Several injectable products are available for soft tissue augmentation of wrinkles and folds. These fillers are often used in conjunction with botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections.

The FDA has approved subcutaneous injection of methylnaltrexone (Relistor - Wyeth/Progenics), a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist, for treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced illness (such as incurable cancer or end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) who are receiving palliative care.

The FDA has approved an extended-release orally disintegrating tablet formulation of methylphenidate (Cotempla XR-ODT – Neos Therapeutics) for once-daily treatment of attention-defi cit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children 6-17 years old. Cotempla XR-ODT is the first extended-release orally disintegrating tablet formulation of methylphenidate to become available in the US.

The FDA has approved cyclosporine 0.09% ophthalmic solution (Cequa – Sun) to increase tear production in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye disease). Restasis, a 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion, was approved in the US in 2003 for the same indication.

Fezolinetant (Veozah – Astellas), a first-in-class neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause. It is the second nonhormonal treatment to be approved in the US for this indication; a low-dose formulation of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine mesylate (Brisdelle) was approved in 2013.

The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi/Regeneron) for treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in adults who had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or cannot tolerate a corticosteroid taper. Sarilumab is the first biologic drug to be approved for treatment of PMR; it was previously approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) is the most common infectious cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea in adults. Guidelines on management of CDI have recently been updated.

Disodium pamidronate (Aredia - Ciba-Geigy), an aminohydroxypropilidene bisphosphonate, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for intravenous (IV) treatment of hypercalcemia associated with malignancy, with or without bone metastases. The drug is also being investigated for use in Paget's disease of bone, hyperparathyroidism, and postmenopausal osteoporosis. An oral formulation of pamidronate has been used in Europe, but is not available in the USA.

Tretinoin (tret' i noyn; all-trans-retinoic acid; Retin-A), a derivative of vitamin A, has been used for years for topical treatment of acne. More recently, it has also been used to improve the appearance of skin damaged by chronic exposure to the sun, although not approved for this indication by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Sirolimus, whlch is structurally related to tacrolimus, has been approved by the FDA for prevention of acute renal transplant rejection. The manufacturer recommends that sirolimus be taken with cyclosporine and corticosteroids.