Chromium is marketed as a dietary supplement, usually containing 20-500 mcg of a chromium salt. It has been promoted for weight loss, muscle building, and for prevention and treatment of diabetes, among other claims. As a dietary supplement, chromium can be sold without proof of efficacy or safety.

The FDA has approved ticagrelor (Brilinta – AstraZeneca), an oral antiplatelet drug, for use with low-dose aspirin to reduce the rate of thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It will compete with clopidogrel (Plavix) and prasugrel (Effient) for such use. Clopidogrel is expected to become available generically in the US within the next few months.

The FDA has approved dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera – Biogen Idec), formerly called BG-12, for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). It is the third oral drug to be approved in recent years for this indication.

View the Comparison Table: H2-Receptor Antagonists and PPIs

Methadone, an opioid agonist that can be taken orally, has been used for maintenance treatment for many years in the USA (DM Novick et al, Drug Alcohol Depend, 33:235, 1993). Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the distribution and use of L-alpha-acetyl-methadol (LAAM; ORLAAM - Bio Development Corporation, McLean, VA), a long-acting congener of methadone. LAAM, like methadone, will be available for this indication only through federal and state-regulated treatment programs.

The FDA has approved the use of subcutaneous injections of deoxycholic acid (Kybella – Kythera/Allergan) to improve the appearance of moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat (double chin) in adults. It is the first drug approved for this indication.

Estazolam (ProSom - Abbott), a triazolobenzodiazepine derivative similar in structure to alprazolam (Xanax) and triazolam (Halcion), was recently marketed in the USA for treatment of insomnia.

Dolasetron (Anzemet - Hoechst Marion Roussel), a selective serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist similar to ondansetron (Zofran) and granisetron (Kytril - Medical Letter, 36:61, 1994) is now available for both oral and intravenous use in prevention of nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy. A 5-HT3 antagonist plus dexamethasone (Decadron, and others) is the most effective regimen for prevention of acute vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. Dolasetron has also been approved by the FDA for prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and...

The FDA has approved glucarpidase (Voraxaze – BTG International) for treatment of toxic plasma methotrexate concentrations (>1 micromole per liter) in patients with delayed methotrexate clearance due to impaired renal function. Glucarpidase has been available in the US since 2007 under a compassionate use open-label treatment protocol (Clinical Trials and Consulting Services, 1-877-398-9829), which will remain in effect until the drug becomes commercially available later this year. There is currently a shortage of IV methotrexate in the US.

Dichlorphenamide (Keveyis – Taro), an oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of primary hypokalemic and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis and related variants. Dichlorphenamide is the first drug to be approved in the US for this indication. It was approved as Daranide in 1958 for treatment of glaucoma, but had not been marketed since 2002.