The potential ischemic benefits of novel oral antiplatelet therapy following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may be offset by a significant increase in major bleeding events, according to a meta-analysis recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. “We are already exposing these patients to several drugs that can produce…
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While reducing the risk of classic fracture, treatment with bisphosphonates may increase the risk of atypical fractures of the femur, with a longer duration of treatment linked to this increasing risk, according to a new study. “We have demonstrated that the association between bisphosphonate treatment and the occurrence of atypical…
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A 5-day course of azithromycin is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, according to a recently published retrospective cohort study. Key Point: Azithromycin appears to have an adverse cardiac effect, possibly as a result of being proarrhythmic. The risk:benefit profile should be carefully considered before prescribing this agent,…
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Chronic use of low-dose aspirin, defined as 300 mg/day or less, is associated with an increased risk of major gastrointestinal (GI) or cerebral bleeding, a recent review of administrative data found. Patients with diabetes also were found to have a high rate of bleeding, irrespective of aspirin use. Key Point:…
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Women of child-bearing age commonly take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for occasional aches and pains. They are also the most common medications women take during the first trimester of pregnancy. In a recent study, women who used common nonprescription NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) in early pregnancy were not found…
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The benefit of bisphosphonates beyond 3 years in preventing fracture is unproven, according to a recent systematic review of the clinical data. The number of people in India with osteoporosis is expected to hit 36 million by 2013, according to a 2012 article in the Journal of Family Medicine and…
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Risk of postnatal fever with misoprostol linked to dosage, administration route
The prostaglandin E1 analog misoprostol is widely used to prevent postpartum hemorrhage, which is the leading cause of maternal death in India. Misoprostol is especially practical in low-resource settings because of its efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and ease of administration (sublingual, oral, vaginal, or rectal). It’s also not heat labile, which makes…
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