lower total costs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Diclofenac potassium liquid-filled soft gelatin capsules for the treatment of postbunionectomy pain.
Diclofenac potassium liquid-filled soft gelatin capsule (DPSGC) is a rapidly absorbed formulation of diclofenac approved for the treatment of mild to moderate acute pain in adults (≥18 years of age). The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of DPSGC 25 mg in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients experiencing pain following first metatarsal bunionectomy. ⋯ These results indicate that DPSGC reduced pain in patients who underwent bunionectomy and this novel formulation of diclofenac potassium may be a practical option for treating mild to moderate acute pain.