Donidalorsen (Dawnzera – Ionis), a subcutaneously injected prekallikrein-directed antisense oligonucleotide, has been approved by the FDA for prevention of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in patients ≥12 years old. It is the first RNA-targeted drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

The recommendations for treatment of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are listed in tables 1 and 2. Vaccination against VZV was reviewed in a previous issue.

In overactive bladder, involuntary bladder contractions due to detrusor overactivity result in urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, and incontinence. The prevalence of the disorder increases with age. Nonpharmacologic treatment, including bladder training, urge suppression, pelvic floor muscle exercises, constipation management, modification of fluid intake, and avoidance of dietary irritants such as alcohol and caffeine, should be tried first.

This article includes recommendations for management of most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV and viral hepatitis. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA (see Table 1).

View the Comparison Table: Some Oral Antiseizure Medications

The drugs of choice for treatment of viral infections (other than HIV) and their dosages are listed in Tables 1-6 on the pages that follow. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA. Vaccines used for the prevention of viral infections are discussed elsewhere.

Many patients ask physicians to help them stop smoking. Since nicotine gum and patches were first marketed (Medical Letter, 26:47, 1984; 34:37, 1992), more data have become available on their effective use, and new formulations of the drug have been developed. Because of its slower rate of absorption, nicotine from gum or patches does not produce the pleasure some people associate with cigarette smoking, but it can relieve the irritability, difficulty in concentrating and other symptoms that occur after withdrawal from smoking.

Gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin are now available for once-daily treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, or acute sinusitis.

Atripla (Gilead/Bristol-Myers Squibb) is the first once daily, single-tablet combination of 3 antiretroviral drugs for treatment of HIV infection. Each tablet contains 600 mg of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) efavirenz (Sustiva), 200 mg of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) emtricitabine (Emtriva), and 300 mg of the nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) tenofovir DF (Viread). These drugs have been recommended for use together, if resistance testing confirms susceptibility, as an initial regimen of choice for treatment-na∩ve...

The FDA has approved the prostaglandin analog bimatoprost in a 0.03% solution (Latisse - Allergan) for increasing eyelash length, thickness and darkness in patients with hypotrichosis of the eyelashes.