Prescriber's
Letter is a concise monthly newsletter that provides large amounts
of information about drug therapy. Perhaps most importantly, this newsletter
presents the information in an interesting and helpful manner that is
well matched to the needs of practitioners. Each time I have received
a sample copy in the mail, I've ended up reading more than I would have
anticipated; the information is presented in an engaging, telegraphic
style. In addition to the six-page monthly hard copy of Prescriber's
Letter, the publication has excellent associated Web-based features,
including online access to previous issues.
The drug
information in Prescriber's Letter is divided into specialties
and disease states. Comparisons between related drugs are brief and
to the point; drug costs and marketing approaches are mentioned when
relevant. Detailed supporting information is referenced by code number
at the end of each Prescriber's Letter "note" and is
easily found on the Web site. The newsletter consistently maintains
this pattern of providing interesting, concise, initial information
in hard copy along with detailed supporting information on the Prescriber's
Letter Web site.
For instance,
a recent issue included a short note on the generally beneficial use
of statin drugs in diabetic patients regardless of their cholesterol
level. This segment closed with a reference number link which, when
accessed, presents a longer, well documented, comprehensive discussion
of the evidence underlying the statements in the newsletter. Another
example of the newsletter's useful, easily accessed information is the
brief mention given to recent information that St John's wort sometimes
blocks the effect of oral contraceptives and allows pregnancy. The evidence
for this claim is well documented on the Prescriber's Letter
Web site.
This Web
site has other helpful, interesting features. Rumor vs Truth explores
the validity of current assertions regarding clinical practice; a chatroom
function invites reader commentary about these beliefs and enables readers
to question the validity of statements overheard. New Drugs lists and
discusses drugs recently released into commerce. Recent listings range
from the new, nasally administered influenza vaccine to a new drug for
Fabry's disease. Useful Charts is another helpful Web site feature in
which I immediately found items of interest, for example, a list of
drugs to avoid prescribing to patients with dementia; a chart comparing
statin drugs; and a surprisingly long list of drugs that interact with
grapefruit. Additional Web site functions are included, and CME credit
also is available. Subscription to Prescriber's Letter includes
24-hour-per-day access to a fax service which provides detailed information
that cannot be located on the Web site, www.prescribersletter.com.
An obvious
comparison with Prescriber's Letter is the Medical Letter:1
Both are high-quality publications. Of the two, however, I found Prescriber's
Letter far more interesting to read. In addition, the subscription
fee is fully refundable at any time. After reviewing four issues of
Prescriber's Letter, I decided to subscribe to it.
Reference
- The
Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics. New Rochelle (NY): The Medical
Letter; 1959- . Bi-weekly. $63 per year. ISSN 0025-732X. Available
from: www.medicalletter.com
(accessed September 8, 2003).
Vincent
J Felitti, MD, has been with the Southern California Permanente
Medical Group since its opening in San Diego in the late 1960s.
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