Self-medication practices and their characteristics among French university students.

Background: Inappropriate self-medication can have major impacts on health. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of self-medication behaviours among undergraduate and postgraduate students from various academic sectors. We also sought to identify determinants of inappropriate self-medication.

[Should folic acid be given to women treated with valproic acid and/or carbamazepine? Folic acid and pregnancy in epilepsy].

Fetal exposure to valproic acid or carbamazepine increases the risk of neural tube defect (NTD). The risk of a mother having a baby with spina bifida has been estimated at 1-2 p. 100, close to the rate of risk of recurrent cases.

[Esophageal involvement after tetracycline ingestion].

Between 1985 and 1992, 81 spontaneous oesophageal injuries associated with tetracycline were notified to the French Regional Pharmacovigilance Centres. The side effects were oesophageal ulcers (79 per cent), esophagitis (11 per cent) and dysphagia (10 per cent). Esophagitis and dysphagia appeared sooner (4 days) than the ulcers (15 days).

[Syncope with long QT interval in a 39 day-old infant treated with cisapride].

Unlabelled: Cardiotoxicity of cisapride may increase when this drug is associated with ranitidine.

Case Report: A 37-day old term infant, treated with cisapride (1.2 mg/kg/d) and ranitidine for regurgitations, was hospitalized for malaise.