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The
following articles are available to everyone.
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A Collection of Reprints on Biologic, Chemical and Nuclear Weapons
(The Medical Letter - March, 2003) Palm OS Version |
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Safety of Canadian Drugs
(The Medical Letter - December 8, 2003) |
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Drugs
Past Their Expiration Date (The Medical
Letter - October 28, 2002) |
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Generic
Drugs (The Medical Letter - October 14,
2002) |
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Prévention de la grippe 2005-2006 (La Lettre Médicale - November 21, 2005) |
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Influenza Prevention 2005-2006 (The Medical Letter - October 24, 2005) |
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Insect Repellents (The Medical Letter - May 26, 2003) |
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Prevention of Malaria
(The Medical Letter - December 5/19, 2005) |
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Drugs
for Parasitic Infections (The Medical
Letter - August 2004)
(No longer free; 2007 update available for purchase.) |
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Picaridin – A New Insect Repellent (The Medical
Letter - June 6, 2005) |
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Smallpox Vaccine (The Medical Letter - January 6, 2003) |
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Prevention
and Treatment of Sunburn
(The Medical Letter - June 7, 2004) |
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Advice
for Travelers (Treatment Guidelines
- May 2006)
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March, 2003 - The Medical Letter
Many readers have asked for reprints of our articles on biologic, chemical and nuclear weapons. |
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December 8, 2003 - The Medical Letter
Questions have been raised in the US press recently about the safety of Canadian drugs. The process of drug approval in Canada is similar to that in the US (D Paul, Int J Med Marketing 2001; 1:224). More than 90% of drugs available in Canada have also been approved by the FDA. Most of these drugs come from the same manufacturers as drugs in the US. Health Canada takes longer on average to release drugs than the FDA does; more than half the drugs discontinued for safety reasons by the FDA between 1992 and 2001 had not been approved for use in Canada (NS Rawson and KI Kaitin, Ann Pharmacother 2003; 37:1403). Websites claiming to sell Canadian drugs, however, may be selling counterfeit drugs from unregulated sources. |
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October
28, 2002 - The Medical Letter
Physicians and pharmacists are often asked if patients can use
drugs after their expiration date. Pharmaceutical companies,
because of legal restrictions and liability concerns, will not
sanction such use and may not even comment on the safety or
effectiveness of using their products beyond the date on the
label. |
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October
14, 2002 - The Medical Letter
When patents expire on brand-name drugs and generic formulations
become available, patients and managed care organizations may
express a preference for the lower-cost generics. Are they equivalent
to the brand-name product? |
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November 21,
2005 - La Lettre Médicale
La vaccination annuelle contre les virus influenza A et B est la méthode la plus efficace pour prévenir l’infection et il a été démontré qu’elle réduisait l’incidence des complications associées à la grippe. Un numéro ultérieur de La Lettre Médicale passera en revue la prophylaxie et le traitement médicamenteux de la grippe. Des renseignements supplémentaires à propos du vaccin contre la grippe au Canada, selon le Comité consultalif national de l’immunisation (CCNI), sont disponibles à www.phacaspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/05vol31/asc-ddc-6/. |
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October 24,
2005 - The Medical Letter
Annual immunization against influenza A and B is the most effective method of preventing infection and has been shown to reduce associated complications. |
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May 26, 2003 - The Medical Letter
Insect repellents have been used on the skin for many years, primarily to prevent mosquito bites, which transmit malaria, West Nile virus infection, and various types of encephalitis. With increased concern about Lyme disease in recent years, skin and clothing repellents are now also recommended for protection against ticks. |
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December 5/19, 2005 - The Medical Letter
Many patients planning to travel seek advice about prevention of malaria. No drug is 100% effective fort his indication; travelers should be told to take other protective measures as well. Malaria in pregnancy is particularly serious for both mother and fetus; prophylaxis is indicated if travel cannot be avoided. Countries with a risk of malaria are listed in the table on page102. Some countries with endemic malaria transmission may not have malaria in the most frequently visited major cities and rural tourist resorts. |
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June 6, 2005 - The Medical Letter
Picaridin (KBR 3023), which has been used as an insect repellent for years in Europe and Australia (Autan Repel, and others), is now available in the US in a 7% solution as Cutter Advanced (Spectrum Brands). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending it as an alternative to DEET. |
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January 6, 2003 - The Medical Letter
Because of concerns about the possibility of bioterrorism involving
smallpox, the US government is reinstituting smallpox vaccination
(www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/index.asp;
www.idsociety.org/bt/toc.htm).
Vaccination is currently expected to proceed in three phases:
the military and hospital smallpox response teams first, other
health care workers, police and firefighters second, and the
general public in the third phase. Except for the military,
vaccination will be voluntary. |
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June 7, 2004 - The Medical Letter
Solar ultraviolet (UV) light capable of injuring the skin is classified by wavelength into UVA I (340-400 nm), UVA II (320-340 nm) and UVB (290-320 nm). UVB is responsible for most of the erythema of sunburn. UVA has been implicated in the development of phototoxicity and photoaging. The FDA permits sunscreen manufacturers to claim broad-spectrum protection if their products block at least part of UVA II in addition to UVB. |
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May 2006 - Treatment Guidelines
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for information about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) or www.cdc.gov/travel. |
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