Drugs for COPD
Date: September 7, 2020
Issue #:
1606Summary:
The main goals of treatment for chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) are to relieve symptoms,
reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations,
and prevent disease progression. Several guidelines
and review articles on COPD treatment have been
published in recent years. Treatment of acute
exacerbations is not discussed here. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - August 4, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: aclidinium Advair Aermony Respiclick AirDuo Airomir Albuterol Alvesco Anoro Ellipta Antibacterials arformoterol ArmonAir Arnuity Ellipta Asmanex Atrovent Azithromycin Beclomethasone dipropionate Bevespi Aerosphere Breo El Source Type: research
In Brief: An Asenapine Patch (Secuado) for Schizophrenia
Date: January 11, 2021
Issue #:
1615Summary:
A transdermal formulation of the second-generation
(atypical) antipsychotic asenapine (Secuado– Noven)
has been approved by the FDA for once-daily treatment of
schizophrenia in adults. Asenapine is the first antipsychotic
to become available in a transdermal formulation in the US.
A twice-daily sublingual tablet formulation of asenapine(Saphris) has been available since 2009. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - July 23, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Antipsychotics Asenapine Saphris Schizophrenia Secuado Source Type: research
Ozanimod (Zeposia) for Multiple Sclerosis
Date: August 24, 2020
Issue #:
1605Summary:
The FDA has approved ozanimod (Zeposia– Celgene),
a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator,
for treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple
sclerosis (MS), including clinically isolated syndrome
(initial neurological episode), relapsing-remitting
disease, and active secondary progressive MS
(SPMS). It is the third o ral S1P receptor modulator to
be approved in the US for treatment of relapsing forms
of MS; siponimod(Mayzent) is also indicated for use
in adults, and fingolimod(Gilenya) is approved for use
in patients...
Source: The Medical Letter - July 21, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Alemtuzumab Arzerra Aubagio Avonex Copaxone dimethyl fumarate diroximel Fingolimod Gilenya Glatect Glatiramer acetate Glatopa Interferon beta Lemtrada Mayzent Multiple sclerosis Natalizumab ocrelizumab Ocrevus Ofatumu Source Type: research
Phexxi - A Nonhormonal Contraceptive Gel
Date: August 24, 2020
Issue #:
1605Summary:
The FDA has approvedPhexxi (Evofem), a
nonhormonal prescription-only vaginal gel containing
lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate, for
prevention of pregnancy. The gel is intended for on-demand
contraception; it is not effective when used
after intercourse. It was previously approved for
use as a vaginal lubricant(Amphora), but was never
marketed. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - July 21, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Annovera cervical cap Condom Contraceptives Depo-Provera Diaphragm EluRyng Flexi-T IUD Kyleena Levonorgestrel Liberte Liletta Medroxyprogesterone Mirena Mona Lisa Nexplanon NuvaRing Oral contraceptives ParaGard Phex Source Type: research
Cenobamate (Xcopri) for Focal Seizures
Date: August 24, 2020
Issue #:
1605Summary:
The FDA has approved cenobamate (Xcopri– SK Life
Science) for oral treatment of partial-onset (focal)
seizures in adults. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - July 21, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Antiepileptics Carbamazepine cenobamate Lamotrigine Levetiracetam Xcopri Source Type: research
Golodirsen (Vyondys 53) for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Date: July 27, 2020
Issue #:
1603Summary:
Golodirsen (Vyondys 53— Sarepta), an antisense
oligonucleotide, has received accelerated approval
from the FDA for treatment of Duchenne muscular
dystrophy (DMD) in the ~8% of patients who have
mutations of the dystrophin gene that are amenable
to exon 53 skipping. It is the first drug to be approved
for this indicatio n and the third to be approved for
treatment of DMD; the antisense oligonucleotide
eteplirsen(Exondys 51) and the oral corticosteroid
deflazacort(Emflaza) were approved earlier. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - July 20, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: deflazacort Duchenne muscular dystrophy Emflaza eteplirsen Exondys 51 golodirsen Prednisone Vyondys 53 Source Type: research
Lumateperone (Caplyta) for Schizophrenia
Date: July 27, 2020
Issue #:
1603Summary:
The FDA has approved lumateperone (Caplyta—
Intracellular Therapies), an oral second-generation
antipsychotic, for once-daily treatment of schizophrenia
in adults. It is the 13th second-generation antipsychotic
drug to be approved by the FDA for this indication. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - July 20, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Abilify Abilify MyCite Antipsychotics Aripiprazole Asenapine brexpiprazole Caplyta cariprazine Clozapine Clozaril Geodon iloperadine Invega Latuda lumateperone lurasidone Olanzapine paliperidone Quetiapine Rexulti R Source Type: research
Drugs for Menopausal Symptoms
Date: August 10, 2020
Issue #:
1604Summary:
The primary symptoms of menopause are genitourinary
(genitourinary syndrome of menopause; GSM) and
vasomotor (VMS). Vulvovaginal atrophy can cause
vaginal burning, irritation and dryness, dyspareunia, and
dysuria, and increase the risk of urinary tract infections.
Vasomotor symptoms ( " hot flashes " ) cause daytime
discomfort and night sweats that may disrupt sleep.
Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for both
genitourinary and vasomotor symptoms. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - July 2, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Activella acupuncture Alora Angeliq Antidepressants bazedoxifene Bijuva Bioidentical Hormones Brisdelle Climara Combi-Patch Ditropan Divigel Drospirenone Duavee Duavive Dyspareunia Effexor Elestrin Escitalopram Estr Source Type: research
Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (online only)
Date: July 13, 2020
Issue #:
1602Summary:
View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - July 2, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Durysta - A Bimatoprost Implant for Glaucoma
Date: July 27, 2020
Issue #:
1603Summary:
The FDA has approved an intracameral implant
containing the prostaglandin analog bimatoprost
(Durysta– Allergan) for reduction of intraocular
pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma
or ocular hypertension. Bimatoprost is also
available in 0.01%(Lumigan) and 0.03% (generics)
ophthalmic solutions for the same indication and in
a 0.03% solution(Latisse, and generics) for eyelash
enhancement.Durysta is the first ocular implant to
become available in the US for treatment of glaucoma. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - June 23, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Bimatoprost Durysta Eye glaucoma Latanoprost latanoprostene bunod Latisse Lumigan netarsudil Rhopressa tafluprost Travatan Z travoprost Vistitan Vyzulta Xalatan Xelpros Zioptan Source Type: research
IV Artesunate for Severe Malaria
Date: August 10, 2020
Issue #:
1604Summary:
Artesunate for injection (Amivas LLC), a semi-synthetic
artemisinin derivative, is now approved
by the FDA for initial (induction) treatment of severe
malaria in children and adults. It has been available
from the CDC on a compassionate use basis since
2007. Artemether/lumefantrine(Coartem), another
artemisinin-based drug, was approved earlier for oral
treatment of uncomplicatedPlasmodium falciparum
malaria. IV artesunate is now the only FDA-approved
injectable antimalarial drug available in the US; IV
quinidine has been discontinued. (...
Source: The Medical Letter - June 23, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Artemether Artemether-Lumefantrine Artesunate atovaquone/proguanil Chloroquine Clindamycin Coartem Doxycycline Krintafel Malaria Malarone Mefloquine Primaquine Quinine tafenoquine Tetracycline Source Type: research
Lemborexant (Dayvigo) for Insomnia
Date: June 29, 2020
Issue #:
1601Summary:
The FDA has approved lemborexant (Dayvigo– Eisai),
an orexin receptor antagonist, for treatment of sleep-onset
and/or sleep-maintenance insomnia in adults. It
is the second orexin receptor antagonist to be approved
for this indication; suvorexant (Belsomra) was the first. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - June 22, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Ambien Antihistamines Ativan Belsomra bromazepam Dayvigo Doral Doxepin Edluar estazolam Eszopiclone Flurazepam Halcion Imovane insomnia lemborexant Lorazepam Lunesta melatonin Mogadon nitrazepam Oxazepam Quazepa Source Type: research
Drugs for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Date: July 13, 2020
Issue #:
1602Summary:
US guidelines recommend pharmacologic therapy for
postmenopausal women with a bone density T-score
(standard deviation from normal mean values in
healthy young women) of -2.5 or below in the lumbar
spine, femoral neck, total hip, or distal radius, a
T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 and a history of fragility
(low-trauma) fracture of the hip or spine, or a T-score
between -1.0 and -2.5 and a FRAX 10-year probability
of ≥3% for hip fracture or≥20% for major osteoporotic
fracture (hip, clinical spine, humerus, distal radius). (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - June 8, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Melatonin for Insomnia in Children
Date: June 29, 2020
Issue #:
1601Summary:
Over-the-counter products containing melatonin are
widely used as sleep aids in children and adults. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - May 27, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: ADHD ASD Drug Safety insomnia melatonin Pediatrics PedPRM Slenyto Source Type: research
Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) - A New Indication for Heart Failure
Date: June 29, 2020
Issue #:
1601Summary:
The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2)
inhibitor dapagliflozin(Farxiga), which was
initially approved by the FDA for treatment of
type 2 diabetes and then to reduce the risk of hospitalization for HF in adults who have type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease
(CVD) or multiple cardiovascular risk factors, has
now been approved for a third indication: to reduce
the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization
for heart failure (HF) in patients with heart failure
with reduced ejection fraction (with or without
type 2 d...
Source: The Medical Letter - May 27, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: dapagliflozin Farxiga Forxiga Heart Failure type 2 diabetes Source Type: research
