The FDA has approved a fixed-dose extended-release formulation of oxycodone and acetaminophen (Xartemis XR – Mallinckrodt) for oral treatment of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid. Oxycodone is available in the US as a single entity in oral immediate-release (Oxecta, and others) and extendedrelease (OxyContin) formulations. Immediate-release oxycodone is also available in combination with aspirin (Percodan, and others), acetaminophen (Percocet, and others), or ibuprofen (see Table 1).

The FDA has approved Xtampza ER (Collegium), a new extended-release, abuse-deterrent capsule formulation of oxycodone, for management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

The FDA has approved an extended-release tablet formulation of amantadine (Osmolex ER – Vertical/Osmotica) for once-daily treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) in adults. An extended-release capsule formulation of amantadine (Gocovri) was approved in 2017 for treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in patients with PD.

The FDA has approved glucagon nasal powder (Baqsimi – Lilly) for treatment of severe hypoglycemia in patients ≥4 years old with diabetes. Baqsimi is the first noninjectable glucagon formulation to become available in the US. Injectable glucagon emergency kits (GlucaGen Hypokit, and generic) have been available for years, but they require reconstitution of the lyophilized powder by the caregiver immediately before injection. An injectable glucagon formulation that does not require reconstitution was recently approved by the FDA (Gvoke) and is expected to become available...

Betaxolol (Kerlone - Searle), an oral beta-adrenergic blocker, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for once-daily treatment of hypertension. The new drug is beta 1 (cardio)-selective with no intrinsic sympathomimetic (partial agonist) activity. It is also available in a topical formulation for treatment of glaucoma (Betoptic - Medical Letter, 28:45, 1986). Beta-blockers currently available in the USA for treatment of hypertension are listed in the table below.

The recent attack in the Tokyo subway has led to many questions about the clinical effects, treatment and prevention of nerve gas poisoning.

Older patients are especially susceptible to drug-induced cognitive impairment. They are more likely to be taking multiple drugs, to have higher blood levels of those drugs because of renal or hepatic dysfunction, and to have pre-existing cognitive problems that make it difficult to detect the role of drugs causing new symptoms or making old ones worse.

Recombinant interferon alfa-2b conjugated to polyethylene glycol (PEG-Intron), the first "pegylated"alpha interferon, has been approved by the FDA for once-a-week monotherapy of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients not previously treated with alpha interferon.

The FDA has approved the selective alpha_1A-adrenergic receptor agonist oxymetazoline as a 1% cream (Rhofade – Allergan) for topical treatment of persistent facial erythema of rosacea in adults. Brimonidine, a selective alpha₂-adrenergic receptor agonist, was approved in 2013 as a 0.33% gel (Mirvaso) for the same indication. Like Mirvaso, Rhofade is not indicated for treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea. Oxymetazoline has been available over the counter for many years as a nasal decongestant spray (Afrin, and others).

View the Expanded Table: Drugs for Prophylaxis of Malaria