More articles from Current Drug Therapy
- Side effects of antidepressants: An overview
Noncompliance with antidepressant treatment remains worrisome. Educating and reassuring patients about potential side effects promotes effective treatment.
- Do thiazolidinediones cause heart failure? A critical review
Although these drugs cause fluid retention, they may have benefits in patients with heart failure. This article outlines how to monitor for and manage side effects.
- Aldosterone receptor antagonists for heart failure: Current status, future indications
Many patients with heart failure should receive one of these drugs. We review the evidence and indications.
- What is a ‘failure’ of bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis?
Assessing the effectiveness of bisphosphonate therapy is problematic. The true measure is prevention of new fractures.
- DHEA supplementation: The claims in perspective
Low DHEA levels are seen in a variety of diseases, but whether supplemental DHEA will help remains unproven.
- Safety of statins: Effects on muscle and the liver
Hepatotoxicity and myopathy are uncommon but worrisome. ALT and AST should be measured at baseline and periodically during statin therapy.
- Angiotensin-receptor blockers: Benefits beyond lowering blood pressure
These drugs improve the prognosis more than one would expect from their effect on blood pressure alone.
- Statins: The case for higher, individualized starting doses
We’re not getting our patients’ low-density lipoprotein cholesterol down to goal levels. We would do better by starting at a higher dose if the patient has a higher baseline level.
- Management of erectile dysfunction by the primary care physician
The oral selective inhibitors of PDE5 have revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction and made it the province of primary care physicians.
The promise of targeted therapy: Cancer drugs become more specificCancer therapy is getting smarter, with new drugs that act specifically against cancer cells.