View the Comparison Table: Some Oral/Transdermal Opioid Analgesics

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common GI condition encountered in the outpatient setting; it affects about 20% of people in the US.

The FDA has approved pitolisant (Wakix – Harmony), a histamine-3 (H₃)-receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, for treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or cataplexy in adults with narcolepsy. It is the first H₃-receptor antagonist/inverse agonist to become available in the US and the first non-controlled substance to receive FDA approval for these indications. Pitolisant has been available in Europe since 2016.

View the Comparison Table: Some Oral Antiseizure Medications

Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobias) are the most common form of psychiatric illness. They can be treated effectively with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or pharmacotherapy.

View the Comparison Table: H2-Receptor Antagonists and PPIs

A recent article in JAMA and an interview of its senior author on 60 Minutes have heightened interest in off-label use of the oral selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluvoxamine (Luvox, and generics) to treat COVID-19.

The FDA has approved the antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury – Gilead) for IV treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients who are ≥12 years old and weigh ≥40 kg. Hospitalized children who are <12 years old or weigh <40 kg can receive remdesivir through an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Remdesivir is the first drug to be approved in the US for treatment of COVID-19.

The FDA has approved two new drugs for treatment of previously-treated unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer: fam-trastuzumab deruxtecannxki (Enhertu – Daiichi-Sankyo/AstraZeneca), an IV HER2-directed monoclonal antibody linked to the topoisomerase I inhibitor DXd, and tucatinib (Tukysa – Seagen), an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

The FDA has approved opicapone (Ongentys – Neurocrine), a peripherally-acting reversible catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, for oral use as an adjunct to carbidopa/levodopa in adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who experience "off" episodes. It is the third COMT inhibitor to be approved for this indication; tolcapone (Tasmar, and generics) and entacapone (Comtan, and generics) were approved earlier. Opicapone has been available in Europe since 2016.