Oral steroids provide a modest boost to function for patients with sciatica A trial has found giving patients a tapered 15-day course of oral steroids can provide a modest improvement in function.…
Inhaled corticosteroids in COPD have neutral effect on mortality despite increased pneumonia risk Use of inhaled corticosteroids in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with an increased risk of pneumonia but a neutral or even reduced risk of pneumonia-associated and overall mortality.…
Glaucoma: treatment of open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension Pharmacological treatment is essential for patients with glaucoma, although patient compliance can be a problem.…
Personalised medicines — creating ‘polypills’ in the local pharmacy Patients require different combinations of drugs at different doses. Gino Martini explains how ‘polypills’ may enable patients to take one tablet containing the medicines and doses appropriate for them.…
PCSK9 inhibitors: the next cholesterol-lowering blockbusters? Statins have been a mainstay of heart attack and stroke prevention for the past 20 years, but the race is on to bring a new drug to market that targets an enzyme called PCSK9.…
Mixing medicines: how to ensure patient safety Incompatibility poses a constant risk when mixing medicines but it can be avoided by understanding the chemical reactions taking place.…
Using a mummy as a medicine Different types of mummy could be used to make tincture, treacle, elixir or balsam, which could, in turn, be used for treating different types of affliction.…
Medicine errors can be avoided with clearer IV bag labels, research suggests Redesigning the labels of intravenous medicine bags can “significantly” reduce the risk of administering the wrong drugs during an operating theatre emergency.…
Osteoporosis drug shows promise as COPD treatment Repurposing the bisphosphonate bone drug alendronate relieves symptoms of emphysema associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by targeting alveolar macrophages, according to a study in mice…
Reformulated OxyContin reduces abuse but many addicts have switched to heroin Reformulation of OxyContin into an abuse-deterrent formula has reduced its illicit use but has caused people to switch to other opioid drugs, a US study finds.…