Candesartan cilexetil (Atacand - Astra) is the fourth angiotensin II receptor antagonist to become available in the USA for oral treatment of hypertension.

Sermorelin acetate, a synthetic form of human growth-hormone-releasing factor has been approved by the FDA for treatment of idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children with growth failure.

The FDA has approved marketing of Plan B (Women's Capital Corporation), an emergency contraceptive "pill pack"that contains two 0.75-mg tablets of levonorgestrel.

Alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex - Glaxo Welcome), a selective serotonin receptor antagonist, has received FDA approval for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women whose primary bowel symptom is diarrhea.

Cevimeline hydrochloride, an acetylcholine derivative, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of dry mouth symptoms caused by Sjogren's syndrome. Presumably it could also be used to treat radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. Pilocarpine hydrochloride is FDA-approved for both indications

A new needle-free system (cool.click) has been approved by the FDA for subcutaneous delivery of Saizen (recombinant somatotropin - Serono). Somatotropin is used for long-term treatment of children with growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone. Children with growth hormone deficiency require injections daily or several times weekly for many years.

Anakinra (Kineret - Amgen), an interleuken-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to severly active rheumatoid arthritis in adults who have failed at least one disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug(DMARD) such as methotrexate (Medical Letter 2000; 24:57).

The FDA has approved a new low-dose formulation of the tricyclic antidepressant doxepin (Silenor – Somaxon) for treatment of insomnia associated with sleep maintenance. The manufacturer claims that this dose retains the hypnotic effect of doxepin, without typical tricyclic adverse effects. Doxepin is available generically in higher-strength capsules and in a liquid formulation.

The FDA has approved lurasidone (Latuda - Sunovion), a new second-generation antipsychotic, for oral treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

Even though it is unlikely that people living in the US will be at risk of significant radiation exposure from the nuclear accident in Japan, some readers have suggested a review of the use of potassium iodide (KI) in such circumstances. Potassium iodide taken orally before or at the time of exposure can limit or prevent uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland.