Time to relief of episodic symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. A crossover comparison of single doses of the effervescent and standard formulations of ranitidine.

Background: The length of time until symptom relief and the consistency of response are important aspects of the management of episodes of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Methods: In an open, randomized, crossover study 98 patients treated 3 episodes of GORD with ranitidine effervescent formulation and 3 with ranitidine standard formulation. The patients filled in a diary card during the 1st h after each study medication.

A multinational investigation of the impact of subcutaneous sumatriptan. I: Design, methods and clinical findings.

This report describes the design, methods and clinical results of a prospective sequential multinational (5 countries) study conducted to evaluate the effects of subcutaneous sumatriptan on health-related quality of life, workplace productivity, clinical parameters and patient satisfaction. Adult patients with moderate to severe migraine initially received customary therapy for migraine episodes for 12 weeks, followed by 24 weeks' treatment with self-administered subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg. Demographic, baseline, health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction rating data were collected during visits to the clinic.

A randomised placebo controlled study with ondansetron in patients undergoing fractionated radiotherapy.

Background: There are few randomised studies comparing anti-emetic drugs for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in patients treated with fractionated radiotherapy. The aim of the study was to compare the anti-emetic efficacy of 8 mg dose ondansetron twice a day with placebo.

Materials And Methods: One hundred eleven patients who were to commence a course of 10 or more daily fractionated radiotherapy including the abdomen were included in the study.

A controlled multicenter clinical study of citalopram and placebo in elderly depressed patients with and without concomitant dementia.

A total of 149 patients in 7 centers in Denmark, Norway and Sweden entered a 6-week double-blind trial intended to assess the antidepressant effect and safety of citalopram vs placebo in depressed elderly patients (65 years of age or older) who might also suffer from somatic disorders and/or senile dementia. Results of ratings on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impression Scale provided consistent evidence that the citalopram-treated patients improved more than the placebo-treated patients. Results of ratings on the Gottfries-Bråne-Steen dementia rating scale indicated that both cognitive and emotional functioning improved significantly more in the citalopram-treated subgroup of patients with dementia than in the placebo-treated subgroup.

Treatment of depression in elderly patients with and without dementia disorders.

In two inter-Nordic multicenter controlled studies the effect of Citalopram on elderly patients with depression and emotional disturbances has been studied. One investigation included 98 patients in whom Alzheimer type dementia (AD/SDAT) and vascular dementia (VD) had been diagnosed, many of whom also had emotional disturbances. After four weeks treatment with Citalopram (10-30 mg/daily) there was significant improvement in confusion, irritability, anxiety, depressed mood and restlessness.

Effect of citalopram, a selective 5-HT reuptake blocker, in emotionally disturbed patients with dementia.

In patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, there are symptoms not only of cognitive impairment but also of emotional disturbance. Postmortem human brain studies have shown a disturbed metabolism of serotonin and overactivity of neuroendocrine-controlling factors in the hypothalamus. Treatment with a selective 5-HT reuptake blocker, citalopram, causes a significant reduction in postdexamethasone cortisol levels.

The clinical efficacy of citalopram in treatment of emotional disturbances in dementia disorders. A Nordic multicentre study.

In this multicenter study, the clinical efficacy of citalopram was investigated in 98 patients with moderate AD/SDAT or VD using a combined double-blind and open technique with placebo and citalopram. Analyses were made for each diagnosis after four weeks of double-blind treatment. Patients with AD/SDAT treated with citalopram showed a significant improvement in emotional bluntness, confusion, irritability, anxiety, fear/panic, depressed mood and restlessness.

Effects of environmental stimulation on biochemical and psychological variables in dementia.

The nursing care of a group of moderately demented patients (n = 11) in a nursing home was improved as a result of an education of the staff. Thus the patients were subjected to an increased emotional and intellectual stimulation during the ordinary daily care and participated in group sessions twice a week. In order to evaluate the effects of the treatment, psychological parameters and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HVA (homovanillic acid), 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindole acetic acid) and HMPG (4-hydroxy, 3-metoxyphenylglucol) were quantified before and after a 2-month treatment period.