Current medical research and opinion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A double-blind study evaluating the long-term safety of varenicline for smoking cessation.
We assessed the safety of long-term varenicline administration for smoking cessation. ⋯ Varenicline 1 mg BID can be safely administered for up to 1 year. Varenicline was also a more effective smoking cessation aid than placebo throughout the study, supporting both its short- (12-week) and long-term (52-week) efficacy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Escitalopram versus sertraline in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a randomized clinical trial.
This trial was conducted to compare the efficacy and tolerability of a fixed dose of escitalopram 10 mg/day with sertraline optimally dosed within its recommended dose range (50-200 mg/day) for the treatment of major depressive disorder. ⋯ No differences in efficacy were observed for fixed-dose escitalopram 10 mg/day and sertraline flexibly dosed from 50-200 mg/day. At these doses, both escitalopram and sertraline were generally well tolerated.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Treatment of acute bronchitis with a liquid herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study.
The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of a herbal drug preparation from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in the treatment of acute bronchitis in adults outside the very restricted indication for an antibiotic therapy. ⋯ EPs 7630-solution is a well tolerated and effective treatment for acute bronchitis in adults outside the very restricted indication for an antibiotic therapy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Duloxetine versus escitalopram and placebo in the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder: onset of antidepressant action, a non-inferiority study.
The goal of a non-inferiority study is to test whether a new treatment has at least as much efficacy as an established treatment. The purpose of this non-inferiority study was to compare the speed of onset of antidepressant efficacy for duloxetine (a dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and escitalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). ⋯ In this study, both duloxetine and escitalopram showed significantly greater improvement on the primary efficacy measure than placebo over the 8-week acute treatment period, while no differences were observed between drugs or between drugs and placebo on response and remission rates at 8 weeks. Escitalopram at a starting dose of 10 mg QD was better tolerated than duloxetine at a starting dose of 60 mg QD. This study met its pre-defined primary objective of assessing if duloxetine was non-inferior to escitalopram in antidepressant onset efficacy, and the results show that duloxetine is at least as fast as (non-inferior to) escitalopram.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effect of inhaled insulin on patient-reported outcomes and treatment preference in patients with type 1 diabetes.
To compare patient-reported outcomes and treatment preference between preprandial inhaled insulin and preprandial subcutaneous (SC) insulin in the context of a clinical trial of crossover design with a primary objective of comparing HbA(1C) between groups. ⋯ Some patients desire alternatives to insulin injection. In this study 80% preferred HIIP to injected insulin. Other patients feel more comfortable with familiar insulin delivery. Healthcare providers should help patients find insulin delivery that corresponds to individual preferences.