[Antihypertensives--which adverse drug reactions are clinically relevant?].

All currently available antihypertensive drugs can cause adverse drug reactions. Potential adverse drug reactions should already be taken into account when a new antihypertensive regimen is started. It is furthermore important to ask at follow-up visits specifically about common adverse reactions.

[Interactions of phytotherapeutic drugs, foods and drinks with medicines].

Phytotherapeutic preparations contain a large number of pharmacologically active components. Protective systems have evolved to detoxify and eliminate these xenobiotics. Among them is the cytochrome P450 system and the transporter p-glycoprotein in intestine and liver that control the absorption, biotransformation and elimination of drugs.

No clinically relevant drug interaction between paracetamol and phenprocoumon based on a pharmacoepidemiological cohort study in medical inpatients.

Objective: A recent case control study suggests that paracetamol at a dosage above 1300 mg/day increases the anticoagulant effects of warfarin. In many European countries, phenprocoumon and not warfarin is used as an anticoagulant. However, the effects of paracetamol on the anticoagulant effects of phenprocoumon have so far not been evaluated.

The endothelin antagonist bosentan inhibits the canalicular bile salt export pump: a potential mechanism for hepatic adverse reactions.

Background: During clinical trials bosentan, the first orally active endothelin receptor antagonist, caused asymptomatic transaminase elevations in some patients. In this study we investigated whether inhibition of the hepatocanalicular bile salt export pump (rodents, Bsep; humans, BSEP ABCB11) could account for bosentan-induced liver injury.

Methods: We reanalyzed the safety database of the bosentan trials for cholestatic liver injury, determined the cholestatic potency of bosentan in the rat, and studied the effects of bosentan and its metabolites on Bsep-mediated taurocholate transport in vitro.

Nasal mucosal versus gastrointestinal absorption of nasally administered cocaine.

Objective: Several xenobiotics, including cocaine, are dosed by the nasal route for systemic effects. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare cocaine input into the systemic circulation after oral and nasal dosing, and to determine the relevance of local absorption through the nasal mucosa.

Methods: Cocaine was administered to healthy volunteers through the intravenous, oral, and nasal routes.

Epidemiology of drug exposure and adverse drug reactions in two swiss departments of internal medicine.

Aims: To explore drug exposure, frequency of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), types of ADRs, predisposing risk factors and ADR-related excess hospital stay in medical inpatients.

Methods: Structured data regarding patient characteristics, 'events' (symptoms, laboratory results), diagnoses (ICD10) and drug therapy were collected using a computer-supported data entry system and an interface for data retrieval from electronic patient records. ADR data were collected by 'event monitoring' to minimize possible bias by the drug monitor.

[Interactions and adverse drug reactions: how to obtain information].

Adverse drug reactions (ADR) are common. They may mimick many other diseases. It is therefore important to consider always ADR as possible causes for new complaints.