The Editorial Executive Committee welcomes letters, which should be less than 250 words. Before a decision to publish is made, letters which refer to a published article may be sent to the author for a response. Any letter may be sent to an expert for comment. When letters are published, they are usually accompanied in the same issue by their responses or comments. The Committee screens out discourteous, inaccurate or libellous statements. The letters are sub-edited before publication. Authors are required to declare any conflicts of interest. The Committee's decision on publication is final.
Editor, – I would like to make a comment regarding dicloxacillin, which was listed in 'New drugs' (Aust Prescr 1998;21:25-7).
With regard to adverse effects, I have recently been askedto see two patients having difficulty achieving adequate warfarinisation after taking dicloxacillin.
I realise that not all adverse effects can be listed in a summary of a new drug. However, I believe that the prolonged warfarin antagonism that occurs with drugs such as this should be brought to the attention of prospective users of a new drug.
John Gallo
Haematologist
Liverpool, N.S.W.
The Editor comments:
Dr Gallo is correct to highlight the interaction between warfarin and dicloxacillin. As it is not possible to mention all the adverse effects of new drugs in a brief comment, readers are always advised to consult the product information before prescribing. The interaction is included in the product information for dicloxacillin, but is not specifically mentioned in the product information
