Two Drugs for Sickle Cell Disease: Crizanlizumab (Adakveo) and Voxelotor (Oxbryta)
Date: April 6, 2020
Issue #:
1595Summary:
The FDA has approved two new drugs for sickle cell
disease: crizanlizumab-tmca (Adakveo– Novartis), an
IV P-selectin blocker, and voxelotor (Oxbryta– GBT),
an oral hemoglobin S (HbS) polymerization inhibitor. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - March 27, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Adakveo crizanlizumab Droxia Endari Hydrea Hydroxyurea L-glutamine Oxbryta sickle cell disease Siklos voxelotor Source Type: research
Table: Safety of Drugs for IBS in Pregnancy and Lactation (online only)
Date: March 23, 2020
Issue #:
1594Summary:
View the Table: Safety of Drugs for IBS in Pregnancy and Lactation (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - March 13, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Alosetron amitiza Amitriptyline bentyl Celexa Cholestyramine Citalopram Colesevelam Colestid Colestipol Desipramine dicyclomine eluxadoline fluoxetine Hyoscyamine Ibsrela irritable bowel syndrome Levsin linaclotide Li Source Type: research
Addendum: Drospirenone (Slynd) - A New Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptive
Date: March 23, 2020
Issue #:
1594Summary:
In our article onSlynd (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2020; 62:18),
the drospirenone-only oral contraceptive, we mentioned that
drospirenone has antiandrogenic activity that could improve
acne and antimineralocorticoid activity that could cause
hyperkalemia. We should have added that concurrent use of
drospirenone with other drugs that increase potassium levels,
such as the anti-androgen aldosterone receptor antagonist
spironolactone (Aldactone, and generics), which is often
used off-label for treatment of acne, can increase the risk of
hyperkalem...
Source: The Medical Letter - March 13, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Acne Aldactone Contraceptives Drospirenone Oral contraceptives Psyllium Slynd Spironolactone Source Type: research
Minocycline Foam (Amzeeq) for Acne
Date: May 4, 2020
Issue #:
1597Summary:
The FDA has approved a 4% aerosol foam formulation
of minocycline (Amzeeq– Foamix) for topical
treatment of inflammatory lesions of non-nodular
moderate to severe acne in patients≥9 years old. It is
the first topical tetracycline formulation to be approved
for use in patients with acne. Oral minocycline
(Minocin,Solodyn, and generics) is (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - March 4, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Acanya Acne Amzeeq Antibacterials Apprilon Benzaclin Benzamycin Benzoyl peroxide Clindamycin Clindoxy Doryx Doxycycline Erythromycin Minocin Minocycline Onexton periostat Retinoids sarecycline Seysara solodyn Source Type: research
Bempedoic Acid (Nexletol) for Lowering LDL-Cholesterol
Date: April 6, 2020
Issue #:
1595Summary:
The FDA has approved the oral adenosine triphosphate-citrate
lyase (ACL) inhibitor bempedoic acid for
use alone (Nexletol– Esperion) and in a fixed-dose
combination with the cholesterol absorption inhibitor
ezetimibe(Nexlizet) as an adjunct to diet and maximally
tolerated statin therapy in adults with heterozygous
familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) or established
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) who
require additional lowering of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C).
Bempedoic acid is the first ACL inhibitor to be approved
in the US....
Source: The Medical Letter - March 4, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: alirocumab Altoprev Atorvastatin bempedoic acid Cholesterol Cholestyramine Colesevelam Colestid Colestipol Crestor evolocumab Ezetimibe Ezetrol Fenofibrate Flolipid Fluvastatin Gemfibrozil icosapent ethyl Lescol Lipit Source Type: research
Cefiderocol (Fetroja) - A New IV Cephalosporin for Complicated UTI
Date: May 4, 2020
Issue #:
1597Summary:
The FDA has approved cefiderocol (Fetroja– Shionogi),
a new IV cephalosporin antibiotic, for treatment of
complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by
susceptible gram-negative bacteria in adults who
have limited or no alternative treatment options. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - March 4, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Antibacterials avibactam/ceftazidime Avycaz Azactam Aztreonam cefepime cefiderocol ceftolozane/tazobactam Ceftriaxone Ciprofloxacin Ertapenem Fetroja Fluoroquinolones Imipenem/cilastatin Invanz Levofloxacin Maxipime merop Source Type: research
Addendum: Drug Interaction between Opioids and Oral P2Y12 Platelet Inhibitors
Date: March 9, 2020
Issue #:
1593Summary:
Opioids delay gastric emptying and the absorption of many
oral drugs, including the P2Y12 inhibitors clopidogrel (Plavix,
and generics), prasugrel (Effient, and generics), and ticagrelor(Brilinta), which are commonly used for initial treatment of
acute coronary syndrome (ACS). An article in our February 25,
2019 issue reviewed studies showing that coadministration
of opioids delayed and decreased absorption of oral P2Y12
inhibitors and increased platelet reactivity. Recently published
clinical outcomes data may add to these concerns. (Sou...
Source: The Medical Letter - February 28, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Brilinta cangrelor Clopidogrel Effient Kengreal Morphine Opioids Plavix Prasugrel ticagrelor Source Type: research
Addendum: Brolucizumab (Beovu) for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Date: March 9, 2020
Issue #:
1593Summary:
We reviewed brolucizumab (Beovu– Novartis) for treatment
of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration in our
February 10 issue. On February 23, the American Society of
Retina Specialists reported that 14 patients who received the
drug have developed retinal vasculitis, a potentially vision-threatening
complication. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - February 28, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Age-related macular degeneration Beovu brolucizumab Drug Safety Source Type: research
Drugs for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Date: March 23, 2020
Issue #:
1594Summary:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder
characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered
bowel habits, often accompanied by bloating.IBS
is classified according to the predominant bowel
symptom as IBS with constipation (IBS-C), IBS with
diarrhea (IBS-D), mixed type (IBS-M), or unclassified
(IBS-U). Alterations in the microbiome, stress
responses, sensory and motor function of the gut,
and host genetic factors may be contributing factors.
Since the exact cause of IBS is unknown, the goal of
treatment is symptom control. (...
Source: The Medical Letter - February 21, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Alosetron amitiza Amitriptyline anaspaz Antibacterials Antidepressants bentyl Celexa Cholestyramine Citalopram Colesevelam Colestid Colestipol Constipation Desipramine Diarrhea dicyclomine eluxadoline fluoxetine Hyosc Source Type: research
Peanut Allergen Powder (Palforzia)
Date: March 9, 2020
Issue #:
1593Summary:
The FDA has approved peanut allergen powder-dnfp
(Palforzia– Aimmune) for use as oral immunotherapy
to mitigate allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis,
caused by accidental peanut exposure in patients with
a confirmed peanut allergy. It is the first drug to be
approved in the US for this indication; Viaskin Peanut,
an immunotherapy patch, is under FDA review for the
same indication. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - February 4, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Allergies Anaphylaxis Epinephrine Immunotherapy Palforzia peanut allergen powder Viaskin Peanut Source Type: research
Lasmiditan (Reyvow) and Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) for Acute Treatment of Migraine
Date: March 9, 2020
Issue #:
1593Summary:
Lasmiditan (Reyvow– Lilly), an oral serotonin
(5-HT1F) receptor agonist, and ubrogepant (Ubrelvy–
Allergan), an oral calcitonin gene-related peptide
(CGRP) receptor antagonist, have been approved
by the FDA for acute treatment of migraine with or
without aura in adults. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - February 4, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Aimovig Ajovy Almotriptan Amerge Cafergot Cambia D.H.E. 45 Diclofenac Dihydroergotamine Eletriptan Emgality erenumab fremanezumab Frova Frovatriptan galcanezumab Imitrex lasmiditan Maxalt Migergot Migraine Migrana Source Type: research
Consensi - A Fixed-Dose Combination of Amlodipine and Celecoxib
Date: March 9, 2020
Issue #:
1593Summary: Consensi (Coeptis/Burke), a fixed-dose combination
of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Norvasc,
and others) and the COX-2 selective NSAID celecoxib
(Celebrex, and generics), has been approved by the FDA
for treatment of patients who have hypertension and
osteoarthritis. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - February 4, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Amlodipine ARBs Celebrex Celecoxib Consensi Hypertension Norvasc osteoarthritis NSAIDs ACE inhibitors Source Type: research
Drugs for Depression
Date: February 24, 2020
Issue #:
1592Summary:
Complete remission of symptoms is the goal of
treatment for major depressive disorder; a partial
response is associated with an increased risk of
relapse. Improvement in symptoms can occur within
the first two weeks of treatment with an antidepressant,
but it may take 4-8 weeks to achieve a substantial
benefit. Following successful treatment of a first major
depressive episode, antidepressant treatment should
be continued at the same dose for at least 4-9 months
to consolidate recovery. In patients with recurrent
depressive episodes, ...
Source: The Medical Letter - January 17, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Abilify Amitriptyline Amoxapine Antidepressants Antipsychotics aplenzin Aripiprazole Aventyl brexanolone brexpiprazole Bupropion BuSpar Buspirone Celexa Cipralex Citalopram Cymbalta Deep Brain stimulation Deplin Depre Source Type: research
Brolucizumab (Beovu) for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Date: February 10, 2020
Issue #:
1591Summary:
Brolucizumab-dbll (Beovu— Novartis), a vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, has been
approved by the FDA as an intravitreal injection for
treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular
degeneration (AMD). It is the fourth VEGF inhibitor to
be approved in the US for this indication; bevacizumab
(Avastin, and others), a VEGF inhibitor FDA-approved
for treatment of breast cancer and other malignancies,
has been used off-label for this indication for years. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - January 17, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Expanded Table: Antiviral Drugs for Influenza (online only)
Date: January 13, 2020
Issue #:
1589Summary:
View the Expanded Table: Antiviral Drugs for Influenza (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - January 13, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: baloxavir marboxil influenza Oseltamivir Peramivir Rapivab Relenza Tamiflu Xofluza Zanamivir Source Type: research
