Anecdotal data

Many urban missions and churches around the country provide faith-based solutions to drug problems. Anecdotal data suggest that some people find recovery from drug problems in this way, but a scientifically controlled study of these approaches has not been completed to see how many people really do benefit from them. The federal government has become more interested recently in some of these approaches, but we still are not sure how effective they are, nor are we sure whether they would be effective with people who do not share the religious model being espoused. 

A controlled trial of duloxetine (Cymbalta)—like venlafaxine a dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor—in the treatment of GAD is currently underway. Anecdotal data suggests that nefazodone (Serzone) and mirtazapine (Remeron) may be effective in the treatment of GAD, though no controlled data is available. In addition, recent concerns regarding nefazodone and liver toxicity have limited this medication s utility. Please refer to Chapter 3 for more information regarding these antidepressants. 

Even if the above basic requirements are fulfilled, it is clear that the risk aspects of drugs are likely to contain much incomplete, controversial and anecdotal data compared with the benefit data which mostly comes from controlled clinical trials of efficacy. The latter is usually a prerequisite for drug marketing. 

Suter, Edgar A. Assault Weapons Revisited— An Analysis of the AMA Report. Joarw / of the Medical Association of Georgia, vol. 85, May 1994, n.p. Criticizes the American Medical Association report Assault Weapons as a Public Health Hazard in the United States. Suter argues that the high ammunition capacity of such weapons is usually irrelevant because only a few shots are fired in most incidents other than well-publicized mass shootings. Suter also accuses the report for relying only on unsubstantiated anecdotal data. 

VPA may also benefit the maintenance and the prophylactic phases as well, but there are only limited data in this regard, in contrast to lithium, which remains the best-studied maintenance therapy. VPA has a favorable and relatively safe side effect profile compared with other agents and can be combined with other commonly used psychotropics without significantly altering their metabolism or compromising adequacy of blood levels ( 155). There are also limited anecdotal data that this agent can be safe and effective in the elderly patient (156, 157). 

Some physicians prefer either metharbital or mephobarbital—especially the latter—to phenobarbital because of supposed decreased adverse effects. Only anecdotal data are available to support such comparisons. 

Safety and efficacy for reversal of benzodiazepine overdose, general anesthesia induction or resuscitation of a ne A/born have not been established, but anecdotal data suggest similar safety and efficacy as for conscious sedation... 

Both cyclic and serotonergic antidepressants (SSRIs) are being used increasingly to treat chronically anxious patients. Clinical-anecdotal data is available, although... 

Development Effects. Anecdotal data have suggested a link between chronic gasoline vapor exposure of pregnant women and congenital defects of the central nervous system in their children. In utero exposure to leaded gasoline was found to cause retarded development and anomalies of head and muscles in two children (Hunter et al. 1979). Based on the limited available data, the study was considered inadequate to establish a relationship between inhalation exposure to gasoline and human development toxicity. 

Many multispecies tests and field studies are designed to look at only certain populations or other attributes of the ecosystem. This is not the fault of the study per se, since the funding, personnel, and physical resources are usually limited. The danger lies in the picking and choosing of secondary results from these studies. For example, the standardized aquatic microcosm contains 16 species that are initially inoculated into the system. However, in the results for publication, the dynamics and interactions of all species and the combinations are not reported. To do so would be cumbersome and expensive. Only the dynamics of the organisms and interactions which are apparently the critical components are reported. Assuming that the other components are not affected because of their omission or lack of space in the article could be erroneous. Anecdotal data from field or multispecies tests are similarly difficult to interpret. Omission or inclusion of a report may reflect more the nature of the researcher than the presence or absence of the effect. 

Occasionally anecdotal data come to light on the cash outlays required for the development of specific NCEs. For example, in depositions filed for a patent infringement lawsuit, Genentech claimed it had spent 45 million to develop Protropin , its human growth hormone product, (494) and Eli Lilly certified that it had spent 16 million between 1980 and 1987 on its effort to develop its version of the drug (495). In another example, a 1980 report of the development cost of an oral systemic drug for chronic use estimated 21 million in outlays in the clinical period (226). Unfortunately, anecdotal estimates of this kind do not help verify industrywide costs, because they are self-selected and do not reflect the cost of failures or basic research. 

Citalopram does not interfere with the metabolism of APDs. At a dose of 40 mg/day, citalopram caused no significant changes in plasma concentrations of chlorpromazine, clozapine, haloperidol, perphenazine, thioridazine, or zuclopenthixol. Anecdotal data suggest that citalopram may increase the serum levels of levomepromazine. 

There are anecdotal data indicating enhanced hypoglycemia capacity when fluoxetine is added to hypoglycemic agents or given to insulin-dependent patients. 

Anecdotal data describe marked hypotension and impaired consciousness when morphine is added to tranylcypromine. Many studies have shown no clinically significant interactions with isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and morphine, including in patients with known adverse reactions to meperidine. 

Anecdotal data suggest that low doses (250 mg twice daily) of ciprofloxacin, a potent inhibitor of CYP1A2, result in a moderate elevation (about 30%) of clozapine plasma levels. There are anecdotal data suggesting that the addition of ciprofloxacin 250 mg twice daily almost doubles the plasma concentration of olanzapine. 

Anecdotal data suggest that erythromycin can increase clozapine serum levels (via CYP1A2 blockade), with toxic effects. 

Anecdotal data as to the number of actions, together with the number of known errors, can provide estimates for comparison with the HEART and TESEO predictions. Good agreement between the three figures helps to build confidence in the assessment. 

Although not as formal as data based on written maintenance records, this important source should not be overlooked. Quantities of failures quoted by long-serving site personnel are likely to be fairly accurate and might even, in some cases, be more valuable flian records-based data. The latter pass from maintainer to record keeper to analyst and may lose accuracy due to interpretation through the chain of analysis. Anecdotal data, on the other hand, can be challenged and interpreted first hand. 

Claims anecdotal data should be considered. Contextual factor described. No guidance regarding their effect. 

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