The FDA has approved Cobenfy (BMS), an oral fixed-dose combination of the muscarinic agonist xanomeline and the peripheral muscarinic antagonist trospium chloride, for treatment of schizophrenia in adults. It is the first antipsychotic drug to be approved in the US for treatment of schizophrenia that does not block dopamine receptors. This is the first approval for xanomeline; trospium has been available for many years for treatment of overactive bladder.

Overweight is generally defined as a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2 in adults. A BMI ≥30 is considered obese (criteria differ slightly in Asian patients). In patients with an elevated BMI, a 5-10% reduction in weight has been associated with a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Diet, exercise, and behavior modification are the traditional methods for losing weight, but they are often inadequate; the American College of Cardiology no longer recommends that all patients try lifestyle modification alone before adding...

The FDA has approved osilodrostat (Isturisa – Recordati), a cortisol synthesis inhibitor, for oral treatment of adults with Cushing's disease when surgical resection of the pituitary adenoma is not an option or has not been curative. Osilodrostat is the first cortisol synthesis inhibitor to be approved in the US for this indication. Other oral steroidogenesis inhibitors such as ketoconazole and metyrapone have been used off-label for this indication for many years.

View the Table: GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Chronic Weight Management

View the Comparison Table: Drugs for Parkinson's Disease

View the Table: Some Drug Interactions with Drugs for IBD

The FDA has approved Combogesic IV (Hikma), an IV solution containing acetaminophen and ibuprofen, to treat mild to moderate pain (alone) or moderate to severe pain (in combination with an opioid) in adults when IV analgesia is considered clinically necessary. Single-drug IV solutions containing ibuprofen (Caldolor) and acetaminophen have been available in the US for years.

A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is generally used for initial treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). A serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, and others), and mirtazapine (Remeron, and others) are reasonable alternatives. Improvement in symptoms can occur within the first two weeks of treatment with these drugs, but a substantial benefit may not be achieved for 4-8 weeks.

The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are caused primarily by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The nonmotor symptoms of the disease are thought to be caused by degeneration of other neurotransmitter systems. No disease-modifying drugs are available for treatment of PD.

Most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) present with the relapsing-remitting form of the disease. Pharmacologic treatment usually includes a disease-modifying drug, corticosteroids for acute exacerbations, and other drugs for managing symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and pain. Early use of disease-modifying therapy has improved clinical outcomes.