Primary hypothyroidism is usually the result of Hashimoto's (autoimmune) thyroiditis, thyroidectomy, or radioactive iodine therapy. Treatment of hypothyroidism with replacement doses of thyroid hormone is usually lifelong. Levothyroxine (LT4; synthetic thyroxine; Synthroid, and others) is the drug of choice.1

Patients who receive pretravel advice can reduce their risk for many travel-related conditions. Vaccines recommended for travelers are reviewed in a separate issue.

View the Comparison Table: Drugs for Parkinson's Disease

Oral antipsychotic drugs used for treatment of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, and other manifestations of psychosis or mania are listed in Table 1. Parenteral antipsychotic drugs used for treatment of these disorders are listed in Table 2.

The primary symptoms of menopause are genitourinary and vasomotor. The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) includes symptoms such as burning, irritation, dryness, dyspareunia, dysuria, and recurrent urinary tract infection. Vasomotor symptoms (VMS; hot flashes, night sweats) often disrupt sleep.

The choice of drugs for treatment of pneumonia depends on the most likely pathogens causing the infection and local antimicrobial resistance patterns. Factors such as severity of illness, presence of co-morbid conditions and whether the infection is community or hospital-acquired also need to be considered.

Smoking tobacco remains the primary preventable cause of death in the US. Smoking cessation often requires both pharmacotherapy and behavioral support.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of mania, hypomania, and depression. Recurrences of manic or (more frequently) depressive symptoms are common. About 15-20% of patients with bipolar disorder die by suicide.

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 chi, physical therapy, assistive devices, and total joint arthroplasty can also be used. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has published new guidelines for the management of osteoarthritis of the hip, hand, and knee.

The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are caused primarily by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The nonmotor symptoms of the disease are thought to be caused by degeneration of other neurotransmitter systems. No disease-modifying drugs are available for treatment of PD.