Initial treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) depends on the severity of symptoms and whether they are intermittent or persistent (see Table 1).

Patients with seasonal allergies often experience nasal itching and congestion, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and itchy, watery eyes. Oral, intranasal, and ophthalmic preparations are widely available over the counter (OTC) for relief of symptoms. Prescription products for management of allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis are reviewed separately.

Flurbiprofen (Ansaid - Upjohn), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) available in some countries since 1977, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Flurbiprofen is a fluorinated phenylalkanoic acid derivative structurally related to ibuprofen (Motrin;and others).

Doconsanol 10% cream, a long-chain saturated alcohol, has been approved by the FDA for over-the-counter treatment of herpes labialis.

Efbemalenograstim alfa-vuxw (Ryzneuta – Evive), a nonpegylated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) conjugated to an Fc fragment of human IgG2, has been approved by the FDA to decrease the incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, in adults with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy that can cause clinically significant febrile neutropenia. It is the first nonpegylated, long-acting G-CSF to become available in the US. Two pegylated, long-acting G-CSFs, pegfilgrastim (Neulasta, and biosimilars) and eflapegrastim (Rolvedon), are...

Dirithromycin (Dynabac - manufactured by Lilly, distributed by Bock), an oral macrolide antibiotic chemically similar to erythromycin, clarithromycin (Biaxin) and azithromycin (Zithromax), has been approved for marketing by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Quetiapine (Seroquel - Zeneca), a dibenzothiazepine derivative, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. It is a new addition to the 'atypical' antipsychotics, which include olanzapine (Zyprexa - Medical Letter, 39:5, 1997), risperidone (Risperdal) and clozapine (Clozaril). Atypical antipsychotic drugs generally are less likely to cause extrapyramidal symptoms than older drugs such as haloperidol (Haldol, and others) or the phenothiazines.

Basiliximab (Simulect - Novartis) and daclizumab (Zenapax - Roche), two mouse/human monoclonal antibodies that block the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor on Tlymphocytes, have been approved by the FDA for use in the prevention of acute renal transplant rejection. Both drugs are used with cyclosporine (Sandimmune; Neoral) and corticosteroids. An all-murine anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone OKT3), has been available in the USA for many years for treatment of transplant rejection, and has also been used with some success for prophylaxis (MI Wilde and KL Goa, Drugs,...

The FDA has approved spinosad 0.9% suspension (Natroba – ParaPro) for topical treatment of head lice infestation in patients ≥4 years old. It is available only by prescription.

The oral cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor ribociclib (Kisqali – Novartis), which was approved by the FDA in 2017 for use with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant for treatment of hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer, has now been approved for use with an aromatase inhibitor for adjuvant treatment of HR-positive, HER2-negative stage II or III early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence. Kisqali can be used in patients with node-positive or node-negative disease. The CDK 4/6...