Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the world. Risk factor modification, anticoagulation, rhythm control, and rate control are the four pillars of its management. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines on management of AF were updated recently.

View the Comparison Chart: Antiviral Drugs for Seasonal Influenza for 2024-2025

Men with primary or secondary hypogonadism require lifelong androgen replacement to prevent osteoporosis and maintain normal muscle mass, erythropoiesis and sexual function (AM Matsumoto, Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am, 23:857, 1994). Until recently, the standard treatment for male hypogonadism has been an intramuscular injection of a long-acting testosterone ester every two to three weeks, which leads to serum testosterone concentrations that are high for a few days, normal for a few days more, and then may be subnormal until the next dose. Two transdermal preparations of testosterone...

Ziprasidone (Geodon - Pfizer), a benzisothiazolyl piperazine, has been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of schizophrenia. An intramuscular formulation will probably be available in the near future.

The FDA has approved calcitriol ointment (Vectical - Galderma), a vitamin D analog, for topical treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis in adults ≥18 years old. Ointments are generally considered more potent than creams or solutions.

The FDA has approved insulin degludec (Tresiba – Novo Nordisk) for treatment of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Insulin degludec is the third long-acting human insulin analog to be approved by the FDA; insulin detemir (Levemir) and insulin glargine (Lantus, Toujeo) were approved earlier.

Three coordinated double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of one year of testosterone replacement therapy in improving sexual function, physical function, and vitality in a total of 790 men ≥65 years old with moderately low serum testosterone concentrations and symptoms suggesting hypoandrogenism. Sexual function improved modestly, and there appeared to be marginal benefits in some areas of physical function and vitality as well. The trials were not designed to evaluate the safety of testosterone replacement therapy.

Many nitrates, beta-blockers, and calcium-channel blockers have now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of stable angina pectoris. The table beginning on page 112 lists the individual drugs, their dosage, and their cost.

The FDA has approved a transmucosal tablet formulation of fentanyl citrate (Fentora - Cephalon) for management of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant patients with cancer. An oral transmucosal fentanyl lozenge on a stick (Actiq, and others) is also available for this indication, and is widely used off-label for chronic, non-cancer pain as well.

View the Expanded Table: Some Available Insulins