Author: jauca

31 Jul [94] Dual antiplatelet therapy: net health benefit or harm?

The antiplatelet drugs acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), clopidogrel (Plavix) and ticlopidine (Ticlid) were reviewed in TL #37.¹ Ticlopidine is no longer available in Canada. ASA has a unique action, irreversibly inhibiting platelet cyclooxygenase. Clopidogrel and two new drugs, prasugrel (Effient) and ticagrelor (Brilinta), reduce platelet activation and aggregation by inhibiting P2Y₁₂ adenosine diphosphate receptors. Prasugrel and ticagrelor have been suggested as alternatives to clopidogrel for patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome. This letter analyses published RCTs comparing these two new platelet inhibitors with clopidogrel, and includes additional information available from the US FDA’s medical reviews of these RCTs.

22 Apr [93] Are claims for newer drugs for overactive bladder warranted?

Two previous Therapeutics Letters on drugs for overactive bladder (OAB) concluded that the antimuscarinic drugs (oxybutynin, tolterodine, darifenacin, solifenacin and trospium) had limited short-term potential symptomatic benefit (NNT = 7) and significant risk of adverse...