Nocebo effect in Dermatology.

Nocebo effect, originally denoting the negative counterpart of the placebo phenomenon, is now better defined as the occurrence of adverse effects to a therapeutic intervention because the patient expects them to develop. More commonly encountered in patients with a past negative experience, this effect stems from highly active processes in the central nervous system, mediated by specific neurotransmitters and modulated by psychological mechanisms such as expectation and conditioning. The magnitude of nocebo effect in clinical medicine is being increasingly appreciated and its relevance encompasses clinical trials as well as clinical practice.

Fixed-dose combinations for cough and common cold in India: an assessment of availability and rationality.

This study was conducted to determine the number and composition of the various cough and cold formulations available in the Indian market and to study their pharmacological rationale over a period of 7years. Data for the study was collected from an annual Drug Compendium entitled 'THE DRUG TODAY' of the years 2001, 2004, and 2007. Medications were assessed for total number, different formulations, and number of constituents present in each formulation, their pharmacological group and amount of each constituent per dose.