Three hundred and twelve patients suffering from painful conditions were admitted to a multicentre, double-blind controlled trial, conducted in general practice in which five analgesics--floctafenine (Idarac), paracetamol, aspirin, dihydrocodeine and pentazocine--were compared. Overall ratings of analgesic effect placed floctafenine first in rank order. Floctafenine was statistically significantly superior in effect to pentazocine but not to the other three agents as far as doctor ratings were concerned; and superior to both pentazocine and dihydrocodeine in the opinion of patients. Fewer patients experienced side-effects on floctafenine than on the other four analgesics and this difference between floctafenine and pentazocine, and floctafenine and dihydrocodeine was statistically significant.

In a random crossover study in general practice, sixty patients with heart failure were given one week's maintenance treatment with the recommended dosage of Burinex K or Lasix+K. Burinex K appeared to be easier to swallow than the supplement tablets of Lasix+K although the differences were not significant. Patients showed a highly significant preference to take two tablets on one occasion (Burinex K) rather than two different types of tablet on three separate occasions (Lasix+K). Despite pharmacological arguments in favour of stimultaneous versus separate administration of potassium supplement and diuretic, patient acceptibility is of over-riding importance in the long-term.

General practice patients with mild to moderate congestive cardiac failure recorded their frequency of micturition after taking frusemide 40 mg or bumetanide 1 mg at 8 a.m. or bumetanide 1 mg at 6 p.m. Morning doses of bumetanide or frusemide caused a similar pattern of urinary frequency, although the period of increased frequency appeared to be shorter with bumetanide. If an evening diuresis is required, bumetanide should be given between 4 and 6 p.m. The use of potent and short acting diuretics such as bumetanide allow the physician and patient scope to decide upon the most appropriate time for administration and so reduce major disruptions in the patient's daily routine.

Pharmacologic management of elderly patients with COPD may be affected by inability of patients to correctly use inhaler devices and concerns about overall benefit-risk of medications in this population relative to younger patients. We investigated effect of age on efficacy and safety of fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) 100/62.5/25mg vs FF/VI 100/25mg and UMEC/VI 62.5/25mg, all administered once daily via the Ellipta dry powder inhaler (DPI), in patients with COPD enrolled in the IMPACT trial.

No abstract