Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin current issue

More on high street mole checks

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:07:21 PST

Management of medication overuse headache

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:07:21 PST

Headache is one of the most frequent reasons for medical consultation in both general practice and specialist neurology clinics.1 Prescribed and over-the-counter medications are taken to alleviate headaches, but may be used incorrectly.2 In particular, use of some drugs both frequently and regularly can have a paradoxical effect, causing headaches rather than relieving them, and leading to medication overuse headache (MOH).3 Such overuse is a common cause of frequent headache. Here we review MOH and its management.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for schizophrenia

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:07:21 PST

Around 0.7% of the population have schizophrenia.1 This serious psychotic disorder affects psychological and social functioning, and diagnosis can lead to stigma.2 Pharmacological interventions are a key element in management,3 but are sometimes ineffective4 and nearly half of patients do not adhere to drug treatment.5 Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is now being used as adjunctive treatment in the management of patients with schizophrenia. Here we consider this approach.

{blacktriangledown}Tocilizumab for rheumatoid arthritis

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:07:21 PST

Tocilizumab (RoActemra – Roche) is a new biological agent available in the UK for the treatment of adults with rheumatoid arthritis.1 Unlike currently available biological agents, the drug targets the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Here, we consider the place of tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis and whether it offers any advantages over other biological agents.