In episode 613, Mike and James discuss with Jessica Kirkwood the evidence for post-exposure prophylaxis of sexually transmitted infections. We go over the 4 RCTs that have looked at the value of a single dose of doxycycline. It does reduce the risk for some specific infections – but as always you need to know the numbers. We give you all of them and much, much more.

Show Notes
Tools For Practice
Don’t Let It Burn: Doxycycline for post-exposure prophylaxis of sexually transmitted infections

In episode 612, Tina and James chat with Samantha Moe about the use of a recently approved non-hormonal medication being used for vasomotor symptoms in menopause. We go over the 3 available trials and show you the numbers, talk about the limitations and then put the results into the context of hormone and other non-hormonal treatments.

Show Notes
Tools For Practice
Turn Down the Heat, Part II! Can fezolinetant improve vasomotor symptoms in menopause?

In episode 611, Tina and James talk with Samantha Moe about the use of betablockers and other medications for essential tremor. There is some evidence – much of it from the 1970s, but also some more recent publications. We do our best to tease out all the numbers you need to help you with your recommendations.

Show Notes

Tools For Practice
Meds for Essential Tremor: Steady solution or shaky science?

In episode 610, Jamie and James chat with Jennifer Young about yet another Vitamin D Tools for Practice. We look at what happens to mortality, CVD and cancer when Vitamin D supplements are compared to placebo. The results may surprise you – or maybe not if you have listened to previous BS Medicine Podcasts on this seemingly never-ending topic.

Show Notes

Tools For Practice
Vitamin D and Mortality – Don’t bet your life on it!

Vitamin D and Respiratory Tract Infections: Does the sun’s vitamin chase the cold?

In the 61st episode, the seventh podcast in our thesis on type-2 diabetes, we get off the topic of glucose and talk about STENO and blood pressure treatments. We decide the bottom line is control of blood pressure with low doses of thiazides and ACE inhibitors with no tolerance for side effects. Mike’s blood pressure goes up with some of James’ suggestions but high doses of reserpine, methyldopa and clonidine calm him down.

Show Notes

1) STENO

N Engl J Med 2008;358:580-91

2) Blood pressure trials UKPDS 38

BMJ 1998;317:703-13

HOT Trial

Lancet 1998;351:1755-62

Do ACEI/ARBs uniquely protect the kidney – No?

Lancet 2005;366:2026-33

ALLHAT

JAMA 2002;288:2981-97

Low doses of ACEI – most of the BP effect is from low doses

Cochrane Library

MICROHOPE

Lancet 2000;355:253-59