The Therapeutics Initiative is at arms length from government and other vested interest groups. Our function is unbiased review and dissemination of therapeutic evidence. Assessments apply to most patients; exceptional patients require exceptional approaches. We are committed to evaluate the effectiveness of our educational activities using the Pharmacare database without identifying individual physicians, pharmacies or patients.


Therapeutics Letter, issue 20, July - August 1997

New Drugs III

Alendronate (Fosamax®)
Dorzolamide (Trusopt®)
Acarbose (Prandase®)
Olanzapine (Zyprexa®)

Alendronate (Fosamax®)

Alendronate is a bisphosphonate bone resorption inhibitor in the same class as etidronate and clodronate.

Dorzolamide (Trusopt®)

Dorzolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor for topical ocular administration.

Acarbose (Prandase®)

Arcarbose is a new antidiabetic drug that acts by a unique mechanism of action. It inhibits hydrolysis of complex starches to glucose in the small intestine.

Olanzapine (Zyprexa®)

Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug that structurally resembles and binds to some of the same receptors as clozapine (Clozaril®).


Note: see Therapeutics Letter 15 for definition and calculation of ARR, ARI and NNT.

References:

  1. Liberman UA, Weiss SR, Broll J, et al. Effect of oral alendronate on bone mineral density and the incidence of fractures in postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 1995;333:1437-1443.
  2. Black DM, Cummings SR, Karpf DB, et al. Randomised trial of effect of alendronate on risk of fracture in women with existing vertebral fractures. Lancet 1996;348:1535-1541.
  3. Weinstein SE, Altman R, Conte JM, et al. Comparative study of alendronate versis etidronate for the treatment of Paget's disease of bone. J Clin Endocrin Metab 1996;81:961-967.
  4. de Groen PC, Lubbe DF, Hirsch LJ, et al. Esophagitis associated with the use of alendronate. N Engl J Med 1996;334:1016-21.
  5. Wilkerson M, Cyrlin M, Lippa EA, et al. Four week safety and efficacy study of dorzolamide, a novel, active topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Arch Ophthal 1993;111:1343-1350.
  6. Heijl A, Strahlman E, Sverrisson T, et al. A comparison of dorzolamide and timolol in patients with pseudoexfoliation and glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Ophthalmology 1997;104:137-142.
  7. Strahlman ER, Vogel R, Tipping R, et al. The use of dorzolamide nad pilocarpine as adjunctive therapy to timolol in patients with elevated intraocular pressure. Ophthalmology 1996;103:1283-1293.
  8. Chiasson JL, Josse RG, Hunt JA, et al. The efficacy of acarbose in the treatment of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Ann Intern Med 1994;121:928-935.
  9. Beasley CM, Tollefson G, Tran P, et al. Olanzapine versus placebo and haloperidol. Acute phase results of the North American double-blind olanzapine trial. Neuropsychopharmacology 1996;14: 111-123.
  10. Tollefson GD, Beasley CM, Tran PV, et al. Olanzapine versus haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective and schizophreniform disorders: Results of an international collaborative trial. Am J Psychiatry 1997;154: 457-465.
  11. Shalansky K. Olanzapine: Atypical antipsychotic. Drug and Therapeutics Newsletter 1997;4: 2-3.

Please send feedback!

Back to Therapeutics Letter.

Back to the Therapeutics Initiative Home Page.

©Therapeutics Initiative. Last updated: September 11, 1997.