Superseded by The Medical Letter "Antiviral Drugs for Influenza" - Issue 1589, January 13, 2020Antiviral drugs can be used for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza. In recent years, the...

The FDA recently approved vandetanib [van det´ a nib] (Caprelsa – AstraZeneca) for oral treatment of symptomatic or progressive medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in patients with...

An FDA advisory committee has voted in favor of approving ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin – Merck) for prevention of major cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease who...

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the addition of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (Tekturna – Novartis) to an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or...

For patients with radicular pain unresponsive to conservative treatment after 1-2 months and no progressive neurologic deficit, epidural corticosteroid injections are often tried before surgical...

Three retrospective studies have recently reported an association between beta-blocker use and a reduction in breast cancer metastasis and recurrence. No prospective, randomized trials have been...

An intranasal formulation of ketorolac tromethamine (Sprix – Lutipold) has been approved by the FDA for short-term (up to 5 days) treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain in...

The FDA has approved aflibercept (a flib’ er sept; Eylea – Regeneron) for treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) have become the standard treatment for erectile dysfunction. Head-to-head comparisons of these...

The FDA has approved crizotinib (Xalkori – Pfizer), an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the...

Nexplanon (Merck), a modified version of the contraceptive implant Implanon (Merck), is now available in the US. Nexplanon contains 68 mg of the progestin etonogestrel and...

The average daily intake of sodium in the US is about 3400 mg. Dietary guidelines recommend reducing it to 50 years old. Salt reduction lowers blood pressure, and lowering blood pressure reduces...

Zolpidem oral spray (Zolpimist – NovaDel/ECR), a new formulation of the oral hypnotic zolpidem tartrate (Ambien, and others), has been approved by the FDA for short-term treatment...

The FDA has approved deferiprone (de fer’ i prone; Ferriprox – ApoPharma), an oral chelating agent available in Europe since 1999, for use as a second-line treatment of iron overload...

A Medical Letter reader asked about the use of the nutritional supplement 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) for treatment of depression. It is sold in health food stores, pharmacies and on-line for many...

The FDA has approved a fixed-dose combination of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) azilsartan and the thiazide-like diuretic chlorthalidone as Edarbyclor (Takeda) for treatment of...

Clobazam (Onfi – Lundbeck), an oral benzodiazepine, has been approved by the FDA for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients ≥2 years...

The FDA has approved glucarpidase (Voraxaze – BTG International) for treatment of toxic plasma methotrexate concentrations (>1 micromole per liter) in patients with delayed methotrexate...

The FDA has approved a new tablet formulation of immediate-release (IR) oxycodone (Oxecta – King) for management of acute and chronic moderate to severe pain.Oxecta uses a...

Citing some recent reports, the FDA has announced changes in the safety labeling of all HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins).

The FDA has approved a once-weekly extendedrelease formulation of exenatide (Bydureon – Amylin), an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, for treatment of type 2...

The FDA has approved the use of nitroglycerin ointment 0.4% (Rectiv – ProStrakan/Aptalis) for treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with chronic anal fissure; the same drug is...

The recent Medical Letter article on vitamin supplements1 included 2 sentences on vitamin E that could be misleading. "Vitamin E in food, which is mostly gamma-tocopherol, acts as an antioxidant....

The FDA has approved a new low-dose sublingual tablet formulation of the benzodiazepine receptor agonist zolpidem tartrate (Intermezzo – Transcept/Purdue) for treatment of insomnia due...

The FDA has approved a new formulation (Exparel – Pacira) of the local anesthetic bupivacaine (Marcaine, and others) for use in the management of postsurgical pain in adults.

The FDA has approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi – Incyte), a janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for treatment of myelofibrosis. Jakafi is the first JAK inhibitor to be approved for...

The FDA has approved ivacaftor (eye va kaf’ tor; Kalydeco – Vertex) for oral treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients ≥6 years old with the G551D mutation, which is found in...

Transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR), a procedure in which a prosthetic valve is inserted into the aortic annulus by a catheter, has been approved by the FDA as an alternative to...

The FDA has approved tafluprost ophthalmic solution (Zioptan – Merck), a prostaglandin analog, for reduction of intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular...

The FDA has approved asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi (Erwinaze – EUSA), an asparagine-specific enzyme derived from the gram-negative bacillus Erwinia chrysanthemi, for...

The FDA has announced that combination hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) containing the synthetic progestin drospirenone (Yaz, Yasmin, Beyaz, Safyral, and others) may be associated with a...

The FDA has approved indacaterol (in´´ da ka´ ter ol; Arcapta Neohaler – Novartis), an inhaled long-acting beta₂-agonist, for once-daily maintenance treatment of airflow...

The FDA has approved ingenol mebutate (Picato – Leo) for topical treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs). The new drug is derived from the sap of the Euphorbia peplus plant, a...

(The Medical Letter 2012; 54:31) In Table 1 on page 31, the formulation column should have included a 0.01% solution of bimatoprost. The size, daily dosage and cost of 0.01% bimatoprost are the same...

Recent reports indicate that intramuscular (IM) injection of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketorolac (Toradol, and others), sometimes directly into injured muscles, has...

Linagliptin (Tradjenta) and metformin (Glucophage, and others) are now available as a fixed-dose combination (Jentadueto – Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly) for oral treatment of...

The FDA has approved a sublingual spray formulation of fentanyl (Subsys – Insys) for management of breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients who are receiving and are tolerant to opioid...

Superseded by The Medical Letter "Drugs for Menopausal Symptoms" - Issue 1507, November 7, 2016The primary symptoms of menopause are vasomotor and genitourinary. Vasomotor symptoms ("hot...

A reader has asked us to review the choice of drugs for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a prothrombotic state with high morbidity and mortality. Three recent publications have made...

Recently published results of a large, carefully conducted retrospective study indicated that use of the antibiotic azithromycin (Zithromax, and others) may increase the risk of...

The FDA has approved the erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) peginesatide (Omontys – Affymax/Takeda), a synthetic peptide analog of erythropoietin, for treatment of anemia in patients...

The FDA has approved the antiprogestin mifepristone (Korlym – Corcept Therapeutics) for control of hyperglycemia secondary to hypercortisolism in adults with endogenous Cushing’s...

Axitinib (Inlyta – Pfizer), an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma after failure of one prior systemic therapy. It...

Long-term use of bisphosphonates for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis has been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw, atypical fractures of the femur, and possibly esophageal cancer....

The intramedullary venous plexus of cancellous bone marrow does not collapse in patients who are dehydrated or in shock. Intraosseous (IO) infusion through an intramedullary cannula has...

Anascorp (Rare Disease Therapeutics), an intravenously administered antivenom derived from horse serum, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of clinical signs of scorpion...

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued a Draft Recommendation Statement saying, in effect, that community-dwelling women and men should not take calcium and vitamin D supplements...

The FDA has approved vismodegib (vis moe deg´ ib; Erivedge – Genentech), the first hedgehog (Hh) pathway inhibitor, for oral treatment of metastatic basal cell cancer, locally advanced...

The FDA has approved florbetapir F18 (flor bay´ ta pir; Amyvid – Lilly), an intravenous radioactive diagnostic agent used with positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to estimate...

Renal sympathetic denervation is under investigation as a therapeutic option for hypertension that has not responded to ≥3 antihypertensive drugs (resistant hypertension).

The FDA has approved taliglucerase alfa (ta lee gloo´ se rays; Elelyso – Pfizer/Protalix), a recombinant form of glucocerebrosidase, for treatment of adults with Type 1 Gaucher disease....

A reader commented that our recent article on treatment of menopausal symptoms (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2012; 54:41) should have mentioned the potential advantages of transdermal estrogen. Transdermal...

The most recent guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and its European counterpart on the choice of antimicrobials for treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract...

Most experts agree that lifestyle modifications and metformin (Glucophage, and others) should be used first to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. If metformin alone fails to control...

Pertuzumab (Perjeta – Roche/Genentech), a humanized monoclonal antibody, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) and docetaxel...

Three recent publications have focused attention once more on the contentious question of whether men should be screened for prostate cancer by measuring serum concentrations of prostate specific...

The FDA has approved the antiparasitic drug ivermectin in a 0.5% lotion (Sklice – Sanofi Pasteur) as a single-use topical treatment for head lice in patients ≥6 months old. Oral...

Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice. Since our last article on this subject, some new data have become available.

Truvada (Gilead), an oral fixed-dose combination of the antiretrovirals emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate frequently used for treatment of HIV infection,1 has now also been...

Several readers have raised questions about the statement in our recent article (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2012; 54:58) that long-acting insulins, like metformin and sulfonylureas, have been shown to...

The FDA has approved ezogabine (ee-ZOE-ga-been; Potiga – GSK/Valeant) for oral adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults. Ezogabine is available in Europe as retigabine...

Prosthetic heart valves have been used effectively in patients with mitral and aortic valvular heart disease for more than 50 years, but no replacement valve developed to date is suitable for all...

A reader suggested that our July 23 article on Drugs for Urinary Tract Infection (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2012; 54:57)¹ should have included information on the cost of the drugs we...

A patch formulation of the non-ergot dopamine agonist rotigotine (Neupro – UCB) has returned to the US market after a 4-year absence. Originally approved by the FDA in 2007 for treatment...

In 2013 the FDA approved one new drug and a new combination of 2 old drugs as adjuncts to lifestyle changes for chronic weight management. Lorcaserin (lor-ca-SER-in; Belviq – Arena/Esai)...

The FDA has asked the manufacturers of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant citalopram (Celexa, and others) to revise the labeling of the drug to include new...

The CDC has reported that many states are experiencing a higher-than-usual incidence of pertussis this year. The highest incidence has been in infants, but the disease has also occurred in older...

Since 2007, antimicrobial prophylaxis for dental procedures has been recommended only for patients at highest risk of severe consequences from infective endocarditis. There is no indication that...

Superseded by The Medical Letter "Insect Repellents" - Issue 1579, August 26, 2019The CDC has received a record number of reports of West Nile virus infection this year – 1993 as...

(Med Lett Drugs Ther 2012; 54:69) On page 71 in the "Drug Interactions" paragraph, the last sentence should read: "Phentermine is contraindicated while taking, and for 14 days after stopping, a...

Superseded by The Medical Letter "Influenza Vaccine for 2019-2020" - Issue 1583, October 21, 2019Annual vaccination against influenza A and B viruses is the most effective method of...

Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of thromboembolic stroke. Anticoagulant therapy can reduce this risk and is recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation and one or more of the...

The CDC is now recommending that everyone in the US born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

The FDA has approved 2 products containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for treatment of patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (>500 mg/dL). Lovaza (formerly...

A new effervescent formulation of alendronate (Binosto – Mission) was recently approved by the FDA for treatment of osteoporosis. The new 70-mg effervescent tablet is considered...

(Med Lett Drugs Ther 2012; 54:74) On page 74 in the "Dental Procedures" paragraph, 6th line, the word "rubber" should have been omitted before the word "bands" because placement of rubber bands does...

The FDA has approved 2 intranasal HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) aerosols of the corticosteroids beclomethasone dipropionate (Qnasl – Teva Respiratory) and ciclesonide (Zetonna –...

The FDA has approved a nasal spray fixed-dose combination (Dymista – Meda) of the H₁-antihistamine azelastine (Astelin, Astepro, and generics) and the corticosteroid...

The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that adults with immunocompromising conditions receive the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13; Prevnar...

The FDA has asked Impax Laboratories/Teva Pharmaceuticals to stop production and distribution of Budeprion XL 300 mg, a generic extended-release formulation of the antidepressant bupropion...

In recent years, several new drugs have been approved by the FDA for use in multiple sclerosis (MS), and many others are in the pipeline. Most recently, teriflunomide (Aubagio – Genzyme)...

Linaclotide (lin´´ a kloe´ tide; Linzess – Ironwood/Forest), a guanylate cyclase-C receptor agonist, was recently approved by the FDA for oral treatment of chronic...

Electronic cigarettes, also called e-cigarettes, are battery-operated nicotine-delivery devices that resemble tobacco cigarettes. They deliver vapor containing a mixture of nicotine and either...

The FDA has approved a delayed-release oral formulation of prednisone (Rayos – Horizon Pharma). Rayos is not labeled for any specific indication, but the only published studies of...

The FDA has approved a fixed-dose combination of the integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) elvitegravir, the pharmacokinetic enhancer cobicistat, and the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse...

Superseded by The Medical Letter "Antiviral Drugs for Influenza" - Issue 1589, January 13, 2020Antiviral drugs can be used as an adjunct to vaccination for prophylaxis and treatment of...

The FDA has approved aclidinium bromide (Tudorza Pressair – Forest), an orally-inhaled long-acting anticholinergic, for long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with...

Only a small minority of patients who say they are allergic to penicillin will have a reaction if they take a penicillin.

The use of intracoronary stents in angioplasty procedures has improved both short- and long-term success rates. In recent years, drug-eluting stents (DESs) have largely replaced bare-metal stents...

The FDA has approved carfilzomib (Kyprolis – Onyx), a proteasome inhibitor, for intravenous treatment of refractory multiple myeloma. Bortezomib (Velcade) was the first proteasome...

The FDA has announced that the single 32-mg IV dose of ondansetron (Zofran, and generics) used for prevention of cancer chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting has been withdrawn from...

View the 2017 Annual Index