Superseded by The Medical Letter "Antiviral Drugs for Influenza for 2020-2021" - Issue 1610, November 2, 2020Influenza is generally a self-limited illness, but pneumonia, respiratory...

The FDA has approved Trikafta (Vertex), a fixed-dose combination of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor, for...

Recently updated guidelines from the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) address the use of corticosteroids as an adjunct to antimicrobials...

Superseded by The Medical Letter "Comparison Chart: Antiviral Drugs for Influenza (online only)" - Issue 1610, November 2, 2020View the Expanded Table: Antiviral Drugs for Influenza

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that has been diagnosed in up to 10% of school-age children in the US and frequently persists into...

The FDA has approved tafamidis, an oral transthyretin stabilizer, in 2 different formulations (see Table 1) for treatment of adults with transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)....

Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa – Amarin), the ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has been approved by the FDA for use as an adjunct to maximally tolerated statin therapy to reduce the...

The FDA has approved a progestin-only oral contraceptive ("minipill") containing drospirenone (Slynd – Exeltis). All other progestin-only oral contraceptives available in the US...

The FDA has approved istradefylline (Nourianz — Kyowa Kirin), an oral adenosine A_2A receptor antagonist, for use as an adjunct to carbidopa/levodopa in adults with Parkinson's...

Brolucizumab-dbll (Beovu — Novartis), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA as an intravitreal injection for treatment of neovascular (wet)...

Complete remission of symptoms is the goal of treatment for major depressive disorder; a partial response is associated with an increased risk of relapse. Improvement in symptoms can occur...

The FDA has approved peanut allergen powder-dnfp (Palforzia – Aimmune) for use as oral immunotherapy to mitigate allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, caused by accidental peanut...

Lasmiditan (Reyvow – Lilly), an oral serotonin (5-HT_1F) receptor agonist, and ubrogepant (Ubrelvy – Allergan), an oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor...

Consensi (Coeptis/Burke), a fixed-dose combination of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Norvasc, and others) and the COX-2 selective NSAID celecoxib (Celebrex, and...

We reviewed brolucizumab (Beovu – Novartis) for treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration in our February 10 issue. On February 23, the American Society of Retina...

Opioids delay gastric emptying and the absorption of many oral drugs, including the P2Y₁₂ inhibitors clopidogrel (Plavix, and generics), prasugrel (Effient, and generics),...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, often accompanied by bloating.IBS is classified according to the...

View the Table: Safety of Drugs for IBS in Pregnancy and Lactation

In our article on Slynd (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2020; 62:18), the drospirenone-only oral contraceptive, we mentioned that drospirenone has antiandrogenic activity that could improve acne and...

The severity and rapid spread of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) have raised questions about the use of some drugs in patients with the disease and whether currently available drugs could be...

The FDA has approved two new drugs for sickle cell disease: crizanlizumab-tmca (Adakveo – Novartis), an IV P-selectin blocker, and voxelotor (Oxbryta – GBT), an oral hemoglobin...

The FDA has approved the oral adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor bempedoic acid for use alone (Nexletol – Esperion) and in a fixed-dose combination with the cholesterol...

Quzyttir (TerSera), an IV formulation of the second-generation H₁-antihistamine cetirizine, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of acute urticaria in patients ≥6...

View the Table: Treatments Considered for COVID-19

Many different drugs are used for treatment of osteoarthritis pain, but none of them prevent progression of the disease. Nonpharmacologic approaches including weight management, exercise, tai...

The FDA has approved nasal spray formulations of the benzodiazepines diazepam (Valtoco — Neurelis) and midazolam (Nayzilam — UCB) for acute treatment of intermittent episodes of...

The FDA is requiring stronger warnings in the labeling of the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast (Singulair, and generics) about the risk of suicidal behavior and other serious...

The FDA has approved cefiderocol (Fetroja – Shionogi), a new IV cephalosporin antibiotic, for treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by susceptible gram-negative...

The FDA has approved a 4% aerosol foam formulation of minocycline (Amzeeq – Foamix) for topical treatment of inflammatory lesions of non-nodular moderate to severe acne in patients ≥9...

The FDA has approved an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) formulation of rimegepant (Nurtec ODT – Biohaven), a small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist...

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...

The FDA has required new warnings in the labels of gabapentin (Neurontin, and others) and pregabalin (Lyrica, Lyrica CR, and generics) about the risk of life-threatening...

A 0.24% ophthalmic solution of the second-generation H₁-antihistamine cetirizine (Zerviate – Eyevance) is now available by prescription for treatment of ocular...

The FDA has approved a fixed-dose combination of omeprazole, amoxicillin, and rifabutin (Talicia – RedHill) for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in adults....

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...

The FDA has approved Trijardy XR (Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly), a fixed-dose combination of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin, the dipeptidyl peptidase-4...

Atopic dermatitis (AD; also known as eczema) is frequently associated with other atopic disorders such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and food allergy. It commonly presents in infancy and early...

The FDA has approved lemborexant (Dayvigo – Eisai), an orexin receptor antagonist, for treatment of sleep-onset and/or sleep-maintenance insomnia in adults. It is the second orexin...

The FDA has approved Anjeso (Baudax Bio), an IV formulation of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam, for once-daily treatment of moderate to severe pain in adults....

The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin (Farxiga), which was initially approved by the FDA for treatment of type 2 diabetes and then to reduce the risk of...

Over-the-counter products containing melatonin are widely used as sleep aids in children and adults.

US guidelines recommend pharmacologic therapy for postmenopausal women with a bone density T-score (standard deviation from normal mean values in healthy young women) of -2.5 or below in the...

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

The FDA has approved lumateperone (Caplyta — Intracellular Therapies), an oral second-generation antipsychotic, for once-daily treatment of schizophrenia in adults. It is the 13th...

The FDA has approved an intracameral implant containing the prostaglandin analog bimatoprost (Durysta – Allergan) for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle...

Healthcare providers are often asked if drugs can be used past their expiration date. Because of legal restrictions and liability concerns, manufacturers do not sanction such use and usually do...

Golodirsen (Vyondys 53 — Sarepta), an antisense oligonucleotide, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in the ~8% of patients...

Artesunate for injection (Amivas LLC), a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative, is now approved by the FDA for initial (induction) treatment of severe malaria in children and adults. It has been...

The primary symptoms of menopause are genitourinary (genitourinary syndrome of menopause; GSM) and vasomotor (VMS). Vulvovaginal atrophy can cause vaginal burning, irritation and dryness,...

The FDA has approved Phexxi (Evofem), a nonhormonal prescription-only vaginal gel containing lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate, for prevention of pregnancy. The gel is...

The FDA has approved ozanimod (Zeposia – Celgene), a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, for treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including...

The FDA has approved cenobamate (Xcopri – SK Life Science) for oral treatment of partial-onset (focal) seizures in adults.

The main goals of treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are to relieve symptoms, reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations, and prevent disease progression. Several...

View the Comparison Table: Inhaled Short-Acting Bronchodilators for Treatment of COPD

View the Comparison Table: Inhaled Long-Acting Bronchodilators for Treatment of COPD

View the Comparison Table: Inhaled Corticosteroids for Treatment of COPD

View the Table: Correct Use of Inhalers for COPD

Superseded by The Medical Letter "Influenza Vaccine for 2021-2022" - Issue 1634, October 4, 2021Annual vaccination against influenza A and B viruses is recommended for everyone ≥6 months...

Esketamine (Spravato – Janssen), an intranasal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that was previously approved by the FDA for treatmentresistant depression,1 has now been...

The FDA has removed a boxed warning from the labeling of products containing the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet...

View the Inhibitors and Inducers of CYP Enzymes and P-Glycoprotein tables

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...

Remdesivir (Veklury – Gilead), an investigational antiviral drug administered by IV infusion, is now available through an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for treatment of COVID-19...

The FDA has approved insulin lispro-aabc (Lyumjev – Lilly), a faster-acting formulation of insulin lispro (Humalog), for treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults....

Caplacizumab-yhdp (Cablivi – Sanofi /Genzyme), a von Willebrand factor-directed antibody fragment, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with plasma exchange and...

The FDA has approved a sublingual fi lm formulation of the nonergot dopamine agonist apomorphine (Kynmobi – Sunovion) for acute, intermittent treatment of "off" episodes in patients with...

The antisense oligonucleotide viltolarsen (Viltepso – NS Pharma) has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients who have...

The FDA has approved two additional doses (3 mg and 4.5 mg) of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist dulaglutide (Trulicity – Lilly) for treatment of type 2 diabetes in...

Influenza is generally a self-limited illness, but complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death can occur, especially in patients at increased risk for influenza complications...

The short-acting beta₂-agonist albuterol sulfate has recently become available as a large-volume (20 mL), preservative-free concentrate (albuterol inhalation solution 0.5% – Nephron...

The FDA now requires boxed warnings in the package inserts of benzodiazepines describing the potential for these drugs to be abused and misused and to cause addiction and physical dependence....

The FDA has required a new warning in the labels of prescription and over-the-counter products containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) advising against their use during pregnancy...

An oral extended-release formulation of the corticosteroid budesonide (Ortikos – Ferring) is now available for once-daily treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn's disease of the...

View the Comparison Chart: Antiviral Drugs for Influenza

The FDA has required the addition of information about an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma [BCC] and squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]) to the labels of products...

In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin (Jardiance – Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly) reduced the composite risk of...

The FDA has approved a 1.5% topical foam formulation of minocycline (Zilxi – Foamix) for treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea in adults. It is the only topical minocycline...

A fixed-dose combination of orphenadrine citrate, aspirin, and caffeine (Orphengesic Forte – Galt; previously available as Norgesic Forte) has been approved as a prescription drug...

The FDA has approved two new drugs for treatment of previously-treated unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer: fam-trastuzumab...

View the Comparison Chart: SGLT2 Inhibitors

The investigational neutralizing IgG1 monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555; Lilly) has been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for treatment of recently diagnosed mild to...

The FDA has approved the antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury – Gilead) for IV treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients who are ≥12 years old and weigh ≥40 kg. Hospitalized...

Acne is common among adolescents and young adults, but its prevalence appears to have increased in people of all ages due to prolonged wearing of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidelines...

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued new recommendations for meningococcal vaccination. Booster vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) is now...

The goal of asthma treatment is to control symptoms, prevent exacerbations, and maintain normal lung function. Management of acute exacerbations of asthma in the emergency department is...

View the table: Some Inhaled Drugs for Treatment of Asthma

View the table: Correct Use of Inhalers for Asthma

The FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Regeneron's investigational monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab (REGEN-COV) to be administered together by IV...

The oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor baricitinib (Olumiant – Lilly) has been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for treatment of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in...

The FDA has approved a subcutaneous formulation of the recombinant human anti-CD20 antibody ofatumumab (Kesimpta – Novartis) for treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple...

The FDA has approved IV amisulpride (Barhemsys – Acacia), a selective dopamine-2 and -3 (D₂/D₃) receptor antagonist, for prevention and treatment of...

The oral kinase inhibitor pemigatinib (Pemazyre – Incyte) has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced or...

View the 2020 Annual Index