An oral nonopioid analgesic is often sufficient for acute treatment of mild to moderate migraine pain without severe nausea or vomiting. A triptan is the drug of choice for treatment of moderate to severe migraine in most patients without vascular disease. Treatment of pain when it is still mild to moderate in intensity improves headache response and reduces the risk of recurrence.

The recent "PROVE IT" trial in patients with coronary heart disease showed clinical benefits associated with reducing LDL cholesterol concentrations lower than the 100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) or less that had been considered optimal.

The FDA has approved Arnuity Ellipta (GSK), a single-agent inhaler containing the corticosteroid fluticasone furoate, for once-daily maintenance treatment of asthma in patients ≥12 years old. Fluticasone furoate is also available in combination with the long-acting beta₂-agonist vilanterol as Breo Ellipta for treatment of asthma and COPD.

The FDA has approved erenumab-aooe (Aimovig – Amgen/Novartis), a once-monthly, subcutaneously-injected, monoclonal antibody against the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor, for preventive treatment of migraine in adults. It is the first drug in its class to be approved by the FDA.

The FDA has approved Symbravo (Axsome), an oral fixed-dose combination of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam and the 5-HT_1B/1D receptor agonist (triptan) rizatriptan (Maxalt, and generics), for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. It is the second combination of an NSAID and a triptan to be approved for migraine treatment. An oral fixed-dose combination of sumatriptan and naproxen (Treximet, and generics) is approved for use in patients ≥12 years old.

Flurbiprofen (Ansaid - Upjohn), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) available in some countries since 1977, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Flurbiprofen is a fluorinated phenylalkanoic acid derivative structurally related to ibuprofen (Motrin;and others).

Permethrin 5% (Elimite Cream - Herbert), a synthetic pyrethroid previously available in a 1% concentration (Nix) for treatment of head lice (Medical Letter, 28:89, 1986) and as an aerosol clothing spray (Permanone) for protection against mosquitoes and ticks (Medical Letter, 31:45, 1989), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for single-application treatment of infestation with Sarcoptes scabiei (scabies).

Human rabies continues to be rare in the USA, but animal rabies is becoming more common. An animal epizootic in the mid-Atlantic states, involving especially raccoons, has recently spread into the northeastern states.

Cardiac arrest may be due to tachyarrhythmias, bradyarrhythmias, or asystole. Without treatment, permanent damage to the cerebral cortex usually begins within five minutes and is complete in ten. After cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been started and electrical defibrillation, when indicated, has been applied, drugs may help promote recovery.

Use of alendronate (Fosamax), estrogen and other drugs for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis (Medical Letter, 38:1, 1996) has been accompanied by widespread availability of bone density screening tests, not only in doctors offices and hospitals, but even in retail stores. Bone densitometry provides a quantitative measurement of bone mineralization that can be used to predict the risk of osteoporotic fractures.