The gram-positive anaerobic bacillus Clostridium difficile is the most common identifiable cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The antibiotics most often implicated have been ampicillin, second and third generation cephalosporins, clindamycin and fluoroquinolones. The emergence in recent years of a new, more toxic epidemic strain (BI/NAP1), possibly related to widespread use of fluoroquinolones, has caused a marked increase in the incidence and severity of C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD).

Ramelteon (Rozerem - Takeda), a melatonin receptor agonist, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulty falling asleep. Unlike all other prescription hypnotics, which are classified as schedule IV drugs, ramelteon is not a controlled substance.

The FDA has approved the marketing of pitavastatin (Livalo – Kowa), an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (“statin”), for treatment of primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. It has been available in Japan since 2003. All of the statins now available in the US are listed in the table on page 58.

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Plaque Psoriasis

Liraglutide (Victoza – Novo Nordisk), a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist given by subcutaneous injection, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. It can be used alone or in addition to oral antidiabetic drugs such as metformin (Glucophage, and others) or glimepiride (Amaryl, and others). Liraglutide is not recommended for first-line therapy and is not approved for use with insulin.

Cefepime hydrochloride (Maxipime - Bristol-Myers Squibb), a new 'fourth-generation' cephalosporin, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for parenteral treatment of urinary tract infections and skin and skin-structure infections due to susceptible pathogens, and for moderate to severe pneunmonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter or Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Rivastigmine tartrate (Exelon - Novartis), a carbamate-based cholinesterase inhibitor, is now being marketed for treatment of patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.

Zoledronic acid (Zometa), a new bisphosphonate, has been approved by the FDA for intravenous (IV) treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy.

The FDA has approved the somatostatin analog pasireotide diaspartate (Signifor – Novartis) for treatment of adults with Cushing's disease (cortisol excess caused by an ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor) who are not candidates for pituitary surgery or for whom surgery has not been curative. Pasireotide is the first drug approved in the US specifically to treat Cushing's disease. The antiprogestin mifepristone (Korlym) was approved last year for control of hyperglycemia in patients with Cushing's syndrome, which includes other causes of hypercortisolism, such as exogenous steroids and...

A once-weekly transdermal formulation of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil (Adlarity – Corium) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. Donepezil is the second acetylcholinesterase inhibitor to become available in a transdermal formulation; transdermal rivastigmine (Exelon Patch), which is applied once daily, has been available for years for the same indication. Donepezil is also available in oral formulations (Aricept, and generics) for treatment of AD dementia.