[Photosensitivity induced bt metformin: a report of 3 cases]

Metformin is an oral antihypoglycemic drug. Its cutaneous side effects are rare and photosensitivity had not been reported. We report 3 cases [a man and two women] of photosensitivity induced by metformin, notified to the Tunisian National Centre of Pharmacovigilance. Onset of the reaction was respectively 22 days, 4 months and 4 years. Daily dose of metformin varied from 1 to 2 tablets. Cutaneous lesions were located in sum exposed sites in all cases with extension to the back in one case. Lesions were eczematous in two cases and erythematous in one case. Lesions healed after stopping metformin in all cases with positive rechallenge in the 1st case. In patient treated by metformin, occurrence of photosensitivity can be related to this drug

[Drug tendon disorders]

Tendinitis is a rare adverse reaction described after drugs use. It's described with drug belonging to the same class. Physiopathology is still unknown. Fluoroquinolones especially pefloxacine, were the most incriminated. This drug induced tendinitis in older people aged more than 60 years. Approximatively one case out of five leads to tendon breaking off. The others lead to a favourable outcome after drug withdrawal. In three cases, tendinitis was described with statines, and concerned 2 men and I woman, aged more than 50 years. Simvastatine was suspected in two cases and the outcome was favourable in all cases after drug withdrawal. Other drugs, like corticosteroids, can exceptionally induce this side effect that can be serious. Consequences of drug tendinitis can then be dangerous and prescription of this class, and especially fluoroquinolones, must be cautious