The FDA has approved sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (Lokelma – AstraZeneca), an oral potassium binder that exchanges hydrogen and sodium for potassium in the gastrointestinal (GI) lumen, for treatment of non-life-threatening hyperkalemia in adults. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is the third drug to be approved for this indication; sodium polystyrene sulfonate and patiromer (Veltassa) were approved earlier.

The FDA has approved a fixed-dose combination of the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (ReVia, and others) and the antidepressant and smoking cessation agent bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Zyban, and others), as Contrave (Orexigen/Takeda) for weight loss. The combination was approved for use as an adjunct to diet and increased physical activity in patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 or a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 and one or more weight-related comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Naltrexone/bupropion is not a controlled...

Atazanavir (Reyataz - Bristol-Myers Squibb), a new protease inhibitor (PI), and emtricitabine (Emtriva - Gilead), a nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) chemically similar to lamivudine, have been approved by the FDA for treatment of HIV-1 infection. Both are taken once daily, unlike most anti-HIV drugs.

Every pharmaceutical drug is a dose-dependent poison. This article describes the clinical presentation and treatment of some dangerous overdoses commonly reported in adults.

Coenzyme Q10, a fat-soluble antioxidant also known as ubidecarenone, ubiquinone and CoQ10, is marketed as a dietary supplement in the US, both as a single ingredient and in various combination products.

The thiazolidinediones rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) are peripheral insulin sensitizing agents used to treat hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes; one or the other is often used as a second or third agent with metformin (Glucophage, and others) and/or a sulfonylurea such as glimepiride (Amaryl, and others). A recent report suggested that rosiglitazone may increase the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiovascular mortality.

The injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide, previously approved by the FDA as Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, has now been approved in a higher dose as Wegovy (Novo Nordisk) for chronic weight management in adults with or without type 2 diabetes who have a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 or a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 and ≥1 weight-related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia). An oral formulation of semaglutide...

Saxagliptin (Onglyza - Bristol-Myers Squibb), the second oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor to be marketed in the US, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.

Overweight is generally defined as a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2 in adults. A BMI ≥30 is considered obese (criteria differ slightly in Asian patients). In patients with an elevated BMI, a 5-10% reduction in weight has been associated with a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Diet, exercise, and behavior modification are the traditional methods for losing weight, but they are often inadequate; the American College of Cardiology no longer recommends that all patients try lifestyle modification alone before adding...

Infertility occurs in about 15% of couples. About one third of infertility is due to problems with ovulation or an anatomic abnormality of the fallopian tube or peritoneum, such as scarring, adhesions or endometriosis. Another third is due to a male infertility factor, most commonly insufficient sperm production or abnormal motility or morphology. The remaining third is unexplained. In older women unexplained infertility is probably caused by diminished quality and quantity of oocytes, decreased implantation and spontaneous pregnancy wastage.