Grepafloxacin (Raxar - Glaxo Wellcome), a once-daily oral fluoroquinolone, is now being marketed for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, uncomplicated gonorrhea, and nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis.

Entacapone (Comtan), a catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for adjunctive use with levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease who have end-of-dose "wearing off"symptoms.

Ciclopirox nail lacquer (Penlac - Dermik) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of mild-to-moderate onychomycosis due to Trichophyton rubrum, without involvement of the lunula. The drug has been available for many years as a lotion and cream (Loprox) for treatment of cutaneous fungal infection

Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) have become the standard treatment for erectile dysfunction. Head-to-head comparisons of these agents are still lacking, but some differences between them and new recommendations for their dosing (see Table 2) are worth noting.

Odevixibat (Bylvay – Albireo), an oral ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of pruritus in patients ≥3 months old with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). It is the first drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

Three extended-release injectable formulations of second-generation antipsychotic drugs — two of risperidone (Rykindo, Uzedy) and one of aripiprazole (Abilify Asimtufii) — have been approved by the FDA for treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Rykindo and Abilify Asimtufii are also approved for maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults. Other extended-release injectable formulations of risperidone and aripiprazole have been available in the US for years (see Table 1).

Atorvastatin (Lipitor - Parke-Davis), an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (or 'statin'), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia. A single stereoisomer of a pyrrole derivative, the new drug is chemically different from other statins.

Some classes of drugs include so many agents that hospital formulary committees, managed care organizations and individual practitioners may find it difficult to choose among them. Fifteen beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (beta-blockers) are now marketed for systemic use in the USA. One or more have been approved by the FDA for use in hypertension and eight other indications.

The FDA has approved benzyl alcohol lotion, 5% (Ulesfia Lotion - Sciele) for treatment of head lice in patients ≥6 months old. The active ingredient is 5% benzyl alcohol; the vehicle is 5% mineral oil.

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Migraine Prevention in Adults