Matching articles for "digoxin"
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 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.
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 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
Drugs for Hypothyroidism
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 26, 2015; (Issue 1480)
Primary hypothyroidism is usually the result of
Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroidectomy, or radioactive
iodine therapy. Treatment of hypothyroidism with
replacement doses of thyroid hormone is...
Primary hypothyroidism is usually the result of
Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroidectomy, or radioactive
iodine therapy. Treatment of hypothyroidism with
replacement doses of thyroid hormone is usually
lifelong. Levothyroxine is the drug of choice.
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.
Ivabradine (Corlanor) for Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 25, 2015; (Issue 1469)
The FDA has approved ivabradine (Corlanor – Amgen)
to reduce the risk of hospitalization for worsening heart
failure in adults with stable, symptomatic chronic heart
failure with left ventricular ejection...
The FDA has approved ivabradine (Corlanor – Amgen)
to reduce the risk of hospitalization for worsening heart
failure in adults with stable, symptomatic chronic heart
failure with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%
who are in sinus rhythm with a resting heart rate ≥70
beats per minute and who are on maximum tolerated
doses of beta blockers or have a contraindication
to beta blocker use. Ivabradine has been available
internationally for years as Procoralan and Corlentor
for treatment of stable angina and heart failure.
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 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.
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.
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.
Rufinamide (Banzel) for Epilepsy
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 9, 2009; (Issue 1307)
Rufinamide (Banzel - Eisai), a triazole derivative structurally unrelated to other marketed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), has been approved by the FDA for treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut...
Rufinamide (Banzel - Eisai), a triazole derivative structurally unrelated to other marketed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), has been approved by the FDA for treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients ≥4 years old.
Drugs That May Cause Psychiatric Symptoms
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 15, 2008; (Issue 1301)
Many drugs can cause psychiatric symptoms, but a causal connection is often difficult to establish. Psychiatric symptoms that emerge during drug treatment could also be due to the underlying illness, previously...
Many drugs can cause psychiatric symptoms, but a causal connection is often difficult to establish. Psychiatric symptoms that emerge during drug treatment could also be due to the underlying illness, previously unrecognized psychopathology, or psychosocial factors. The withdrawal of some drugs can cause symptoms such as anxiety, psychosis, delirium, agitation or depression.
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Antifungal Drugs
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 1, 2008; (Issue 65)
The drugs of choice for treatment of some fungal infections are listed in the tables. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA. Other guidelines are available from...
The drugs of choice for treatment of some fungal infections are listed in the tables. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA. Other guidelines are available from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (www.idsociety.org).
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.
Pharmaceutical Drug Overdose
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 1, 2006; (Issue 49)
Every pharmaceutical drug is a dose-dependent poison. This article describes the clinical presentation and treatment of some dangerous overdoses commonly reported in...
Every pharmaceutical drug is a dose-dependent poison. This article describes the clinical presentation and treatment of some dangerous overdoses commonly reported in adults.
Drugs in the Elderly
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 16, 2006; (Issue 1226)
The physiologic changes that occur with aging can affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, increasing the likelihood of adverse...
The physiologic changes that occur with aging can affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, increasing the likelihood of adverse effects.
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.
BiDil for Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 28, 2005; (Issue 1218)
BiDil (NitroMed), a fixed-dose combination of isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine, was approved by the FDA for adjunctive use in the treatment of heart failure in black patients.Both drugs are oral...
BiDil (NitroMed), a fixed-dose combination of isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine, was approved by the FDA for adjunctive use in the treatment of heart failure in black patients.Both drugs are oral vasodilators that have been used together off-label for many years to treat heart failure in patients not responding to other drugs.
Solifenacin and Darifenacin for Overactive Bladder
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 14, 2005; (Issue 1204)
Solifenacin succinate (VESIcare - Yamanouchi and GlaxoSmithKline) and darifenacin hydrobromide (Enablex - Novartis) have been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of overactive...
Solifenacin succinate (VESIcare - Yamanouchi and GlaxoSmithKline) and darifenacin hydrobromide (Enablex - Novartis) have been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of overactive bladder.
Antifungal Drugs
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 1, 2005; (Issue 30)
The drugs of choice for treatment of some fungal infections are listed in the table that begins on page 8. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the...
The drugs of choice for treatment of some fungal infections are listed in the table that begins on page 8. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA.
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.
Trospium (Sanctura): Another Anticholinergic for Overactive Bladder
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 2, 2004; (Issue 1188)
Trospium chloride (Sanctura - Indevus/Odyssey) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency. It has been available...
Trospium chloride (Sanctura - Indevus/Odyssey) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency. It has been available in Europe for many years.
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 That May Cause Psychiatric Symptoms
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 8, 2002; (Issue 1134)
Many drugs can cause psychiatric symptoms, but a causal connection is often difficult to establish. Psychiatric symptoms that emerge during drug treatment may also be due to the underlying illness, previously...
Many drugs can cause psychiatric symptoms, but a causal connection is often difficult to establish. Psychiatric symptoms that emerge during drug treatment may also be due to the underlying illness, previously unrecognized psychopathology, or psychosocial factors. The withdrawal of some drugs can cause symptoms such as anxiety, psychosis, delirium, agitation or depression.
Drugs that may cause Cognitive Disorders in the Elderly
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 27, 2000; (Issue 1093)
Older patients are especially susceptible to drug-induced cognitive impairment. They are more likely to be taking multiple drugs, to have higher blood levels of those drugs because of renal or hepatic...
Older patients are especially susceptible to drug-induced cognitive impairment. They are more likely to be taking multiple drugs, to have higher blood levels of those drugs because of renal or hepatic dysfunction, and to have pre-existing cognitive problems that make it difficult to detect the role of drugs causing new symptoms or making old ones worse.
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.
Rivastigmine (Exelon) For Alzheimer's Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 2, 2000; (Issue 1089)
Rivastigmine tartrate (Exelon - Novartis), a carbamate-based cholinesterase inhibitor, is now being marketed for treatment of patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's...
Rivastigmine tartrate (Exelon - Novartis), a carbamate-based cholinesterase inhibitor, is now being marketed for treatment of patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.
Drug Interactions with St. John's Wort
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 26, 2000; (Issue 1081)
Even though its effectiveness has not been established, many patients take St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), an over-the-counter herbal extract, to treat symptoms of depression, often without the...
Even though its effectiveness has not been established, many patients take St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), an over-the-counter herbal extract, to treat symptoms of depression, often without the knowledge of their physicians. Recent reports indicate that St. John's wort interacts adversely with a number of drugs.
Meloxicam (Mobic) for Osteoarthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 29, 2000; (Issue 1079)
Meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with some cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selectivity in vitro, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of...
Meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with some cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selectivity in vitro, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of osteoarthritis.
Dofetilide for Atrial Fibrillation
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 15, 2000; (Issue 1078)
Dofetilide (Tikosyn - Pfizer), a new methanesulfonamide antiarrhythmic drug, has recently been marketed for oral treatment of atrial fibrillation and...
Dofetilide (Tikosyn - Pfizer), a new methanesulfonamide antiarrhythmic drug, has recently been marketed for oral treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter.
Rabeprazole
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 19, 1999; (Issue 1066)
Rabeprazole, a benzimidazole proton pump inhibitor similar to omeprazole and lansoprazole, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of duodenal ulcers, healing and maintenance treatment of erosive or...
Rabeprazole, a benzimidazole proton pump inhibitor similar to omeprazole and lansoprazole, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of duodenal ulcers, healing and maintenance treatment of erosive or ulcerative gastroesophageal reflux disease, and for long-term treatment of chronic hypersecretory conditions, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
A New Ace Inhibitor and Two New Angiotensin Receptor Blockers For Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 5, 1999; (Issue 1065)
Perindopril, the tenth angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to be marketed in the USA, and telmisartan and eprosartan, the fifth and sixth angiotensin receptor blockers, have recently become available...
Perindopril, the tenth angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to be marketed in the USA, and telmisartan and eprosartan, the fifth and sixth angiotensin receptor blockers, have recently become available for treatment of hypertension.
Spironolactone for Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 10, 1999; (Issue 1061)
Spironolactone, an aldosterone receptor antagonist, has been FDA-approved for many years for treatment of edema, hypertension and primary hyperaldosteronism. Recently, it was reported to improve morbidity and...
Spironolactone, an aldosterone receptor antagonist, has been FDA-approved for many years for treatment of edema, hypertension and primary hyperaldosteronism. Recently, it was reported to improve morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure.
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.
Generic drugs
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 21, 1999; (Issue 1053)
When patents expire on brand-name drugs, generic formulations become available that often cost much less. Some physicians, however, hesitate to prescribe the less expensive drug because of concerns about the...
When patents expire on brand-name drugs, generic formulations become available that often cost much less. Some physicians, however, hesitate to prescribe the less expensive drug because of concerns about the quality of generic formulations.
Drugs for Chronic Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 29, 1999; (Issue 1045)
...
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.'
Candesartan for Hypertension
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 20, 1998; (Issue 1040)
Candesartan cilexetil (Atacand - Astra) is the fourth angiotensin II receptor antagonist to become available in the USA for oral treatment of...
Candesartan cilexetil (Atacand - Astra) is the fourth angiotensin II receptor antagonist to become available in the USA for oral treatment of hypertension.
Trovafloxacin
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 13, 1998; (Issue 1022)
Trovafloxacin (Trovan - Pfizer) and its prodrug alatrofoxacin (Trovan IV) are new fluroroquinolones marketed for an unusually wide variety of infections, including oral and intravenous treatment of nosocomial...
Trovafloxacin (Trovan - Pfizer) and its prodrug alatrofoxacin (Trovan IV) are new fluroroquinolones marketed for an unusually wide variety of infections, including oral and intravenous treatment of nosocomial and community-acquired pneumonia, acute ecerbations of chronic bronchitis, acute sinusitis, complicate intra-abdominal and pelvic infections, diabetic foot infection, uncomplicated urinary tract infection, prostatitis, cervicitis and uncomplicated gonorrhea.
Cerivastatin for Hypercholesterolemia
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 16, 1998; (Issue 1018)
Cerivastatin (Baycol - Bayer), a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (or "statin"), has been approved by the FDA for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Cerivastatin is the sodium salt of a synthetic fluorophenyl...
Cerivastatin (Baycol - Bayer), a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (or "statin"), has been approved by the FDA for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Cerivastatin is the sodium salt of a synthetic fluorophenyl pyridinyl-substituted heptanoic acid.
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.
Systemic Antifungal Drugs
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 12, 1997; (Issue 1009)
The drugs of choice for treatment of deep fungal infections are listed in the table below. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the...
The drugs of choice for treatment of deep fungal infections are listed in the table below. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA.
Donepezil (Aricept) for Alzheimer's Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 6, 1997; (Issue 1002)
Donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept - Eisai), a piperidine-based acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, is now being marketed for oral treatment of cognitive symptoms in patients with mild to moderate dementia due to...
Donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept - Eisai), a piperidine-based acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, is now being marketed for oral treatment of cognitive symptoms in patients with mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil is the second drug approved for this indication; tacrine hydrochloride (Cognex), also an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has been available in the USA for four years (Medical Letter, 35:87, 1993).
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.
Terbinafine for Onychomycosis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 16, 1996; (Issue 981)
Terbinafine (Lamisil - Sandoz), an allylamine synthetic antifungal, previously available in the USA in a topical formulation (Medical Letter, 35:76, 1993) has now been marketed for oral use in the treatment...
Terbinafine (Lamisil - Sandoz), an allylamine synthetic antifungal, previously available in the USA in a topical formulation (Medical Letter, 35:76, 1993) has now been marketed for oral use in the treatment of fungal nail infections caused by dermatophytes. Oral terbinafine has been available in Europe since 1992.
Systemic Antifungal Drugs
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 2, 1996; (Issue 967)
The drugs of choice for treatment of deep fungal infections are listed in the table on page 101. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the US Food and Drug...
The drugs of choice for treatment of deep fungal infections are listed in the table on page 101. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. More detailed guidelines are available from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (J Sobel et al, Clin Infect Dis, volume 30, April 2000).
Itraconazole for Onychomycosis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 19, 1996; (Issue 966)
Itraconazole (Sporanox - Janssen), an oral antifungal triazole that has been available in the USA since 1992 for treatment of deep fungal infections (Medical Letter, 35:7, 1993), is now being marketed for...
Itraconazole (Sporanox - Janssen), an oral antifungal triazole that has been available in the USA since 1992 for treatment of deep fungal infections (Medical Letter, 35:7, 1993), is now being marketed for treatment of dermatophyte infections of the toenails, with or without fingernail involvement.
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.
Paroxetine for Treatment of Depression
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 19, 1993; (Issue 892)
Paroxetine (Paxil - SmithKline Beecham), a new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is now available in the USA. Two other SSRIs, fluoxetine (Prozac - Medical Letter, 30:45, 1988; 32:83, 1990) and...
Paroxetine (Paxil - SmithKline Beecham), a new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is now available in the USA. Two other SSRIs, fluoxetine (Prozac - Medical Letter, 30:45, 1988; 32:83, 1990) and sertraline (Zoloft - Medical Letter, 34:47, 1992), were approved previously.
Itraconazole
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 22, 1993; (Issue 888)
Itraconazole (Sporanox - Janssen), an antifungal triazole, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral treatment of histoplasmosis and blastomycosis. These two endemic mycoses...
Itraconazole (Sporanox - Janssen), an antifungal triazole, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral treatment of histoplasmosis and blastomycosis. These two endemic mycoses occur both in normal hosts and in immunocompromised patients, such as those with AIDS (RW Bradsher, Clin Infect Dis, 14:S82, 1992; LJ Wheat, Clin Infect Dis, 14:S91, 1992).
Flecainide for Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 24, 1992; (Issue 875)
Flecainide (Tambocor -3M Pharmaceuticals), first introduced in 1985 for treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral use to prevent...
Flecainide (Tambocor -3M Pharmaceuticals), first introduced in 1985 for treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral use to prevent supraventricular arrhythmias. The indications for using flecainide to treat ventricular arrhythmias were limited after a controlled trial found that post-myocardial infarction patients with asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias who took the drug had twice as high a mortality rate as patients who took placebo (DS Echt et al, N Engl Med, 324:781, 1991).
Drugs For Treatment of Peptic Ulcers
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 29, 1991; (Issue 858)
Drugs that accelerate healing and prevent relapse or reurrence of peptic ulcers act either by decreasing gastric acidity or by enhancing mucosal defense mechanisms. Risk factors that may cause breakdown of...
Drugs that accelerate healing and prevent relapse or reurrence of peptic ulcers act either by decreasing gastric acidity or by enhancing mucosal defense mechanisms. Risk factors that may cause breakdown of mucosal defenses include the use of aspirinor other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacterial in the gastric antrum (AH Soll, Engl J Med, 322:909, 1990; WL Peterson, N Engl J Med, 324:1043, 1991).
Olsalazine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 16, 1990; (Issue 831)
Olsalazine sodium (Dipentum - Pharmacia), a dimer (two molecules linked by an azo bond) of 5-aminosalicylic acid, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral use to maintain...
Olsalazine sodium (Dipentum - Pharmacia), a dimer (two molecules linked by an azo bond) of 5-aminosalicylic acid, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral use to maintain remission of ulcerative colitis in adult patients who cannot tolerate sulfasalazine (Azulfidine; and others).
Moricizine for Cardiac Arrhythmias
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 2, 1990; (Issue 830)
Moricizine (mor i'; siz een) hydrochloride (Ethmozine - Du Pont), a class I antiarrhythmic drug developed in the USSR, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral treatment of...
Moricizine (mor i'; siz een) hydrochloride (Ethmozine - Du Pont), a class I antiarrhythmic drug developed in the USSR, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
Adenosine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 29, 1990; (Issue 821)
Adenosine (Adenocard - Fujisawa), an endogenous purine nucleoside, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for intravenous treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, including...
Adenosine (Adenocard - Fujisawa), an endogenous purine nucleoside, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for intravenous treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, including Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Adenosine is not approved for and has not been effective in treating atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, or ventricular tachycardias.
Propafenone for Cardiac Arrhythmia
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 20, 1990; (Issue 816)
Propafenone (Rythmol - Knoll), a class IC antiarrhythmic drug used in Europe for treatment of various arrhythmias for more than 10 years, was recently marketed in the USA for oral treatment of...
Propafenone (Rythmol - Knoll), a class IC antiarrhythmic drug used in Europe for treatment of various arrhythmias for more than 10 years, was recently marketed in the USA for oral treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias such as sustained ventricular tachycardia. This restrictive labeling reflects concerns arising from the interim report of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial, in which post-myocardial infarction patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias treated with the class IC antiarrhythmic drugs encainide (Enkaid) or flecainide (Tambocor) had a higher mortality rate than patients taking placebo (CAST, N Engl J Med, 321:406, 1989).
ACE Inhibitors for Congestive Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 21, 1988; (Issue 777)
The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors captopril (Capoten - Squibb) and enalapril (Vasotec - Merck) are now widely used to treat chronic congestive heart failure that has not responded adequately...
The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors captopril (Capoten - Squibb) and enalapril (Vasotec - Merck) are now widely used to treat chronic congestive heart failure that has not responded adequately to digitalis and diuretics (Medical Letter, 30:13, Jan 29, 1988). Recently, some cardiologists have debated whether ACE inhibitors should also be used as first-line agents for treatment of this condition (WW Parmley et al, J Am Coll Cardiol, 12:265, July 1988).