The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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Review
Azilsartan medoxomil: a new angiotensin II receptor antagonist for treatment of hypertension.
To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and clinical role of azilsartan medoxomil, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that recently gained Food and Drug Administration approval for lowering of blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension. ⋯ Azilsartan medoxomil is a safe and effective ARB with a unique pharmacologic profile versus other agents, including slowed angiotensin II type 1 receptor dissociation rates and improved receptor specificity. Studies have shown azilsartan medoxomil 80 mg once daily to reduce BP to a greater extent than valsartan and olmesartan, with similar safety and tolerability.
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Review Meta Analysis
Systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy, safety, and tolerability data from randomized controlled trials of drugs used to treat postherpetic neuralgia.
To conduct a systematic review of available data from reports of randomized controlled trials on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of drugs used to treat postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a common type of neuropathic pain. ⋯ While available literature establishes the efficacy of 8 drugs in treatment of PHN, it does not provide adequate guidance as to which agents are best to treat this condition, in part because of inadequate reporting of data on tolerability and safety.
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Black widow spider (Latrodectus spp.) envenomation remains the most clinically significant spider envenomation in the US. The syndrome is characterized by painful muscle rigidity and autonomic disturbances. Treatment has ranged from symptomatic care to administration of specific antivenom. Declining antivenom availability and, possibly, the fear of hypersensitivity allergic reactions, has limited antivenom use in the US. ⋯ In the US, most symptomatic Latrodectus spp. exposures reported to the NPDS are minor. Few patients receive antivenom, although antivenom is associated with shorter symptom duration among moderate and major outcomes.
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The federally funded National HIV/AIDS Clinicians' Consultation Center (NCCC) offers US health care providers expert telephone consultations for managing HIV/AIDS and occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens through 3 telephone services: the National Clinicians' Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline), the National HIV Telephone Consultation Service (Warmline), and the Perinatal HIV Hotline. Callers to the NCCC receive consultation from either a clinical pharmacist (PharmD) or a physician (MD) with HIV expertise. ⋯ Health care provider callers to the NCCC were highly satisfied with the information obtained from this HIV/AIDS telephone consultation service. By measuring callers' survey response to PharmD and MD consultations, the importance of the clinicians' contributions to this advanced HIV/AIDS consultation service is documented.
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To examine the evidence regarding takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a complication of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ⋯ Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a serious but transient potential complication of electroconvulsive therapy. Limited evidence indicates that β-adrenergic receptor blocking agents may help prevent its reoccurrence in patients needing further electroconvulsive treatment. Health care providers in psychiatry should be aware of this potential complication of electroconvulsive therapy, especially in postmenopausal women. However, many questions remain regarding this issue.