Most Read Articles
1
In Brief: Two COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 3, 2020 (Issue 5022)
The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products
Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will review two
requests for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of
COVID-19 vaccine candidates this month. They will
review Pfizer and BioNTech's request on December
10 and Moderna's request on December 17. Both
meetings will be webcast from the FDA's website and
streamed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
2
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 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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3
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 interactions, such as vasodilation caused by both sildenafil (Viagra) and nitrates, can also have adverse effects.
4
An EUA for Bamlanivimab - A Monoclonal Antibody for COVID-19
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 30, 2020 (Issue 1612)
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 moderate COVID-19 in patients who are ≥12
years old, weigh at least 40 kg, and are at high
risk for progressing to severe disease and/or
hospitalization (see Table 1).
5
Adult Immunization
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 7, 2018 (Issue 1546)
The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) recommends routine use of the following
vaccines in adults residing in the US: influenza, tetanus/diphtheria alone (Td) and in combination with acellular
pertussis (Tdap), measles/mumps/rubella (MMR),
varicella (VAR), herpes zoster (RZV; ZVL), human
papillomavirus (HPV), and pneumococcal conjugate
(PCV13) and polysaccharide (PPSV23) vaccines. For
adults with certain medical conditions or occupational,
behavioral, or other risk factors, hepatitis A (HepA),
hepatitis B (HepB), meningococcal (MenACWY; MenB),
and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines are
also recommended. Recommendations for vaccination
against seasonal influenza and vaccination of travelers
are reviewed separately.
6
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 unrecognized psychopathology, or psychosocial factors. The withdrawal of some drugs can cause symptoms such as anxiety, psychosis, delirium, agitation or depression.
7
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 updated.
8
Drug Interaction: Clopidogrel and PPIs
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 27, 2017 (Issue 1515)
The antiplatelet drug clopidogrel (Plavix, and others)
reduces major cardiovascular events, but can cause
bleeding. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often
used with clopidogrel to prevent gastrointestinal
bleeding, however, some evidence suggests that PPIs
may interfere with the activation of clopidogrel and
diminish its antiplatelet effect. FDA-approved labeling
recommends avoiding concurrent use of the PPIs
omeprazole and esomeprazole with clopidogrel.
9
Comparison Table: Some Parenteral Anticoagulants for VTE (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 12, 2018 (Issue 1542)
View the Comparison Table: Some Parenteral Anticoagulants for VTE
10
Prescription Drug Prices in the US
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 22, 2017 (Issue 1521)
Per capita spending on prescription drugs in the US is
higher than in other industrialized nations, including
Canada.