| Docosanol: new drug. Herpes labialis: barely more effective than an excipient. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19637417 Owner: HSR Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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(1) Herpes is a contagious, recurrent viral infection of the skin and mucous membranes. In immunocompetent patients the recurrences can be troublesome but they heal spontaneously. Management is mainly based on lifestyle measures. Local application of an antiviral drug such as aciclovir has modest effects. It reduces healing time by about 2 days provided treatment is started as soon as the first symptoms appear; (2) Docosanol, a fatty alcohol, was recently authorized in France for treatment of episodes of herpes labialis; (3) A trial in 474 patients showed no tangible difference between docosanol and 5% aciclovir in reducing healing time; (4) Clinical evaluation also includes two trials versus an excipient (polyethylene glycol) including 370 and 373 patients. The median healing time was reduced by less than a day; (5) In these trials, the adverse effects of docosanol were similar to those of the excipients. In particular, docosanol cream contains excipients that can provoke allergic reactions; (6) In practice, docosanol cream is barely or no more effective than an excipient in treating acute episodes of herpes labialis. Lifestyle measures are still the cornerstone of herpes management. |
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Authors:
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Prescrire international Volume: 18 ISSN: 1167-7422 ISO Abbreviation: Prescrire Int Publication Date: 2009 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2009-07-28 Completed Date: 2009-08-20 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9439295 Medline TA: Prescrire Int Country: France |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 106-7 Citation Subset: T |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Acyclovir
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administration & dosage,
adverse effects,
therapeutic use Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use Double-Blind Method Drug Approval Excipients / administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use Fatty Alcohols / administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use* France Herpes Labialis / drug therapy* Humans Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Stearic Acids / administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Antiviral Agents; 0/Excipients; 0/Fatty Alcohols; 0/Polyethylene Glycols; 0/Stearic Acids; 59277-89-3/Acyclovir; 661-19-8/docosanol |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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