treated with alcohol sponges or paraldehyde. (2) Pseudoephedrine: Adverse effects due to central action are reversed by the barbitu- rates. Methamphetamine ...
Letters
ACTIFED* Tablets/Syrup
(triprolidine HCI-pseudoephedrine HCI) Antihistamine-Decongestant Indications: The prophylaxis and treatment of symptoms associated with the common cold, acute and subacute sinusitis, acute eustachian salpingitis, serous otitis media with eustachian tube congestion, aerotitis media, croup and similar lower respiratory tract diseases, in allergic conditions which respond to antihistamines, including hay fever, pollenosis, allergic and vasomotor rhinitis, allergic asthma.
CFP Is circulated to all 19,000 family doctors in Canada, plus libraries, overseas subscriptions and the press. A letter on these pages will reach this diverse audience. Letters should be kept brief and are subject to editing. References to any published material should be in keeping with the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals. All letters must be signed, although correspondents' names will be withheld at the writer's request.
Gee, Thanks Thank you very much for the October 1984 issue of CANADIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN. The articles and editorial were current, thoughtful, and instructive. I have never removed so many pages of the journal for my files! Larry Sandomirsky Hudson Bay, SK.
Antibiotics in Sexual Assault The use of prophylactic antibiotics in the care of sexual assault victims is a controversial issue. On what basis should one decide whether to treat in the absence of any clinical suspicion of disease? If the risk of acquiring the disease following sexual assault is much higher than the risk following normal intercourse, perhaps one should treat blindly. Sexually transmitted disease would obviously seem to have more negative psychological sequelae in the assault victim. Thus, 702
Dr. Mountifield's plea for blind treatment of chlamydial infection' would make sense-save for the fact she presents no evidence that the risk of sexually transmitted disease is higher in these patients. Also, most of the studies she cites refer to symptomatic patients or those presenting to an STD clinic. This is not the population we need to know about. Here in Montreal, Dr. Richard Morissette has found that the incidence of sexually transmitted disease in victims of sexual assault is not substantially different from a comparable consenting group. I would be extremely hesitant about prescribing antibiotics blindly unless an increased incidence of these infections has been clearly shown in the population at risk. The sequelae of sexual assault are unpleasant enough without adding the side effects of two weeks of tetracycline 500 mg four times a day. John Carsley Montreal, PQ. I would like to reply to Dr. Mountifield's articles "A Plea for Rape Victims" .I Since April, 1984, Women's College Hospital has been the Toronto regional centre for victims of sexual assault. Our protocol includes culturing for both gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Where consistent with clinical judgement and patient's wishes, we have been using tetracycline 500 mg qid for five days as prophylaxis against sexually transmitted diseases. This duration is adequate for active gonorrhea, but is increased to the standard
Precautions: Use with caution in hypertensive patients and in patients receiving MAO inhibitors. Patients should be cautioned not to operate vehicles or hazardous machinery until their response to the drug has been determined. Since the depressant effects of antihistamines are additive to those of other drugs affecting the central nervous system, patients should be cautioned against drinking alcoholic beverages or taking hypnotics, sedatives, psychotherapeutic agents or other drugs with CNS depressant effects during antihistaminic therapy. Rarely, prolonged therapy with antihistamines can produce blood dyscrasias. Adverse Effects: None serious. Some patients may exhibit mild sedation or mild stimulation.
Overdose: Symptoms: Insomnia, tremors, tachycardia. Treatment: (1) For antihistaminic action: If respiratory depression is severe, intubation and artificial respiration is better than using analeptic drugs. Convulsions should be treated with alcohol sponges or paraldehyde. (2) Pseudoephedrine: Adverse effects due to central action are reversed by the barbiturates. Methamphetamine to maintain blood pressure.
Dosage: Children over 6 years and adults: 10 mL (2 tsp.) of syrup or I tablet 3 times daily. Children 1-6 years: 1/2 tablet 3 times daily. Children 4 months to 6 years: 5 mL (1 tsp.) of syrup 3 times daily. Infants up to 4 months: 2.5 mL (1/2 tsp.) of syrup 3 times daily.
Supplied: Tablets: Each white, biconvex tablet 7.4 mm in diameter with code number ACTIFED M2A on same side as diagonal score mark contains triprolidine HCI 2.5 mg and pseudoephedrine HCI 60 mg. Available in packages of 12 and 24 tablets, bottles of 100 and 500 tablets.
Syrup: Each 5 mL of clear, lemon-yellow syrup contains: triprolidine HCI 1.25 mg and pseudoephedrine HCI 30 mg. Available in 100 mL and 250 mL bottles. Additional prescribing information available on request. *Trade Mark
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WELLCOME MEDICAL DIVISION BURROUGHS WELLCOME INC. KIRKLAND, OUE.
