Glucosamine

1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 574-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Susanne Barclay ◽  
Candy Tsourounis ◽  
Gary M McCart

OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of glucosamine and critically evaluate currently available literature regarding its safety and efficacy. DATA SOURCE: A MEDLINE search was conducted between January 1965 and May 1997. Key words used in the search were osteoarthritis, osteoarthrosis, gonarthrosis, and glucosamine. In addition, references cited in articles obtained from the MEDLINE search were reviewed for additional literature. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All articles were considered for inclusion in the review. Articles were excluded from critical evaluation for lack of randomization, lack of a control group, 30 or fewer study participants, inconsistent treatment regimen, incomplete dosing information, or incomplete reporting of results. DATA SYNTHESIS: Osteoarthritis affects approximately 12% of the US population; the incidence increases with increasing age. Currently used pharmacologic treatments, including acetaminophen and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, do not slow or reverse the degenerative process in osteoarthritis. Glucosamine has recently received a great deal of attention from the public as a potential treatment of osteoarthritis, prompting healthcare professionals to investigate its clinical usefulness and potential for adverse effects. The drug has been proposed to stop and possibly reverse the degenerative process in osteoarthritis. Following absorption of an oral dose, glucosamine is incorporated into plasma proteins during first-pass metabolism, resulting in 26% bioavailability. Unbound glucosamine is concentrated in the articular cartilage. Each of the three critically evaluated studies reported a decrease in the symptoms of osteoarthritis (e.g., decreased Lequesne index, decreased pain severity, increased range of motion) for the glucosamine group, which was greater than that obtained in the control group. Flaws in study design, however, prevent the use of these results in modifying current clinical practice. Reported short-term adverse effects include mild gastrointestinal problems, drowsiness, skin reactions, and headache. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in the symptoms of osteoarthritis associated with the use of glucosamine has been observed in clinical trials; however, those trials have flaws in design and data analysis. Further research needs to be conducted before glucosamine can be recommended as a treatment for osteoarthritis.

2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 743-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte T Luong ◽  
Barbara S Chong ◽  
Dionne M Lowder

OBJECTIVE: To review new pharmacologic agents approved for use in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search (1966–January 2000) was conducted to identify English-language literature available on the pharmacotherapy of RA, focusing on celecoxib, leflunomide, etanercept, and infliximab. These articles, relevant abstracts, and data provided by the manufacturers were used to collect pertinent data. STUDY SELECTION: All controlled and uncontrolled trials were reviewed. DATA EXTRACTION: Agents were reviewed with regard to mechanism of action, efficacy, drug interactions, pharmacokinetics, dosing, precautions/contraindications, adverse effects, and cost. DATA SYNTHESIS: Traditional pharmacologic treatments for RA have been limited by toxicity, loss of efficacy, or both. Increasing discoveries into the mechanisms of inflammation in RA have led to the development of new agents in hopes of addressing these limitations. With the development of celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, the potential exists to minimize the gastrotoxicity associated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Leflunomide has been shown to be equal to or less efficacious than methotrexate, and may be beneficial as a second-line disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). The biologic response modifiers, etanercept and infliximab, are alternatives that have shown benefit alone or in combination with methotrexate. However, they should be reserved for patients who fail to respond to DMARD therapy. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of these agents as well as their role in combination therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Celecoxib, leflunomide, etanercept, and infliximab are the newest agents approved for RA. Clinical trials have shown that these agents are beneficial in the treatment of RA; however, long-term safety and efficacy data are lacking.


2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 854-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaunta‘ D Martina ◽  
Kimi S Vesta ◽  
Toni L Ripley

OBJECTIVE: To review the available literature evaluating the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and adverse effects of etoricoxib, a highly selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor that is not currently approved for use in the US. DATA SOURCES: Literature retrieval was accessed through MEDLINE (1966–December 2004), Current Contents (1998–December 2004), and Cochrane Library (4th quarter 2004). References from retrieved articles, information from the manufacturer, and abstracts from the American College of Rheumatology and Annual European Congress of Rheumatology meetings were searched. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All clinical trials published in English evaluating etoricoxib were included in this review. An abstract was excluded if it presented preliminary data from trials that are now published, analyzed data previously reported in a published clinical trial, or compared etoricoxib with placebo for an indication with published active-comparator controlled trials. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twelve clinical trials evaluating efficacy were reviewed. Efficacy for acute pain has been evaluated in acute gout, primary dysmenorrhea, and dental surgery and for chronic pain in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and chronic lower back pain. For safety, 3 clinical trials and 6 retrospective analyses of gastrointestinal, renovascular, or cardiovascular adverse effects were reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Available studies demonstrate the efficacy of etoricoxib compared with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, but no published studies to date have compared etoricoxib with other selective COX-2 inhibitors. While these agents have demonstrated a significant reduction in gastrointestinal adverse effects, the cardiovascular adverse effects of selective COX-2 inhibition are not well defined. Further study is necessary to delineate the benefits and risks of etoricoxib compared with alternative treatment regimens.


1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 456-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen L. Dahl

OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetic disposition, dosage recommendations, adverse effects, drug interactions, and efficacy of nabumetone in patients with selected rheumatic disorders and soft-tissue injuries. DATA SOURCES: Data from scientific literature were extracted, evaluated, and summarized for presentation. A MEDLINE search was conducted using the following indexing terms: antiinflammatory agents, nonsteroidal, nabumetone, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and osteoarthritis (OA). Studies evaluating nabumetone reported in articles, abstracts, or proceedings involving human subjects were considered for inclusion. STUDY SELECTION: Special consideration was given to clinical studies using double-blind, randomized, parallel, controlled designs. Studies comparing the effectiveness and safety of nabumetone with placebo and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Data from human studies published in the English language were evaluated. Trials were assessed according to study design, sample size, and description of outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Nabumetone is a nonacidic prodrug that is metabolized to an active nonsteroidal antiinflammatory moiety, 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6-MNA). 6-MNA is a structural analog of naproxen. Like naproxen and other NSAIDs, 6-MNA possesses analgesic, antipyretic, and antiinflammatory activity. 6-MNA has a prolonged elimination half-life, ranging from 17 to 74 hours, which allows for once-daily dosing. The efficacy of nabumetone for treating symptoms of RA and OA has been established in controlled clinical trials. Nabumetone also has been studied in ankylosing spondylitis and soft-tissue injuries. Adverse effects associated with nabumetone are similar to those associated with other NSAIDs. Gastrointestinal reactions occur most frequently in the form of abdominal pain or indigestion, nausea, or vomiting. Central nervous system adverse effects occur less frequently, and are followed in order of occurrence by rashes. CONCLUSIONS: Nabumetone is a prodrug metabolized to an active metabolite structurally related to naproxen. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of nabumetone, but no advantages over the many other NSAIDs now available.


2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1073-1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelby L Corman ◽  
Bethany A Fedutes ◽  
Nicole T Ansani

OBJECTIVE: To examine the evidence of a pharmacodynamic interaction between aspirin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); specifically, to determine whether a deleterious relationship exists with respect to the cardioprotective effects of aspirin. DATA SOURCES: Primary articles were identified by a MEDLINE search (1966—May 2004). Search terms included aspirin, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, drug interaction, mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All prospective and retrospective studies conducted in human subjects and investigating the potential interaction between aspirin and NSAIDs were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Several controlled pharmacodynamic studies indicate that the sustained inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity by aspirin is blunted in the presence of some NSAIDs. While these data are fairly consistent, they are limited in that they rely on surrogate markers and not clinical outcomes. Observational studies have shown conflicting results regarding the effect of combination NSAID and aspirin therapy on mortality risk and incidence of myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacodynamic data indicating an interaction between aspirin and NSAIDs have not translated to a consistent clinical effect in observational studies. In the absence of a randomized, controlled, clinical outcomes study, there is insufficient evidence to dictate a change in therapy.


2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1236-1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
UNA E. MAKRIS ◽  
MINNA J. KOHLER ◽  
LIANA FRAENKEL

Objective.To systematically review the literature on reported adverse effects (AE) associated with use of topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) in older adults with osteoarthritis (OA).Methods.A systematic search of Medline (1950 to November 2009), Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane databases, Dissertation and American College of Rheumatology meeting abstracts was performed to identify original randomized controlled trials, case reports, observational studies, editorials, or dissertations reporting AE from topical NSAID in older adults with OA. Information was sought on study and participant characteristics, detailed recording of application site, and systemic AE as well as withdrawals due to AE.Results.The initial search yielded 953 articles of which 19 met eligibility criteria. Subjects receiving topical NSAID reported up to 39.3% application site AE, and up to 17.5% systemic AE. Five cases of warfarin potentiation with topical agents were reported, 1 resulting in gastrointestinal bleeding. In formal trials, the withdrawal rate from AE ranged from 0 to 21% in the topical agents, 0 to 25% in the oral NSAID, and 0 to 16% in the placebo group.Conclusion.Although topical NSAID are safer than oral NSAID (fewer severe gastrointestinal AE), a substantial proportion of older adults report systemic AE with topical agents. The withdrawal rate due to AE with topical agents is comparable to that of oral NSAID. Given the safety profile and withdrawal rates described in this study, further data are needed to determine the incremental benefits of topical NSAID compared to other treatment modalities in older adults with OA.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis F. Thompson ◽  
Marsha A. Raebel ◽  
Hina S. Patel ◽  
Mark D. Peters ◽  
Curtis L. Smith

OBJECTIVE: To review the data describing the use of fluconazole in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). DATA IDENTIFICATION: A MEDLINE search of the English-language literature and a bibliographic review of pertinent articles examining the use of fluconazole in the treatment of VVC. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant open and controlled studies reporting on the efficacy, associated adverse effects, or both of fluconazole for the treatment of VVC are reviewed. Appropriate conclusions and/or data are extracted from each article and described. DATA SYNTHESIS: Studies comparing fluconazole with ketoconazole and topical antifungal agents such as clotrimazole and miconazole have shown fluconazole to be equally efficacious with minimal adverse effects. Most of these trials used single-dose fluconazole, which would theoretically lead to a high degree of medication compliance. Fluconazole also has shown promise at diminishing VVC relapse or recurrence, possibly because of more complete vaginal and rectal eradication of Candida species. Pharmacoeconomically, single-dose fluconazole therapy is cost-effective; however, the recent approval of miconazole and clotrimazole by the Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter use may limit this potential advantage. CONCLUSIONS: Until additional data are available, fluconazole may be considered a treatment alternative for women with VVC who experience frequent relapses or recurrences, or for those who are noncompliant with standard therapy.


1994 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 633-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene V. de Clavijo ◽  
C. Wayne Weart

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of childhood immunizations with emphasis in new recommendations, as well as recent vaccine developments and special populations. DATA SOURCES: English language literature identified via a MEDLINE search. Additional references were obtained from cited references. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Original articles, reviews, and official publications were used to obtain the most accurate data on safety and efficacy of available pediatric vaccines, as well as current recommendations for their use. DATA SYNTHESIS: Immunizations have been an area of vigorous research for several years. New vaccines have been developed by improving older products to maximize immunogenicity and minimize adverse effects. Some of these novel vaccines, like the Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines (HibCV), have already contributed significantly to the prevention of diseases in childhood. New recommendations have been issued to help speed this process. Adverse effects of routine immunizations are generally mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS: The development of new effective and safe vaccines for children is an important step in the global eradication of contagious diseases. A new generation of combination vaccines has started with the combination of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine and HibCV. Some other combined products are yet to come that would eventually make immunization schedules more costeffective and improve compliance rates. Our colleagues in the community and in the ambulatory care setting must actively participate in the implementation of vaccination programs and provide education to parents regarding all aspects of the immunization process.


2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L Pakyz

OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions and precautions, and dosing recommendations of rifaximin, a new nonabsorbed antimicrobial agent for travelers' diarrhea. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search (1966–July 2004) was conducted to extract human and animal research data in the English language on rifaximin. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials were reviewed and included to evaluate the efficacy of rifaximin in the treatment of travelers' diarrhea. DATA SYNTHESIS: Rifaximin is approved for the treatment of travelers' diarrhea in patients ≥12 years of age with diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli. Rifaximin was superior to placebo and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and equivalent to ciprofloxacin in the primary clinical endpoint of the time to the last unformed stool passed. CONCLUSIONS: Rifaximin is a viable alternative to ciprofloxacin for the treatment of travelers' diarrhea. As rifaximin is not systemically absorbed, it offers the advantage of leading to the development of less resistance compared with systemically absorbed antibiotics, in addition to fewer systemic adverse effects and drug interactions. However, the potential for cross-resistance between rifaximin and rifampin, as well as with other classes of antibiotics, is of concern and needs to be elucidated.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Smith ◽  
Paul J. Perry

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the literature describing the epidemiology, pharmacology, efficacy, and adverse effects associated with growth hormone (GH), caffeine, aerobic metabolism facilitator (AMF), and sympathomimetic use among athletes. DATA SOURCES: Relevant articles were identified from a MEDLINE search using the search terms “Doping in Sports”, “Blood”, “Caffeine”, “Cocaine”, “Erythropoeitin”, “Somatotropin”, and “Sympathomimetics (exploded).” Additional references were found in bibliographies of these articles. STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION: We reviewed studies of ergogenic drug (ED) use among athletes. Interpretation of these studies is difficult because of poor research design and the paucity of information available. This necessitated the inclusion of many anecdotal or conjectural reports in our review. DATA SYNTHESIS: There are no studies documenting an ergogenic effect associated with GH use in humans or animals. It is still unknown whether GH abuse causes adverse effects in healthy adults, although GH-induced acromegaly has been suspected. Amphetamines, cocaine, and caffeine are thought to improve performance via enhanced concentration among athletes. Amphetamines and cocaine may increase aggressiveness. The ergogenic effects of other sympathomimetics including ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine are unclear. AMFs (e.g., blood doping, epoetin) enhance aerobic metabolism and endurance by increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Risks associated with excessive AMF use include increased blood viscosity and clotting. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes view EDs as an essential component for success. Without adequate intervention measures, ED abuse is likely to continue unchecked.


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