News

• Low-dose transdermal HRT reduces stroke
• Published on Jun 19, 2010

Low-dose transdermal HRT is not associated with an increased risk of stroke in UK general practice, a new study suggests (BMJ 2010;340:c2519).

• Eplerenone cost effective for post-MI heart failure
• Published on Jun 19, 2010

The aldosterone antagonist eplerenone (Inspra) is cost effective when added to usual care in the treatment of post-MI heart failure, a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has shown (www.hta.ac.uk). This finding has now been included in a draft update of the NICE guideline on heart failure, due to be published in August.

• Janumet: combined tablet for type 2 diabetes
• Published on Jun 19, 2010

Another combined formulation of a gliptin and metformin has been introduced for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

• Antidepressant risks
• Published on Jun 05, 2010

The MHRA warns that antidepressants are associated with increased risks of pulmonary hypertension in neonates and fractures (Drug Safety Update 2010;3:Issue 10).

• Tamoxifen and SSRIs
• Published on Jun 05, 2010

The latest observational study to assess whether SSRIs and other drugs that inhibit CYP2D6 hepatic enzymes reduce the efficacy of tamoxifen has found no significant effect (J Clin Oncol 2010;28:2423-9).