PC Spes, a dietary supplement sold for "prostate health", is being used increasingly to treat prostate cancer.

Full-page newspaper advertisements addressed to patients with type 2 diabetes are promoting the convenience of "NEW once-a-day Glucophage XR (metformin HCl extended-release tablets),"and offering a coupon for a free 30-day supply in the month of March.

With the coming of spring, direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements in newspapers, in magazines and on television are urging people with seasonal allergies to ask their doctors about one or another of the newer, non-sedating antihistamines.

An automatic, noninvasive, glucose-monitoring device (GlucoWatch Biographer) has been approved for marketing by the FDA. The manufacturer states that it is not meant to replace a regular blood glucose meter.

Recent articles in the press have trumpeted a new era in the management of Parkinson's disease: dopamine agonists have now replaced levodopa for initial treatment.

A transdermal contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra — Ortho-McNeil) has been approved by the FDA. Each 20 cm² patch contains 6 mg of the progestin norelgestromin (the active metabolite of norgestimate) and 0.75 mg of ethinyl estradiol.

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).

Immune-mediated hemolysis is a rare adverse effect of second- and third-generation cephalosporins, especially cefotetan (Cefotan) (PA Arndt et al, Transfusion 1999; 39:1239). A recent report serves as a reminder that life-threatening immune-mediated hemolysis rarely can follow administration of ceftriaxone (Rocephin), one of the most commonly used parenteral antibiotics in the US (A Citak et al, J Paediatr Child Health 2002; 38:209).

A cyclosporine 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis - Allergan) has been approved by the FDA for use in patients with dry eye disease (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). This review begins with a discussion of the causes of dry eye disease and includes sections on the pharmacology, adverse effects and clinical trial results for ophthalmic cyclosporine. Cost information and recommendations for administering the drug are also presented. The review concludes with an overall assessment of the drug's efficacy, safety and cost.

Azelaic acid 15% gel (Finacea Berlex) is now available in the US for treatment of mild to moderate rosacea. A 20% cream formulation of the drug (Azelex Allergan; Medical Letter 1996; 38:52) has been marketed here since 1996 for treatment of acne. The effectiveness of Finacea compared to its own vehicle and to metronidazole gel is discussed. Information on the drug's mechanism of action, adverse effects, dosage and cost are also included.