View the Comparison Table: Inhaled Drugs for Treatment of COPD

The FDA has approved over-the-counter (OTC) sale of the weight-loss drug orlistat (Xenical – Roche)1 as alli (GlaxoSmithKline), to be used in combination with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet. Orlistat binds to gastric and pancreatic lipases, preventing absorption of about 30% of dietary fat with the 120-mg prescription dose, and 25% with the 60-mg OTC dose. A 16-week controlled trial of the OTC dose (60 mg 3 times daily with meals) in overweight, not obese, patients (average BMI 26.8) on a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet found that patients taking the drug lost 1.15 kg more than those taking...

The FDA has approved ThermaClear (Therative), a battery-powered, handheld device, to treat individual acne lesions with heat. ThermaClear is indicated only for use on mild to moderate inflammatory acne, not severe nodular or severe cystic acne, and it is not meant to be used on blackheads and whiteheads. Two similar devices are already on the market: Zeno, another handheld device that delivers heat to acne lesions, and the Radiancy Clear Touch Lite Acne Clearance System, a larger heat-delivery device.

MoviPrep (Salix) is a new polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based bowel cleansing preparation approved for use in adults prior to colonoscopy. It contains ascorbic acid, which acts as an additional cathartic and flavoring agent, and requires a lower volume of fluid (3 L compared to the traditional 4 L) than most other PEG products. HalfLytely is an FDA-approved 2-L PEG product, but it must be taken with bisacodyl.

Sitagliptin (Januvia) and metformin (Glucophage, and others) are now available in a single tablet (Janumet - Merck) for treatment of type 2 diabetes. The combination is approved by the FDA for use in patients not adequately controlled by sitagliptin or meformin alone or in those already taking both drugs. Metformin is also available in combination with the thiazolidinediones pioglitazone and rosiglitazone and with the sulfonylureas glipizide and glyburide.

The main goals of treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are to relieve symptoms, reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations, prevent disease progression, and reduce mortality. GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) guidelines for treatment of COPD were updated recently. Treatment of acute exacerbations is not discussed here. Drugs available for treatment of COPD are listed in Tables 1 and 3.