[mediEVAL: a new evaluating tool for the medication-use system].

Purposes: A new methodology to evaluate the medication-use system based on a risk cartography tool, has been developed. This work has been promoted by the Observatoire du médicament et des dispositifs médicaux stériles et de l'innovation thérapeutique (OMEDIT) from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA)-Corse regions.

Methods: This new methodology has been developed with Excel (Microsoft(®)) and has led to the mediEVAL tool.

[Torsades de pointes caused by cetirizine overdose].

Several therapeutic substances can cause torsades de pointes, especially if they prolong the QT interval and/or if there is an associated hypokalaemia. Certain second generation H1 antihistamines have been incriminated in the occurrence of such ventricular arrhythmias, such as terfenadine and astezimole, which have been withdrawn. Cetirizine, widely used in the treatment of allergic reactions, is a second generation H1 antihistamine with as yet no precautions of use regarding rhythm disturbances.