Fluconazole (Diflucan - Roerig), an antifungal azole, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral and intravenous (IV) treatment of cryptococcal meningitis and various forms of candidiasis. Both cryptococcal meningitis and candidiasis occur frequently in patients with AIDS, organ transplants, or cancer.

Perindopril, the tenth angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to be marketed in the USA, and telmisartan and eprosartan, the fifth and sixth angiotensin receptor blockers, have recently become available for treatment of hypertension.

Olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar - Sankyo), a substituted imidazole, is the seventh oral angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension.

The FDA has approved Exforge (Novartis) and Azor (Daiichi Sankyo), the first combinations of a calcium channel blocker (CCB) with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) for treatment of hypertension. Amlodipine is the CCB in both products. The ARBs are valsartan in Exforge and olmesartan in Azor. All 3 of these drugs are available in fixed-dose combinations with other antihypertensive drugs.

The FDA has approved baxdrostat (Baxfendy – AstraZeneca), an oral aldosterone synthase inhibitor, for add-on treatment of hypertension in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on other drugs. Baxdrostat is the first aldosterone synthase inhibitor to become available in the US.

The FDA has approved Furoscix (scPharmaceuticals), a subcutaneous formulation of the loop diuretic furosemide administered via a single-use, on-body infusor, for treatment of congestion due to fluid overload in adults with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-III chronic heart failure (HF). Furosemide (Lasix, and generics) has been available for years in oral and IV formulations.

The FDA has approved Lasix ONYU (SQ Innovation), a subcutaneous formulation of the loop diuretic furosemide administered via a wearable pump (onbody infusor), for treatment of edema in adults with chronic heart failure (HF). A similar product, Furoscix, is approved for treatment of edema in chronic HF or chronic kidney disease. Furosemide has been available for years in oral and IV formulations for such use.

Some commonly used systemic drugs that may cause pulmonary toxicity are listed in the table below. These adverse effects may sometimes be difficult to distinguish from the underlying disease (JAD Cooper, Jr et al, Am Rev Respir Dis, 133:321, 488, 1986). Pulmonary effects that are part of a generalized reaction or are indirect effects of drugs - on respiratory muscles, for example, or on the immune system - are not included here.

As the weather becomes warmer, physicians may see more photosensitivity reactions due to systemic or topical drugs, perfumes, cosmetics or sunscreens. Even brief exposure to sunlight in warm or cold weather can cause intense cutaneous reactions in patients with drug-induced photosensitivity, and some patients may continue to be sensitive to sunlight long after stopping use of the offending agent.

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.