Valacyclovir (Valtrex - Glaxo Wellcome), an L- valyl ester of acyclovir (Zovirax), has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral treatment of herpes zoster (shingles) in immunocompetent adults. Famciclovir (Famvir - Medical Letter, 36:97, 1994) is also available for this indication.

The FDA has approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi – Incyte), a janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for treatment of myelofibrosis. Jakafi is the first JAK inhibitor to be approved for any indication and the only drug approved for treatment of myelofibrosis.

The FDA has approved lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (Lutathera – Advanced Accelerator Applications), a radiolabeled somatostatin analog, for treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPNETs) 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.

Sudden cardiac arrest has a survival rate of about 6% without immediate defibrillation. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be found in many public locations such as shopping malls, office buildings and schools. Some patients may ask their physicians whether they should purchase an AED for personal use. One device has been FDA-approved for sale over the counter (HeartStart Home Defibrillator - Philips). Purchase of all other AEDs for public places or home use requires authorization from a physician.

The FDA has approved Entresto (Novartis), an oral fixed-dose combination of the neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Sacubitril is the first neprilysin inhibitor to become available in the US.

The FDA has approved lumateperone (Caplyta — Intracellular Therapies), an oral second-generation antipsychotic, for once-daily treatment of schizophrenia in adults. It is the 13th second-generation antipsychotic drug to be approved by the FDA for this indication.

The FDA has approved pitolisant (Wakix – Harmony), a histamine-3 (H₃)-receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, for treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy. It is the first H₃-receptor antagonist/inverse agonist to become available in the US and the first non-controlled substance to receive FDA approval for these indications. Pitolisant has been available in Europe since 2016.

With increasing travel, immigration, use of immunosuppressive drugs and the spread of AIDS, physicians anywhere may see infections caused by parasites. The table in this document lists first-choice and alternative drugs for most parasitic infections.

Consumption of alcohol has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) defines alcohol use disorder (AUD; previously called alcohol dependence) as meeting ≥2 of the 11 criteria listed in Table 1 in the past year. The lifetime prevalence of AUD in the US population has been estimated to be about 30%. Despite this high prevalence and the associated morbidity, mortality, and costs, only 3 drugs are FDA-approved for treatment of the disorder.