An open multicentre study to compare the efficacy and safety of sultamicillin with that of cefuroxime axetil in acute ear nose and throat infections in adults.

A total of 110 adults with acute ear, nose and throat infections were treated orally with 750 mg/day (n = 9) or 1500 mg/day (n = 46) sultamicillin, or 500 mg/day (n = 51) or 1000 mg/day (n = 4) cefuroxime axetil for a minimum of 5 days. Variations in dose and duration of treatment were due to severity of symptoms. After treatment with sultamicillin for 8.1 +/- 1.5 days or with cefuroxime axetil for 7.9 +/- 1.6 days, local pain, erythema, exudate, oedema and adenopathies were improved in both treatment groups and all sultamicillin-treated patients were apyretic. All sultamicillin-treated and all but three cefuroxime axetil-treated patients experienced cure or improvement; only one cefuroxime axetil-treated patient discontinued treatment due to treatment failure. Gastrointestinal adverse events occurred in both treatment groups (eight sultamicillin-treated patients and three cefuroxime axetil-treated patients); one patient receiving cefuroxime axetil discontinued treatment due to nausea. Pruritus was reported by one sultamicillin-treated patient.

[Alpress osmotic tablets: a major advance in the management of hypertensive patients]. / Alpress comprimés osmotiques: une avancée majeure dans l'abord de l'hypertendu.

Improvement in patient compliance in hypertension requires perfect acceptability of the treatment. In this respect, the novel pharmaceutical Alpress (osmotic tablet) avoids massive release of prazosin and ensures that an effective plasma concentration is maintained throughout the 24-hour period. The Alpress osmotic tablet is a third-generation osmotic pump which allows the use of a relatively insoluble substance such as prazosin, with a drug release rate that is independent of gastrointestinal conditions. A study in 48 healthy volunteers has compared the pharmacokinetic characteristics of standard prazosin and of osmotic tablets of prazosin. After absorption of Alpress there is a 2- to 4-hour latency phase, after which there is a gradual increase to an equilibrium phase, which is virtually linear over 24 hours. These pharmacokinetic characteristics, which are also seen in elderly subjects, are of clinical importance: whereas efficacy is comparable to that of standard prazosin, the incidence of orthostatic hypotension and of other common adverse reactions to alpha-blockers is decreased by 50%. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the novel pharmaceutical Alpress represent and advance in the treatment of hypertension.

Multicentre trial of piroxicam in ambulant rheumatology.

A total of 8299 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis, ankylosing spondylitis or non-articular rheumatism were included in a large non-comparative multicentre study. In all, 98% of the patients reported some functional disability at baseline. At the final visit, only 20% had more pronounced incapacity. Pain, as assessed by the physician, was reduced by 44%. Overall, 70% of the patients having had recent treatment with a NSAID (n = 5489) rated current piroxicam treatment as better. The toleration of the piroxicam treatment was good. A total of 17% of the patients reported side effects, mainly from the gastrointestinal tract. Gastroduodenal ulcers were reported by 5 patients (0.06%).