In Brief: A New Glucagon Injection (Gvoke) for Severe Hypoglycemia
Date: November 18, 2019
Issue #:
1585Summary:
The FDA has approved a new formulation of glucagon
(Gvoke– Xeris) for subcutaneous treatment of severe
hypoglycemia in patients ≥2 years old with diabetes.
Conscious patients with symptoms of hypoglycemia can
take oral glucose. Glucagon is usually administered by a
caregiver to an unresponsive patient. The new formulation is
available in a single-use prefilled syringe(Gvoke PFS) and is
expected to become available in a single-use auto-injector(Gvoke HypoPen) in 2020. Unlike previously available
injectable glucagon products (Glucag...
Source: The Medical Letter - October 15, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Bagsimi GlucaGen Hypokit glucagon Gvoke type 1 diabetes type 2 diabetes Source Type: research
Cannabis and Cannabinoids
Date: November 18, 2019
Issue #:
1585Summary:
Cannabis (marijuana) contains more than 60
pharmacologically active cannabinoids; delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)
are the best known. THC is the main psychoactive
constituent of cannabis. CBD, unlike THC, does not
produce intoxication or euphoria. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - October 11, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) - A New JAK Inhibitor for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Date: November 18, 2019
Issue #:
1585Summary:
The FDA has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq–
Abbvie), an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with moderately to severely
active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had
an inadequate response to or cannot tolerate
methotrexate (Trexall, and others). Upadacitinib is
the third JAK inhibitor to be approved in the US for
treatment of RA; tofacitinib(Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR)
and baricitinib(Olumiant) were approved earlier. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - September 27, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Turmeric Supplements
Date: November 18, 2019
Issue #:
1585Summary:
Turmeric is a spice derived from theCurcuma longa
plant. Dietary supplements and foods containing
turmeric are widely promoted for relief of pain
and to improve joint mobility, immunity, digestion,
cardiovascular health, depression, anxiety, memory,
and cognition. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - September 27, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes
Date: November 4, 2019
Issue #:
1584Summary:
Diet, exercise, and weight loss can improve glycemic
control, but almost all patients with type 2 diabetes
eventually require drug therapy. Treating to a glycated
hemoglobin (A1C) concentration of<7% can prevent
microvascular complications (retinopathy, nephropathy,
and neuropathy), but whether it prevents macrovascular
complications and death is unclear. An A1C target of<8% may be appropriate for older patients and those
with underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD), a history
of severe hypoglycemia, diabetes-related complication...
Source: The Medical Letter - September 27, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Oral Semaglutide (Rybelsus) for Type 2 Diabetes
Date: October 21, 2019
Issue #:
1583Summary:
An oral formulation of the glucagon-like peptide-1
(GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide (Rybelsus–
Novo Nordisk) has been approved by the FDA
for once-daily treatment of type 2 diabetes in
adults. Semaglutide, which has been available in
a subcutaneously-injected formulation(Ozempic)
since 2017, is the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to
become available for oral administration; the 4 other
GLP-1 receptor agonists currently available in the US
are administered by subcutaneous (SC) injection. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - September 27, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Adlyxine Bydureon Byetta dulaglutide Exenatide Glucophage Liraglutide lixisenatide Metformin Ozempic Rybelsus semaglutide Trulicity type 2 diabetes Source Type: research
Expanded Table: Some Drugs for Altitude Illness, Jet Lag, and Motion Sickness (online only)
Date: October 7, 2019
Issue #:
1582Summary:
View the Expanded Table: Some Drugs for Altitude Illness, Jet Lag, and Motion Sickness (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - September 27, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Acetazolamide Alertec Ambien armodafinil Bonine Cialis Dexamethasone Dimenhydrinate Dramamine Edluar Gravol Hetlioz Histanil Ibuprofen insomnia Meclizine Nifedipine Nuvigil Procardia Promethazine Ramelteon Rozerem Source Type: research
Expanded Table: Antibiotics for Travelers' Diarrhea (online only)
Date: October 7, 2019
Issue #:
1582Summary:
View the Expanded Table: Antibiotics for Travelers ' Diarrhea (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - September 27, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Aemcolo Azithromycin Cipro Ciprofloxacin Levaquin Levofloxacin rifamycin Rifaximin Travel Travelers ' diarrhea Xifaxan Zaxine Zithromax Source Type: research
Expanded Table: Statins (online only)
Date: September 23, 2019
Issue #:
1581Summary:
View the Expanded Table: Statins (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - September 13, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Altoprev Atorvastatin Crestor Ezallor Sprinkle Flolipid Fluvastatin Lescol Lipitor Livalo Lovastatin Pitavastatin Pravachol pravastatin Rosuvastatin simvastatin Statins Zocor Zypitamag Source Type: research
In Brief: Ezallor Sprinkle - A New Formulation of Rosuvastatin
Date: September 23, 2019
Issue #:
1581Summary:
The lipid-lowering drug rosuvastatin is now available in a sprinkle capsule formulation (Ezallor Sprinkle– Sun Pharma). Rosuvastatin tablets (Crestor, and generics) have been available since 2003.1,2The new formulation is being marketed specifically for residents of long-term care facilities who have difficulty swallowing.Ezallor Sprinkle capsules can be swallowed whole or opened and their contents sprinkled over applesauce or mixed with water for administration via nasogastric tube.For those long-term care residents who still have...
Source: The Medical Letter - September 13, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Crestor Ezallor Sprinkle Rosuvastatin Statins Source Type: research
Influenza Vaccine for 2019-2020
Date: October 21, 2019
Issue #:
1583Summary:
Annual vaccination against influenza A and B
viruses is recommended for everyone ≥6 months old
without a contraindication. Available vaccines and
recommendations for specific patient populations for
the 2019-2020 season are listed in Tables 2 and 3. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - August 29, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Afluria Agriflu baloxavir Fluad Fluarix Flublok FluceIvax flulaval FluMist Fluzone Fluzone High-Dose Heplisav-B influenza Influenza vaccine Influvac Neuraminidase inhibitors Shingrix Source Type: research
Advice for Travelers
Date: October 7, 2019
Issue #:
1582Summary:
Patients who receive pretravel advice can reduce their
risk for many travel-related conditions. Vaccines recommended
for travelers are reviewed in a separate issue. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - August 29, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: acetazolamide dexamethasone Adalat Aemcolo Alertec Ambien Antihistamines Arakoda armodafinil atovaquone/proguanil Azithromycin Bismuth subsalicylate Bonamine Ceralyte Chloroquine Cialis venous thromboembolism Cipro Ciproflo Source Type: research
Duaklir Pressair: Another LAMA/LABA Inhaler for COPD
Date: September 23, 2019
Issue #:
1581Summary:
The FDA has approvedDuaklir Pressair (Circassia), a
fixed-dose combination of the long-acting muscarinic
antagonist (LAMA) aclidinium bromide and the longacting
beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA) formoterol
fumarate, for maintenance treatment of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aclidinium/formoterol is the fifth LAMA/LABA combination to be
approved in the US for this indication. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - August 29, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: aclidinium Anoro Ellipta Bevespi Aerosphere COPD Duaklir Pressair Formoterol Glycopyrrolate indacaterol Inspiolto Respimat Long-acting beta2-agonists Stiolto Respimat tiotropium/olodaterol Ultibro Breezehaler umeclidinium Utibr Source Type: research
Lefamulin (Xenleta) for Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
Date: September 23, 2019
Issue #:
1581Summary:
Lefamulin (Xenleta– Nabriva), a semisynthetic
pleuromutilin antibiotic, has been approved by the
FDA for IV and oral treatment of community-acquired
bacterial pneumonia (CABP) in adults. It is the first
systemic pleuromutilin antibiotic to be approved in the
US; retapamulin(Altabax), a 1% topical ointment for
treatment of impetigo, was approved in 2007. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - August 20, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Amoxicillin Ampicillin/sulbactam Avelox Azithromycin Cefotaxime Cefpodoxime ceftaroline Ceftriaxone Chlamydophila pneumoniae Doxycycline Fluoroquinolones Haemophilus influenzae lefamulin Levaquin Levofloxacin Linezolid meth Source Type: research
Glucagon Nasal Powder (Baqsimi) for Severe Hypoglycemia
Date: September 23, 2019
Issue #:
1581Summary:
The FDA has approved glucagon nasal powder
(Baqsimi– Lilly) for treatment of severe hypoglycemia
in patients≥4 years old with diabetes.Baqsimi is the
first noninjectable glucagon formulation to become
available in the US. Injectable glucagon emergency kits
(GlucaGen Hypokit, and generic) have been available
for years, but they require reconstitution of the
lyophilized powder by the caregiver immediately before
injection. An injectable glucagon formulation that does
not require reconstitution was recently approved by the
FDA(Gvok...
Source: The Medical Letter - August 20, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Baqsimi diabetes GlucaGen Hypokit glucagon Gvoke type 1 diabetes type 2 diabetes Source Type: research
