Treatment of acute, non-traumatic pain using a combination of diclofenac-cholestyramine, uridine triphosphate, cytidine monophosphate, and hydroxycobalamin.

This randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical study in parallel groups evaluated the safety and efficacy of an oral combination diclofenac-cholestyramine, nucleotides (uridine and cytidine) and vitamin B12 versus the oral combination of nucleotides and vitamin B12 in the treatment of acute, non-traumatic pain. Subjects received twice-daily, 10-day oral administration of diclofenac-cholestyramine + uridine + cytidine + vitamin B12 (Group DN, n=40) or uridine + cytidine + vitamin B12 (Group NB, n=41). The primary study endpoint was the number of subjects with VAS reduction of >30mm after 10 days of treatment. Secondary endpoints included the number of patients with improvement >5 points in the Patient Functionality Questionnaire after 10 days of treatment, and the number of subjects presenting adverse events. Treatment with the combination of diclofenac-cholestyramine, nucleotides and Vitamin B12 resulted in a higher number of subjects with VAS score reductions >30mm after 10 days of treatment (87.5% subjects) than in the control group administered nucleotides and Vitamin B12 (51.23% of subjects), (p>0.0006). A significantly higher number of subjects in the DN group (80%) had a score reduction of >5 points in the Patient Functionality Questionnaire at after 10 days of treatment compared to Group NB (29.3%), (p<0.001). The number of subjects presenting AEs did not vary significantly between treatment groups (p=0.587). The combination of diclofenac-cholestyramine with uridine, cytidine and vitamin B12 was well-tolerated over a 10-day treatment period. The combination reduced pain and improved functionality among subjects presenting acute, non-traumatic pain in the lower back, hips, and neck.

Non-acute congestive heart failure with and without primary sodium retention: evaluation of laboratory and clinical parameters following treatment with furosemide and potassium chloride

Introduction: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is defined by a cardiac deficit in supplying normal oxygen and nutrient demands to the body. Among the many drug therapies for relief of CHF symptoms are diuretics in the treatment of edemas associated with this condition, which prevent fluid accumulation in tissues, and relieve the symptoms. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that is commonly used to this end, whose most common side effect is electrolyte imbalance, particularly hypokalemia. Potassium supplementation during treatment is recommended at a preventive measure. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical response to the use of the combination of furosemide and potassium chloride in patients presenting non-acute CHF, with respect to: 1) Signs and symptoms of CHF 2) Serum sodium and potassium levels registered in the patient chart 3) Incidence of laboratory alterations 4) Incidence of adverse events.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, analytic, retrospective study performed at Hospital Universitário Constantino Otaviano, UNIFESO, evaluating medical charts of patients presenting non-acute CHF who were treated with the combination of furosemide and potassium chloride. Only patients presenting laboratory data from before and after treatment were included. For each patient, the hospital chart was analyzed in order to complete the Clinical Research Form (CRF). The CRFs were filled, stored, coded, and the data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. Results: There was a clinically significant decrease from pretreatment in the number of patients presenting all signs and symptoms of CHF, with the exception of nausea. Vital signs improved significantly in relation to pretreatment values. Sodium and potassium levels decreased, but remained within reference range, as did other laboratory evaluations performed. In addition to the furosemide + potassium chloride treatment, 59/60 patients were prescribed additional medications. A total of 35 adverse events were...