Buprenorphine is a low molecular weight, lipophilic, opioid analgesic. Recently, a transdermal matrix patch formulation of buprenorphine has become available in three dosage strengths designed to release buprenorphine at 35, 52.5 and 70 micro g/h over a 72-hour period. At least satisfactory analgesia with minimal requirement for rescue medication (50% of patients treated with transdermal buprenorphine, in two trials. Furthermore, despite the availability of rescue medication to all patients, those receiving transdermal buprenorphine tended to experience greater pain relief, reduced pain intensity and longer pain-free sleep. Transdermal buprenorphine was generally well tolerated. Systemic adverse events were typical of opioid treatment or were attributable to the underlying disease.

Dutasteride, a potent inhibitor of type 1 and 2 5alpha-reductase, reduced dihydrotestosterone levels by >90% in 85% of patients following 1 years' administration of oral dutasteride 0.5 mg/day. A combined analysis of three placebo-controlled clinical studies conducted in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) found sustained improvements in American Urological Association- Symptom Index scores and urinary flow rate and a 57% decrease in the risk of acute urinary retention throughout the 2-year treatment period (all p < 0.001 vs placebo). Total prostate and transition zone volume were also reduced (both p < 0.001), as was the risk of BPH-related surgery (by 48%). A nonblind extension study found that dutasteride maintains efficacy for up to 4 years. Dutasteride monotherapy maintained symptom relief following combination treatment with dutasteride and tamsulosin in all patients but those with severe symptoms. Dutasteride was generally well tolerated. Impotence, reduced libido, gynaecomastia and ejaculation disorder occurred significantly more often in dutasteride than placebo recipients, but incidence was generally low. With the exception of gynaecomastia, incidence consistently decreased over time.

Oral ximelagatran alone or in conjunction with subcutaneous melagatran has shown good efficacy and was generally well tolerated in the prevention of VTE in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Furthermore, patients receiving ximelagatran/melagatran do not require anticoagulant monitoring. The drug has a low potential for drug interactions and can be administered either by subcutaneous injection or orally. Thus, on the basis of available evidence, ximelagatran/melagatran appears poised to play an important role in the prophylaxis of VTE in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery.

Sumatriptan, a serotonin 5-HT(1B/1D) agonist, constricts cranial blood vessels and inhibits neuroinflammatory processes. A single dose of sumatriptan 10 mg (approved European dosage) was significantly more effective than placebo in achieving headache relief at 1 hour post-dose in a well designed study. Headache relief occurred in significantly more adolescents administered a single dose of intranasal sumatriptan 20 mg (at 1 and 2 hours) and 5 mg (at 2 hours) than placebo (pooled data from two studies). Sustained headache relief (1-24 and 2-24 hours) occurred in significantly more recipients of a single dose of intranasal sumatriptan 20mg and 5mg than placebo (pooled data from two studies). Intranasal sumatriptan was generally well tolerated in adolescent migraineurs (in single-episode studies or long term in multiple-episode studies). Taste disturbance occurred more often with intranasal sumatriptan than with placebo [Chart: see text].

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