1
In Brief: Alternatives to Adderall
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 28, 2022; (Issue 1664)
The short-acting formulation of mixed amphetamine
salts (Adderall, and generics) FDA-approved for
treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) and narcolepsy, is currently in short supply in
the US. Until an adequate supply is restored, patients
may be looking for alternatives.
2
In Brief: GI Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 27, 2023; (Issue 1690)
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and
the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide
(GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are widely prescribed for treatment of type 2 diabetes
and weight management (see Table 1), but they delay
gastric emptying and commonly cause nausea and
vomiting. Gastroparesis and bowel obstruction (ileus)
have also been reported with their use.
3
Antiviral Drugs for Influenza for 2023-2024
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 13, 2023; (Issue 1689)
Influenza is generally a self-limited illness, but
pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death can
occur, especially in patients at increased risk for
influenza complications (see Table 1). Antiviral drugs
recommended for treatment and chemoprophylaxis
of influenza for the 2023-2024 season are listed in
Table 2. Updated information on influenza activity
and antiviral resistance is available from the CDC at
www.cdc.gov/flu.
4
In Brief: Empagliflozin (Jardiance) for Chronic Kidney Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 13, 2023; (Issue 1689)
The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor
empagliflozin (Jardiance – Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly) is now FDA-approved to reduce the risk of
sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease,
cardiovascular death, and hospitalization in adults with
chronic kidney disease (CKD) at risk of progression.
It is also approved to improve glycemic control in
patients ≥10 years old with type 2 diabetes, to reduce
the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization
for heart failure (HF) in adults with HF, and to reduce
the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2
diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.
5
Addendum
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 27, 2023; (Issue 1690)
In the printed version of our article entitled Antiviral Drugs
for Influenza for 2023-2024 in issue 1689 (Med Lett Drugs
Ther 2023; 65:177), the clinical studies section should
have included a meta-analysis of 15 randomized trials
in 6295 outpatient adolescents and adults with influenza
that found that use of oseltamivir did not reduce the risk
of hospitalization in the overall population or in those ≥65
years old compared to placebo or standard of care. It has
been added in the online version of the article.
6
COVID-19 Update: New Novavax Vaccine Formulation for 2023-2024
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 13, 2023; (Issue 1689)
A new 2023-2024 formulation of the adjuvanted
protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by
Novavax that was developed to more closely target
currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants has been
made available in the US under an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in persons ≥12
years old. The original formulation of the Novavax
vaccine is no longer authorized for use in the US.
In September, updated formulations of the mRNA
COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna (Spikevax) were
licensed by the FDA for use in persons ≥12 years old
and made available under EUAs for use in persons
6 months to 11 years old.
7
Ritlecitinib (Litfulo) for Severe Alopecia Areata
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 27, 2023; (Issue 1690)
The FDA has approved ritlecitinib (Litfulo – Pfizer), an
oral JAK and TEC kinase family inhibitor, for treatment
of severe alopecia areata in patients ≥12 years old.
Ritlecitinib is the second oral drug to be approved
in the US for treatment of severe alopecia areata;
baricitinib (Olumiant), a JAK inhibitor, is approved
only for use in adults.
8
Comparison Chart: Antiviral Drugs for Influenza for 2023-2024 (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 13, 2023; (Issue 1689)
View the Comparison Chart: Antiviral Drugs for Influenza for 2023-2024
9
Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 27, 2023; (Issue 1690)
Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy
similar to that used to fragment kidney stones or
gallstones is a new option for treatment of erectile
dysfunction that is now being advertised extensively
in the US. It has not been approved by the FDA for
treatment of erectile dysfunction.
10
Etrasimod (Velsipity) for Ulcerative Colitis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 27, 2023; (Issue 1690)
The oral sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor
modulator etrasimod (Velsipity – Pfizer) has been
approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to
severely active ulcerative colitis in adults. It is the
second oral S1P receptor modulator to be approved
in the US for this indication; ozanimod (Zeposia) was
the first.