Cabergoline (Dostinex - Pharmacia & Upjohn), an ergot alkaloid derivative recently marketed for treatment of hyperprolactinemia, is a selective D2 dopamine agonist that inhibits prolactin-secreting cells in the pituitary. Bromocriptine (Parlodel - Sandoz), the drug most commonly used for this condition, is also a D2 agonist, but affects D1 receptors as well.

Samarium-153 lexidronam (Quadramet - Dupont Pharma) has been approved by the FDA for relief of pain in patients with osteoblastic bone metastases. Strontium-89 (Metastron) has been available for several years for this indication (Medical Letter, 35:102, 1993).

Bromfenac sodium (Duract - Wyeth-Ayerst), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is being heavily advertised as an alternative to narcotics for short-term treatment of pain.

Imiquimod (i mi kwi' mod) 5% cream (Aldara - 3M Pharmaceuticals) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of external genital and perianal warts (condyloma acuminata). The drug requires a prescription but is applied by the patient. It is the second patient-applied treatment to become available for external genital warts; the first was podofilox (Condylox - Medical Letter, 33:117, 1991).

Irbesartan (Avapro - Sanofi/Bristol-Myers Squibb) is the third angiotensin II receptor antagonist to become available in the USA for oral treatment of hypertension. Losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan) were marketed earlier. Eprosartan (Teveten - SmithKline Beecham) has been approved by the FDA but not marketed.

RabAvert (Chiron), a new human rabies vaccine prepared in purified chick embryo cell culture (PCEC), has been marketed in the USA for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. It is available in other countries as Rabipur. Human rabies is rare in the United States, but thousands of people receive post-exposure prophylaxis every year (DL Noah et al, Ann Intern Med, 128:922, June 1, 1998).

Sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan - Sanofi) and hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc - Wyeth- Ayerst) have been approved by the FDA for intra-articular injections in patients with knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Hylan G-F 20 is a cross-linked derivative of hyaluronic acid with a higher molecular weight than sodium hyaluronate. 'Hyaluronan' refers to either the acid or its salt.

Tamoxifen, anti-estrogen used for many years in the treatment of breast cancer, has now been approved by the FDA for reducing the incidence of breast cancer in women at increased risk of developing the disease.

The US FDA has approved use of palivizumab for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in high-risk infants and children.

Some patients may ask physicians about the effectiveness and safety of homeopathic drugs, which are marketed through health food stores, pharmacies, direct mail and person-to-person sales, and promoted for use in a wide range of disorders.