Matching articles for "metoprolol"
Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 8, 2024; (Issue 1693)
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia
in the world. Risk factor modification, anticoagulation,
rhythm control, and rate control are the four pillars
of its management. American College of...
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia
in the world. Risk factor modification, anticoagulation,
rhythm control, and rate control are the four pillars
of its management. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines
on management of AF were updated recently.
Drugs for Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 12, 2023; (Issue 1678)
An oral nonopioid analgesic is often sufficient for
acute treatment of mild to moderate migraine pain
without severe nausea or vomiting. A triptan is the
drug of choice for treatment of moderate to...
An oral nonopioid analgesic is often sufficient for
acute treatment of mild to moderate migraine pain
without severe nausea or vomiting. A triptan is the
drug of choice for treatment of moderate to severe
migraine in most patients without vascular disease.
Treatment of pain when it is still mild to moderate in
intensity improves headache response and reduces
the risk of recurrence.
Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Migraine Prevention in Adults (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 12, 2023; (Issue 1678)
...
View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Migraine Prevention in Adults
Mavacamten (Camzyos) for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 13, 2022; (Issue 1652)
The FDA has approved mavacamten (Camzyos –
MyoKardia/BMS), a modulator of cardiac myosin, to
improve functional capacity and symptoms in adults
with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or
III...
The FDA has approved mavacamten (Camzyos –
MyoKardia/BMS), a modulator of cardiac myosin, to
improve functional capacity and symptoms in adults
with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or
III obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
who have a baseline left ventricular ejection fraction
(LVEF) ≥55%. Mavacamten is the first drug in its class
to become available in the US.
Atogepant (Qulipta) for Migraine Prevention
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 1, 2021; (Issue 1636)
Atogepant (Qulipta – Abbvie), an oral small-molecule
calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor
antagonist ("gepant"), has been approved by the
FDA for prevention of episodic migraine in adults....
Atogepant (Qulipta – Abbvie), an oral small-molecule
calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor
antagonist ("gepant"), has been approved by the
FDA for prevention of episodic migraine in adults. It
is the second oral CGRP receptor antagonist to be
approved in the US for this indication; the first was
rimegepant (Nurtec ODT), which is also approved
for acute treatment of migraine. Parenteral CGRP
monoclonal antibodies are approved for prevention
of migraine (see Table 3).
Drugs for Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 14, 2021; (Issue 1626)
Among patients with chronic heart failure, those with
a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% are
considered to have heart failure with reduced ejection
fraction (HFrEF). Patients with a LVEF...
Among patients with chronic heart failure, those with
a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% are
considered to have heart failure with reduced ejection
fraction (HFrEF). Patients with a LVEF ≥50% are
considered to have heart failure with preserved ejection
fraction (HFpEF). Those with a LVEF of 41-49% are an
intermediate group more similar to patients with HFpEF.
Vericiguat (Verquvo) for Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 8, 2021; (Issue 1619)
The FDA has approved vericiguat (Verquvo – Merck),
an oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator,
to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure
and cardiovascular (CV) death following a...
The FDA has approved vericiguat (Verquvo – Merck),
an oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator,
to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure
and cardiovascular (CV) death following a worsening
heart failure event (hospitalization for heart failure or
treatment with IV diuretics as an outpatient) in patients
with symptomatic chronic heart failure and left
ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%. Vericiguat
is the second sGC stimulator to be marketed in the
US. Riociguat (Adempas), which is FDA-approved
for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and
chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension,
was the first.
Comparison Table: Some Drugs for HFrEF (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 8, 2021; (Issue 1619)
...
View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for HFrEF
Drugs for Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 5, 2020; (Issue 1608)
An oral nonopioid analgesic is often sufficient for acute
treatment of mild to moderate migraine headache
without severe nausea or vomiting. A triptan is the
drug of choice for treatment of moderate to...
An oral nonopioid analgesic is often sufficient for acute
treatment of mild to moderate migraine headache
without severe nausea or vomiting. A triptan is the
drug of choice for treatment of moderate to severe
migraine headache pain in most patients without
vascular disease. Early treatment of pain when it is
still mild to moderate in intensity improves headache
response and reduces the risk of recurrence.
Eptinezumab (Vyepti) for Migraine Prevention
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 1, 2020; (Issue 1599)
The FDA has approved eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti –
Lundbeck), a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)
antagonist administered IV once every 3 months, for
migraine prevention in adults. It is the fourth...
The FDA has approved eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti –
Lundbeck), a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)
antagonist administered IV once every 3 months, for
migraine prevention in adults. It is the fourth monoclonal
antibody to be approved for this indication; erenumab
(Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy), and galcanezumab
(Emgality), which are all given subcutaneously once
monthly (fremanezumab can also be given once every 3
months), were approved earlier.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 18, 2020; (Issue 1598)
Drugs available for treatment of chronic hypertension
and their dosages, adverse effects, and costs are
listed in the tables. Treatment
of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies is not
discussed...
Drugs available for treatment of chronic hypertension
and their dosages, adverse effects, and costs are
listed in the tables. Treatment
of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies is not
discussed here.
Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 9, 2019; (Issue 1580)
Treatment of atrial fibrillation includes anticoagulation,
rate control, and rhythm control. US guidelines were
recently...
Treatment of atrial fibrillation includes anticoagulation,
rate control, and rhythm control. US guidelines were
recently updated.
Drugs for Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 8, 2019; (Issue 1569)
Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)
≤40% are considered to have heart failure with reduced
ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients with a LVEF ≤50%
and symptoms of heart failure are...
Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)
≤40% are considered to have heart failure with reduced
ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients with a LVEF ≤50%
and symptoms of heart failure are considered to have
heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
There is little evidence that drug treatment improves
clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF.
Expanded Table: Some Drugs for HFrEF (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 8, 2019; (Issue 1569)
...
View the Expanded Table: Some Drugs for HFrEF
Fremanezumab (Ajovy) and Galcanezumab (Emgality) for Migraine Prevention
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 5, 2018; (Issue 1559)
The FDA has approved two subcutaneously
injected calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)
antagonists, fremanezumab-vfrm (Ajovy – Teva) and
galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality – Lilly), for migraine
prevention in...
The FDA has approved two subcutaneously
injected calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)
antagonists, fremanezumab-vfrm (Ajovy – Teva) and
galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality – Lilly), for migraine
prevention in adults. Fremanezumab and galcanezumab
are the second and third subcutaneously
injected monoclonal antibodies that target the CGRP
pathway to be approved by the FDA for this indication;
erenumab-aooe (Aimovig), which targets the CGRP
receptor, was the first.
Erenumab (Aimovig) for Migraine Prevention
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 18, 2018; (Issue 1549)
The FDA has approved erenumab-aooe (Aimovig –
Amgen/Novartis), a once-monthly, subcutaneously-injected,
monoclonal antibody against the calcitonin
gene-related peptide receptor, for preventive...
The FDA has approved erenumab-aooe (Aimovig –
Amgen/Novartis), a once-monthly, subcutaneously-injected,
monoclonal antibody against the calcitonin
gene-related peptide receptor, for preventive treatment
of migraine in adults. It is the first drug in its class to
be approved by the FDA.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 13, 2017; (Issue 1516)
in the US and their dosages, adverse effects, and
costs are listed in the tables.
Treatment of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies
is not discussed...
in the US and their dosages, adverse effects, and
costs are listed in the tables.
Treatment of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies
is not discussed here.
Drugs for Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 13, 2017; (Issue 1514)
An oral nonopioid analgesic may be sufficient for
treatment of mild to moderate migraine without severe
nausea or vomiting. A triptan is the drug of choice for
treatment of moderate to severe migraine. Use...
An oral nonopioid analgesic may be sufficient for
treatment of mild to moderate migraine without severe
nausea or vomiting. A triptan is the drug of choice for
treatment of moderate to severe migraine. Use of
a triptan early in an attack when pain is still mild to
moderate in intensity improves headache response
and reduces recurrence rates.
Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Migraine Prevention in Adults (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 13, 2017; (Issue 1514)
...
View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Migraine Prevention in Adults
Byvalson - A Beta Blocker/ARB Combination for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 12, 2016; (Issue 1503)
The FDA has approved Byvalson (Allergan), a fixed-dose
combination of the beta blocker nebivolol
(Bystolic) and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)
valsartan (Diovan, and generics), for treatment...
The FDA has approved Byvalson (Allergan), a fixed-dose
combination of the beta blocker nebivolol
(Bystolic) and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)
valsartan (Diovan, and generics), for treatment of
hypertension. It is the only combination product that
contains nebivolol, and the first to combine a beta
blocker with an ARB.
Sacubitril/Valsartan (Entresto) for Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 3, 2015; (Issue 1474)
The FDA has approved Entresto (Novartis), an oral
fixed-dose combination of the neprilysin inhibitor
sacubitril and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)
valsartan, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular...
The FDA has approved Entresto (Novartis), an oral
fixed-dose combination of the neprilysin inhibitor
sacubitril and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)
valsartan, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death
and heart failure hospitalization in patients with
heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Sacubitril
is the first neprilysin inhibitor to become available in
the US.
Drugs for Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 19, 2015; (Issue 1460)
Heart failure is usually associated with left ventricular
dysfunction. According to recent guidelines, patients
with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% are
considered to have heart failure...
Heart failure is usually associated with left ventricular
dysfunction. According to recent guidelines, patients
with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% are
considered to have heart failure with reduced ejection
fraction (HFrEF) or systolic heart failure. Patients
with a LVEF ≥50% and symptoms of heart failure
are considered to have heart failure with preserved
ejection fraction (HFpEF) or diastolic heart failure;
there is little evidence that drug treatment improves
clinical outcomes in these patients. The treatment of
acute heart failure is not included here.
Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 7, 2014; (Issue 1446)
The treatment of atrial fibrillation includes anticoagulation,
rate control, and rhythm control. New US
guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation
have recently been...
The treatment of atrial fibrillation includes anticoagulation,
rate control, and rhythm control. New US
guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation
have recently been published.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2014; (Issue 141)
Most recent guidelines recommend a BP goal of 140/90 mm Hg. For patients ≥60 years old without diabetes
or chronic kidney disease, one guideline recommends
150/90 mm Hg both as the drug treatment...
Most recent guidelines recommend a BP goal of 140/90 mm Hg. For patients ≥60 years old without diabetes
or chronic kidney disease, one guideline recommends
150/90 mm Hg both as the drug treatment initiation
threshold and treatment target; this higher target is
controversial, except in patients ≥80 years old.
Drugs for Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 1, 2013; (Issue 136)
Treatment of migraine in the emergency department,
which may involve use of intravenous drugs, is not
discussed...
Treatment of migraine in the emergency department,
which may involve use of intravenous drugs, is not
discussed here.
Mirabegron (Myrbetriq) for Overactive Bladder
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 18, 2013; (Issue 1410)
Mirabegron (mir a beg’ ron; Myrbetriq [meer BEH
trick] – Astellas), a beta-3 adrenergic agonist, has
been approved by the FDA for the treatment of overactive
bladder. It is the first beta-3 adrenergic...
Mirabegron (mir a beg’ ron; Myrbetriq [meer BEH
trick] – Astellas), a beta-3 adrenergic agonist, has
been approved by the FDA for the treatment of overactive
bladder. It is the first beta-3 adrenergic agonist
to be approved for any indication in the US.
Mirabegron has been marketed in Japan since 2011.
OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) was also recently
approved by the FDA for treatment of overactive bladder
and will be reviewed in a future issue.
Drugs for Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 1, 2012; (Issue 121)
Chronic systolic heart failure is usually associated with
a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤40%.
Many patients with symptoms of heart failure have
higher ejection fractions, but there is no...
Chronic systolic heart failure is usually associated with
a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤40%.
Many patients with symptoms of heart failure have
higher ejection fractions, but there is no evidence that
drug treatment of heart failure with preserved systolic
function (LVEF >40%) improves clinical outcomes.
Some of the drugs commonly used now for treatment of
chronic heart failure are listed in the table on page 71.
Tablet Splitting
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 6, 2012; (Issue 1396)
Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice. Since our last article on this subject, some new data
have become...
Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice. Since our last article on this subject, some new data
have become available.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 1, 2012; (Issue 113)
Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic
hypertension, with their dosages and adverse effects,
are listed in the tables that begin on page 2.
Combination products are listed on page 8. Drugs...
Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic
hypertension, with their dosages and adverse effects,
are listed in the tables that begin on page 2.
Combination products are listed on page 8. Drugs for
treatment of hypertensive emergencies are not discussed
here. They were reviewed previously.
Drugs for Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 1, 2011; (Issue 102)
Drugs for treatment of migraine are listed in Table 2
on page 9. Drugs for prevention of migraine are listed
in Table 3 on page 10. Treatment of migraine in the
emergency room, which may involve use of...
Drugs for treatment of migraine are listed in Table 2
on page 9. Drugs for prevention of migraine are listed
in Table 3 on page 10. Treatment of migraine in the
emergency room, which may involve use of intravenous
drugs, is not included here.
Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 1, 2010; (Issue 97)
The treatment of atrial fibrillation includes ventricular rate control, anticoagulation, conversion to normal sinus rhythm and maintenance of sinus rhythm. The choice of therapies that can achieve these goals...
The treatment of atrial fibrillation includes ventricular rate control, anticoagulation, conversion to normal sinus rhythm and maintenance of sinus rhythm. The choice of therapies that can achieve these goals is discussed in the text that follows. Some drugs are recommended here for indications that have not been approved by the FDA.
Dronedarone (Multaq) for Atrial Fibrillation
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 5, 2009; (Issue 1322)
Dronedarone (Multaq - Sanofi-Aventis) has been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter. Amiodarone (Cordarone, and others) is the most effective drug for this indication, but...
Dronedarone (Multaq - Sanofi-Aventis) has been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter. Amiodarone (Cordarone, and others) is the most effective drug for this indication, but has considerable toxicity.
Tablet Splitting
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 10, 2009; (Issue 1318)
Readers have asked us to update our 2004 article on tablet splitting. Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice, but the FDA recently advised consumers against it (FDA Consumer Health Information, July...
Readers have asked us to update our 2004 article on tablet splitting. Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice, but the FDA recently advised consumers against it (FDA Consumer Health Information, July 2009).
Drugs for Thyroid Disorders
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 1, 2009; (Issue 84)
Primary hypothyroidism is usually the result of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroidectomy for hyperthyroidism, goiter or cancer, or radioactive iodine therapy for...
Primary hypothyroidism is usually the result of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroidectomy for hyperthyroidism, goiter or cancer, or radioactive iodine therapy for hyperthyroidism.
Drugs for Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 1, 2009; (Issue 83)
The range of drugs for treatment of chronic heart failure continues to expand. Some of those commonly used now are listed in the table on page 55. Mechanical therapies for the treatment of heart failure such as...
The range of drugs for treatment of chronic heart failure continues to expand. Some of those commonly used now are listed in the table on page 55. Mechanical therapies for the treatment of heart failure such as cardiac resynchronization, implanted cardiac defibrillators (ICDs), ventricular assist devices and ultrafiltration for the relief of congestion will not be reviewed here.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 1, 2009; (Issue 77)
Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the tables that begin on page 2. Combination products are listed on page 9. Drugs...
Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the tables that begin on page 2. Combination products are listed on page 9. Drugs for treatment of hypertensive emergencies are not discussed here. They were reviewed in Treatment Guidelines (volume 1, page 19, December 2002) and in The Medical Letter (volume 50, page 73, September 22, 2008).
Nebivolol (Bystolic) for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 10, 2008; (Issue 1281)
Nebivolol (Bystolic - Forest) is a new beta-blocker that has been approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension. It has been marketed in Europe since 1999 for treatment of hypertension and heart...
Nebivolol (Bystolic - Forest) is a new beta-blocker that has been approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension. It has been marketed in Europe since 1999 for treatment of hypertension and heart failure.
Drugs for Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 1, 2008; (Issue 67)
Some drugs for treatment of migraine attacks are listed in table 2 on page 18. Drugs for prevention of migraine are listed in table 3 on page 20. Treatment of migraine in the emergency room, which may involve...
Some drugs for treatment of migraine attacks are listed in table 2 on page 18. Drugs for prevention of migraine are listed in table 3 on page 20. Treatment of migraine in the emergency room, which may involve use of intravenous drugs, is not included here.
Drugs for Cardiac Arrhythmias
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 1, 2007; (Issue 58)
The drugs of choice for treatment of common cardiac arrhythmias are listed in Tables 1 and 2. Some drugs are recommended for indications that have not been approved by the FDA....
The drugs of choice for treatment of common cardiac arrhythmias are listed in Tables 1 and 2. Some drugs are recommended for indications that have not been approved by the FDA.
Drugs for Treatment of Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 1, 2006; (Issue 41)
The choice of drugs for treatment of chronic heart failure continues to evolve. Those most commonly used now are listed in the table on page 3. The use of implanted cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) to reduce the...
The choice of drugs for treatment of chronic heart failure continues to evolve. Those most commonly used now are listed in the table on page 3. The use of implanted cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) to reduce the incidence of sudden death in patients with heart failure and the treatment of decompensated heart failure were discussed in previous issues.
AmpliChip CYP450 Test
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 15, 2005; (Issue 1215)
The FDA recently cleared the AmpliChip CYP450 Test (Roche), which analyzes blood-derived DNA to detect genetic variations in the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 and determines the...
The FDA recently cleared the AmpliChip CYP450 Test (Roche), which analyzes blood-derived DNA to detect genetic variations in the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 and determines the metabolizer status of the patient. The test is intended to help guide clinicians in prescribing individualized drug therapy. About 25% of all drugs, including many antidepressants and antipsychotics, are substrates of either CYP2D6 or CYP2C19. The test is being promoted initially to psychiatrists.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 1, 2005; (Issue 34)
Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the tables that begin on page 40. Combination products are listed on page 47. Drugs...
Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the tables that begin on page 40. Combination products are listed on page 47. Drugs for treatment of hypertensive emergencies are not discussed here.
Topiramate (Topamax) for Prevention of Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 31, 2005; (Issue 1201)
Patients with frequent, severe or disabling migraine headaches may benefit from taking a drug to prevent the attacks. Beta-blockers traditionally have been the prophylactic treatment of choice, but in recent...
Patients with frequent, severe or disabling migraine headaches may benefit from taking a drug to prevent the attacks. Beta-blockers traditionally have been the prophylactic treatment of choice, but in recent years some antiepileptic drugs such as valproate (Depakote, and others) and topiramate (Topamax) have also been used for this indication. Valproate was approved by the FDA for such use in 1996. Now topiramate has also been approved.
Tablet Splitting
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 8, 2004; (Issue 1195)
Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice. In some cases, a lower drug dose may be as effective as a higher one, with fewer adverse effects. Sometimes tablets are split to achieve an intermediate dose...
Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice. In some cases, a lower drug dose may be as effective as a higher one, with fewer adverse effects. Sometimes tablets are split to achieve an intermediate dose between marketed strengths. When 2 tablet sizes cost the same, as they often do, splitting the larger size saves money. Is this a reasonable practice?
Drugs for Cardiac Arrhythmias
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 1, 2004; (Issue 27)
The drugs of choice for treatment of common cardiac arrhythmias are listed in the table that begins on the next page; some drugs are recommended for indications for which they have not been approved by the US...
The drugs of choice for treatment of common cardiac arrhythmias are listed in the table that begins on the next page; some drugs are recommended for indications for which they have not been approved by the US FDA. The dosages and adverse effects of each drug are listed in the table that begins on page 80. Antiarrhythmic drugs may themselves cause arrhythmias, which can be fatal. Some of these drugs may increase rather than decrease mortality, especially in patients with structural heart disease.
Telithromycin (Ketek) for Respiratory Infections
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 16, 2004; (Issue 1189)
Telithromycin (Ketek - Aventis) has been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and acute bacterial sinusitis in...
Telithromycin (Ketek - Aventis) has been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and acute bacterial sinusitis in patients age 18 and older. The drug is the first in a new class of antibiotics, the ketolides, derived from the macrolide erythromycin. Telithromycin has been marketed in Europe since 2001.
Drug Interactions
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 8, 2003; (Issue 1158)
Changes caused by one drug in the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of another may lead to a pharmacokinetic adverse drug interaction (DN Juurlink et al, JAMA 2003; 289:1652). Additive drug...
Changes caused by one drug in the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of another may lead to a pharmacokinetic adverse drug interaction (DN Juurlink et al, JAMA 2003; 289:1652). Additive drug interactions, such as vasodilation caused by both sildenafil (Viagra) and nitrates, can also have adverse effects.
Drugs for Treatment of Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 1, 2003; (Issue 8)
The choice of drugs for treatment of chronic heart failure continues to evolve. It has become increasingly recognized that drugs used in heart failure produce beneficial effects through neurohormonal as well as...
The choice of drugs for treatment of chronic heart failure continues to evolve. It has become increasingly recognized that drugs used in heart failure produce beneficial effects through neurohormonal as well as hemodynamic mechanisms. The treatment of decompensated heart failure is not discussed here; drugs used for this indication were reviewed in Cardiovascular Drugs in the ICU, Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter 2002; 1:19.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 1, 2003; (Issue 6)
Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the table that begins on page 35. Combination products are listed on page 39. Drugs...
Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the table that begins on page 35. Combination products are listed on page 39. Drugs for treatment of hypertensive emergencies were discussed in Treatment Guidelines volume 1, issue 4, page 19, December 2002.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 5, 2001; (Issue 1099)
Drugs available in the USA for treatment of chronic hypertension, their dosages and adverse affects are listed in the table and discussed in the...
Drugs available in the USA for treatment of chronic hypertension, their dosages and adverse affects are listed in the table and discussed in the text.
Which Beta-Blocker?
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 5, 2001; (Issue 1097)
Some classes of drugs include so many agents that hospital formulary committees, managed care organizations and individual practitioners may find it difficult to choose among them. Fifteen beta-adrenergic...
Some classes of drugs include so many agents that hospital formulary committees, managed care organizations and individual practitioners may find it difficult to choose among them. Fifteen beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (beta-blockers) are now marketed for systemic use in the USA. One or more have been approved by the FDA for use in hypertension and eight other indications.
Colesevelam (Welchol) For Hypercholesterolemia
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 30, 2000; (Issue 1091)
Colesevelam hydrochloride (Welchol - Sankyo Pharma), a nonabsorbed hydrophilic polymer that binds bile acids, has been approved by the FDA for reduction of plasma LDL cholesterol in patients with primary...
Colesevelam hydrochloride (Welchol - Sankyo Pharma), a nonabsorbed hydrophilic polymer that binds bile acids, has been approved by the FDA for reduction of plasma LDL cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia.
Pantroprazole (Protonix)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 24, 2000; (Issue 1083)
Pantoprazole, the fourth benzimidazole proton pump inhibitor to become available in the United States, has been marketed for short-term oral treatment of erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease...
Pantoprazole, the fourth benzimidazole proton pump inhibitor to become available in the United States, has been marketed for short-term oral treatment of erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Beta-blockers For Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 26, 2000; (Issue 1081)
Standard treatment for patients with heart failure has included a diuretic, digitalis and an ACE inhibitor. In recent years carvedilol, a nonselective beta-blocker with alpha-1 blocking activity, and the...
Standard treatment for patients with heart failure has included a diuretic, digitalis and an ACE inhibitor. In recent years carvedilol, a nonselective beta-blocker with alpha-1 blocking activity, and the beta-selective blockers bisoprolol and metroprolol have also been used for this indication.
Drug Interactions
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 2, 1999; (Issue 1056)
Reports of adverse interactions between drugs continue to accumulate. Recently, the FDA has expanded the recommendations on drug interactions found in the package inserts of new...
Reports of adverse interactions between drugs continue to accumulate. Recently, the FDA has expanded the recommendations on drug interactions found in the package inserts of new drugs.
Drugs for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 12, 1999; (Issue 1048)
Drugs available in the USA for treatment of chronic hypertension, their dosages and adverse affects are listed in the table and discussed in the...
Drugs available in the USA for treatment of chronic hypertension, their dosages and adverse affects are listed in the table and discussed in the text.
Drugs for Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 29, 1999; (Issue 1045)
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The choice of drugs for treatment of heart failure depends on both hemodynamic and neurohormonal factors.
Citalopram for Depression
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 4, 1998; (Issue 1041)
Citalopram hydrobromide (Celexa - Forest/Parke-Davis), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) available in Europe since 1989, has now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for...
Citalopram hydrobromide (Celexa - Forest/Parke-Davis), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) available in Europe since 1989, has now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of depression. It is being advertised as having a 'favorable side-effect profile.'
New "Triptans" and Other Drugs for Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 9, 1998; (Issue 1037)
Three new 5-HT1 receptors agonissts ('triptans') have been marketed recently for treatment of migraine. Some drugs for prevention of migraine are listed in the table on page 99. Treatment of migraine in the...
Three new 5-HT1 receptors agonissts ('triptans') have been marketed recently for treatment of migraine. Some drugs for prevention of migraine are listed in the table on page 99. Treatment of migraine in the emergency room, which may involve use of intravenous drugs, is not included here.
Carvedilol for Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 26, 1997; (Issue 1010)
Carvedilol (Coreg - SmithKline Beecham and Boehringer-Mannheim), a betaadrenergic and alpha-adrenergic blocker approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension in 1995, but not marketed at that time, has now...
Carvedilol (Coreg - SmithKline Beecham and Boehringer-Mannheim), a betaadrenergic and alpha-adrenergic blocker approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension in 1995, but not marketed at that time, has now been approved and marketed for treatment of mild or moderate (NYHA class II or III) heart failure stabilized on other drugs. It is being promoted as an add-on drug that reduces the morbidity and mortality of the disease.
Drugs for Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 11, 1996; (Issue 985)
Cardiologist now emphasize the importance of neurohormonal as well as hemodynamic factors in the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure (JN Cohn, N Engl J Med, 335:490, August 15, 1996). Drugs that act on...
Cardiologist now emphasize the importance of neurohormonal as well as hemodynamic factors in the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure (JN Cohn, N Engl J Med, 335:490, August 15, 1996). Drugs that act on different mechanisms are commonly used together.
Drugs for Migraine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 3, 1995; (Issue 943)
Drugs are used both to prevent and treat migraine symptoms. The effectiveness of such use can be difficult to evaluate, even with double-blind controlled trials, because migraine is episodic, response to...
Drugs are used both to prevent and treat migraine symptoms. The effectiveness of such use can be difficult to evaluate, even with double-blind controlled trials, because migraine is episodic, response to placebo is frequent, and patients vary in response to a given agent (KMA Welch, N Engl J Med, 329:1476, 1993; SD Silberstein and RB Lipton, Neurology, 44 suppl 7:S6, Oct 1994).
Masoprocol for Multiple Actinic Keratoses
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 15, 1993; (Issue 907)
Masoprocol cream 10% (meso-nordihydroguiaretic acid, Actinex - Reed and Carnrick) is now available in the USA for topical treatment of actinic...
Masoprocol cream 10% (meso-nordihydroguiaretic acid, Actinex - Reed and Carnrick) is now available in the USA for topical treatment of actinic keratoses.
Drugs for Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 14, 1993; (Issue 896)
Chronic heart failure results from an iterplay between hemodynamic and neurohormonal factors (M Packer, Lancet, 340:88, 92, 1992). For patients with heart failure due to left ventricular dysfunction, drugs...
Chronic heart failure results from an iterplay between hemodynamic and neurohormonal factors (M Packer, Lancet, 340:88, 92, 1992). For patients with heart failure due to left ventricular dysfunction, drugs that decrease cardicac preload and afterload and those that increase contractility are commonly used together.
Doxazosin For Treatment of Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 22, 1991; (Issue 838)
Doxazosin (mesylate - Roerig), an alpha1-adrenergic receptor blocker similar to prazosin (Minipress, and others) and terazosin (Hytrin), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for...
Doxazosin (mesylate - Roerig), an alpha1-adrenergic receptor blocker similar to prazosin (Minipress, and others) and terazosin (Hytrin), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of hypertension.
Betaxolol for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 29, 1990; (Issue 821)
Betaxolol (Kerlone - Searle), an oral beta-adrenergic blocker, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for once-daily treatment of hypertension. The new drug is beta 1 (cardio)-selective...
Betaxolol (Kerlone - Searle), an oral beta-adrenergic blocker, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for once-daily treatment of hypertension. The new drug is beta 1 (cardio)-selective with no intrinsic sympathomimetic (partial agonist) activity. It is also available in a topical formulation for treatment of glaucoma (Betoptic - Medical Letter, 28:45, 1986). Beta-blockers currently available in the USA for treatment of hypertension are listed in the table below.
Carteolol and Penbutolol For Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 28, 1989; (Issue 797)
Carteolol (Cartrol - Abbott) and penbutolol (Levatol - Reed & Carnrick), two oral beta-adrenergic blocking drugs, were recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for once-daily treatment of...
Carteolol (Cartrol - Abbott) and penbutolol (Levatol - Reed & Carnrick), two oral beta-adrenergic blocking drugs, were recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for once-daily treatment of systemic hypertension. Both drugs are non-selective beta-blockers with mild partial agonist activity. Beta-blockers currently available in the USA for treatment of hypertension are listed in the table on the next page.
Lisinopril For Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 8, 1988; (Issue 763)
- Merck; Zestril - Stuart), a new angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for once-daily treatment of . Two other ACE inhibitors,...
- Merck; Zestril - Stuart), a new angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for once-daily treatment of . Two other ACE inhibitors, captopril (Capoten - Squibb) and e