The injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide (Wegovy) has been approved by the FDA to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) and either obesity or overweight. Semaglutide is the first drug to be approved for cardiovascular risk reduction in this population. It is also approved in a lower-dose injectable formulation as Ozempic and in an oral formulation as Rybelsus (see Table 1).

Many nitrates, beta-blockers, and calcium-channel blockers have now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of stable angina pectoris. The table beginning on page 112 lists the individual drugs, their dosage, and their cost.

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.

View the Comparison Table: Drugs for Parkinson's Disease

Bupropion (Wellbutrin - Burroughs Wellcome) was recently marketed in the USA for treatment of depression. First approved by the Food and Drug Administration in late 1985, the drug was withdrawn from the market in early 1986 because of a high incidence of seizures in one study.

Ondansetron (on dan' se tron; Zofran - Glaxo), a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) antagonist, was recently marketed in the USA for intravenous use to prevent nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy. An oral formulation is available in many other countries.

Controlled-release carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet CR - Dupont Pharma) was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of Parkinson's disease. The new formulation of this old combination (Sinemet) has the drugs suspended in a polymeric matrix that erodes slowly in the gastrointestinal tract.

Sertraline (Zoloft - Roerig), a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, was recently approved for marketing by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of depression. Another serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine (Prozac), is prescribed more frequently in the USA than any other antidepressant (Medical Letter, 32:83, 1990).

Venlafaxine hydrochloride (Effexor - Wyeth-Ayerst) was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of depression. An aminomethyl-benzyl- cyclohexanol, it is chemically related to bupropion (Wellbutrin).

Fluvoxamine (Luvox - Solvay), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has been approved for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by the US Food and Drug Administration. Fluoxetine (Prozac), another SSRI antidepressant, and clomipramine (Anafranil), a tricyclic antidepressant that also inhibits serotonin reuptake, are the only other drugs available for this indication in the USA. Antidepressants that do not inhibit serotonin reuptake have not been effective for treatment of this condition.