Matching articles for "methylprednisolone"
Drugs for Gout
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 30, 2023; (Issue 1688)
Drugs for gout are used to reduce the pain and
inflammation of acute flares, decrease the frequency
of exacerbations, and lower serum urate levels to
prevent recurrent flares, development of tophi,...
Drugs for gout are used to reduce the pain and
inflammation of acute flares, decrease the frequency
of exacerbations, and lower serum urate levels to
prevent recurrent flares, development of tophi, and
joint damage.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 15, 2021; (Issue 1637)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prevalent in 0.5% of
adults in the US; it is about 2.5 times more common
in women than in men. Guidelines for treatment
of RA from the American College of Rheumatology
were...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prevalent in 0.5% of
adults in the US; it is about 2.5 times more common
in women than in men. Guidelines for treatment
of RA from the American College of Rheumatology
were recently updated. The goal of treatment is to
minimize disease activity and prevent irreversible
joint damage.
Drugs for Osteoarthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 20, 2020; (Issue 1596)
Many different drugs are used for treatment of
osteoarthritis pain, but none of them prevent
progression of the disease. Nonpharmacologic
approaches including weight management, exercise,
tai chi, physical...
Many different drugs are used for treatment of
osteoarthritis pain, but none of them prevent
progression of the disease. Nonpharmacologic
approaches including weight management, exercise,
tai chi, physical therapy, assistive devices, and total
joint arthroplasty can also be used. The American
College of Rheumatology (ACR) has published new
guidelines for the management of osteoarthritis of the
hip, hand, and knee.
Corticosteroids in Community-Acquired Pneumonia
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 13, 2020; (Issue 1589)
Recently updated guidelines from the American
Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Infectious Diseases
Society of America (IDSA) address the use of
corticosteroids as an adjunct to antimicrobials for
treatment of...
Recently updated guidelines from the American
Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Infectious Diseases
Society of America (IDSA) address the use of
corticosteroids as an adjunct to antimicrobials for
treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) - A New JAK Inhibitor for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 18, 2019; (Issue 1585)
The FDA has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq –
Abbvie), an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with moderately to severely
active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had
an inadequate...
The FDA has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq –
Abbvie), an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with moderately to severely
active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had
an inadequate response to or cannot tolerate
methotrexate (Trexall, and others). Upadacitinib is
the third JAK inhibitor to be approved in the US for
treatment of RA; tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR)
and baricitinib (Olumiant) were approved earlier.
Drugs for Gout
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 11, 2019; (Issue 1567)
Drugs for gout reduce the pain and inflammation of
acute flares and lower serum urate levels in order to
prevent recurrent flares, development of tophi, and
joint...
Drugs for gout reduce the pain and inflammation of
acute flares and lower serum urate levels in order to
prevent recurrent flares, development of tophi, and
joint damage.
Two New Intra-Articular Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 27, 2018; (Issue 1554)
The FDA has approved a single-injection hyaluronic
acid gel (Durolane – Bioventus) and an extended-release
(ER) formulation of the synthetic corticosteroid
triamcinolone acetonide (Zilretta – Flexion)...
The FDA has approved a single-injection hyaluronic
acid gel (Durolane – Bioventus) and an extended-release
(ER) formulation of the synthetic corticosteroid
triamcinolone acetonide (Zilretta – Flexion) for intra-articular
(IA) treatment of osteoarthritic knee pain.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 30, 2018; (Issue 1552)
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are used for initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) to achieve clinical remission and prevent
irreversible joint damage (see Table 1). DMARDs
generally...
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are used for initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) to achieve clinical remission and prevent
irreversible joint damage (see Table 1). DMARDs
generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect,
but over time they can control symptoms and have
been shown to delay and possibly stop progression
of the disease. Methotrexate (Trexall, and others)
is generally the drug of choice; it can be used for
patients with low, moderate, or high disease activity.
For mild disease, some clinicians prefer to start with
hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, and generics) and/or
sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and others).
ColciGel - A Homeopathic Colchicine Gel for Gout
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 4, 2016; (Issue 1485)
Homeopathic drugs characteristically consist of very
large dilutions of "proven" substances. Serial dilutions
of 1:10 are designated by the Roman numeral X.
ColciGel (Gensco), a prescription homeopathic
gel...
Homeopathic drugs characteristically consist of very
large dilutions of "proven" substances. Serial dilutions
of 1:10 are designated by the Roman numeral X.
ColciGel (Gensco), a prescription homeopathic
gel containing a 10,000-fold dilution of colchicine
(colchicinum 4X), is now being marketed for topical
treatment and prophylaxis of gout.
Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 4, 2014; (Issue 1448)
Aminosalicylates are effective for induction and maintenance
of remission in mild to moderate ulcerative
colitis. They are not recommended for treatment of
Crohn's disease.
FORMULATIONS — Oral mesalamine...
Aminosalicylates are effective for induction and maintenance
of remission in mild to moderate ulcerative
colitis. They are not recommended for treatment of
Crohn's disease.
FORMULATIONS — Oral mesalamine is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine and most of the drug does not reach the colon. Pentasa releases mesalamine gradually throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Delzicol, Asacol HD, Lialda, and Apriso delay the release of the drug until it reaches the distal ileum and colon. Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and generics), balsalazide (Colazal, and others), and olsalazine (Dipentum) are prodrugs; mesalamine is azo-bonded to a second moiety and released in the colon following bacterial cleavage of the bond. Mesalamine is also available as an enema (Rowasa, and generics) and as a rectal suppository (Canasa).
FORMULATIONS — Oral mesalamine is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine and most of the drug does not reach the colon. Pentasa releases mesalamine gradually throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Delzicol, Asacol HD, Lialda, and Apriso delay the release of the drug until it reaches the distal ileum and colon. Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and generics), balsalazide (Colazal, and others), and olsalazine (Dipentum) are prodrugs; mesalamine is azo-bonded to a second moiety and released in the colon following bacterial cleavage of the bond. Mesalamine is also available as an enema (Rowasa, and generics) and as a rectal suppository (Canasa).
Drugs for Gout
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 17, 2014; (Issue 1438)
The goals of gout treatment are threefold: treating
acute inflammation, preventing flares, and lowering serum
urate...
The goals of gout treatment are threefold: treating
acute inflammation, preventing flares, and lowering serum
urate levels.
Drugs for Asthma and COPD
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 1, 2013; (Issue 132)
INHALATION DEVICES — Metered-dose inhalers
(MDIs) require coordination of inhalation with hand-actuation
of the device. Valved holding chambers
(VHCs) or spacers help some patients, especially
young...
INHALATION DEVICES — Metered-dose inhalers
(MDIs) require coordination of inhalation with hand-actuation
of the device. Valved holding chambers
(VHCs) or spacers help some patients, especially
young children and the elderly, use MDIs effectively.
VHCs have one-way valves that prevent the patient
from exhaling into the device, minimizing the need for
coordinated actuation and inhalation. Spacers are
tubes or chambers placed between the canister and a
face mask or mouthpiece, which also avoids the need
to coordinate actuation and inhalation. Both VHCs
and spacers retain the larger particles emitted from the
MDI, decreasing their deposition in the oropharynx
and leading to a higher proportion of small respirable
particles being inhaled.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2009; (Issue 81)
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to prevent irreversible damage to joints and minimize toxicities associated with nonsteroidal...
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to prevent irreversible damage to joints and minimize toxicities associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids.
Drugs for Asthma
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 1, 2008; (Issue 76)
No truly new drugs have been approved for treatment of asthma since omalizumab (Xolair) in 2003, but some randomized controlled trials of older drugs have been published, and new guidelines have become...
No truly new drugs have been approved for treatment of asthma since omalizumab (Xolair) in 2003, but some randomized controlled trials of older drugs have been published, and new guidelines have become available.
Intra-Articular Injections for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 27, 2006; (Issue 1231)
Now that glucosamine and chondroitin, 2 favorite over-the-counter remedies for painful osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, have been at least somewhat discredited, some patients will be asking about alternatives....
Now that glucosamine and chondroitin, 2 favorite over-the-counter remedies for painful osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, have been at least somewhat discredited, some patients will be asking about alternatives. One of these is periodic intra-articular injection of a corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid preparation.
Drugs for Asthma
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2005; (Issue 33)
Patients with mild, infrequent asthma symptoms may require only intermittent, asneeded use of an inhaled short-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist. Use of a short-acting beta2-agonist more than twice weekly, other...
Patients with mild, infrequent asthma symptoms may require only intermittent, asneeded use of an inhaled short-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist. Use of a short-acting beta2-agonist more than twice weekly, other than for exercise-induced bronchospasm, indicates a need for anti-inflammatory treatment. Inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective anti-inflammatory medication; leukotriene modifiers are less effective alternatives. If regular use of an inhaled corticosteroid in a low dose does not prevent symptoms, a long-acting beta2-agonist should be added; addition of a second drug is more effective than raising the dose of the inhaled steroid. A leukotriene modifier can also be used as the second drug. Omalizumab may be considered as adjunctive therapy for patients more than 12 years old who have allergic asthma not controlled by other drugs. A short course of oral corticosteroids may be useful for acute exacerbations. Treatment of acute severe asthma as a medical emergency is not included here; it has been reviewed elsewhere (ER McFadden Jr, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003; 168:740).
Drug Interactions with Grapefruit Juice
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 5, 2004; (Issue 1173)
The ability of grapefruit juice to increase serum concentrations of drugs was first discovered during a study of the effect of ethanol on felodipine (Plendil) pharmacokinetics. Double-strength grapefruit juice...
The ability of grapefruit juice to increase serum concentrations of drugs was first discovered during a study of the effect of ethanol on felodipine (Plendil) pharmacokinetics. Double-strength grapefruit juice used to disguise the taste of ethanol resulted in higher than expected serum concentrations of felodipine (DG Bailey et al, Clin Invest Med 1989; 12:357).
Drugs for Asthma
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 1, 2002; (Issue 2)
New drug formulations continue to be introduced for the treatment of asthma, and new studies on older drugs continue to change our perspectives on the management of this chronic inflammatory disease. Treatment...
New drug formulations continue to be introduced for the treatment of asthma, and new studies on older drugs continue to change our perspectives on the management of this chronic inflammatory disease. Treatment of asthma in the emergency department or hospital is not addressed here. More information on the diagnosis and treatment of asthma is available from Expert Panel Report 2: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (Bethesda:NIH, 1997 and 2002 update; www.nhlbi.nih.gov).
Intranasa Budesonide for Allergic Rhinitis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 8, 1994; (Issue 926)
An intranasal formulation of the corticosteroid budesonide (Rhinocort Nasal Inhaler - Astra) was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of seasonal or perennial allergic...
An intranasal formulation of the corticosteroid budesonide (Rhinocort Nasal Inhaler - Astra) was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis in adults and children and nonallergic perennial rhinitis in adults. Budesonide has been available in Canada and Europe for several years for inhalation treatment of both allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Ganciclovir
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 25, 1989; (Issue 799)
Ganciclovir sodium (Cytovene - Syntex), a synthetic antiviral nucleoside analog, is now available in the USA for intravenous treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in immunocompromised patients. CMV...
Ganciclovir sodium (Cytovene - Syntex), a synthetic antiviral nucleoside analog, is now available in the USA for intravenous treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in immunocompromised patients. CMV retinitis occurs in 20% to 25% of patients with AIDS.
Drugs For Treatment of Deep Fungal Infections
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 11, 1988; (Issue 761)
The incidence of opportunistic deep fungal infections continues to increase, particularly among patients who have AIDS, are taking immunosuppressive drugs, or are in intensive care...
The incidence of opportunistic deep fungal infections continues to increase, particularly among patients who have AIDS, are taking immunosuppressive drugs, or are in intensive care units.
Nabilone And Other Antiemetic For Cancer Patients
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 1, 1988; (Issue 756)
Nabilone (Cesamet - Lilly), a synthetic cannabinoid chemically related to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active ingredient in marijuana, was recently marketed in the USA for oral treatment of nausea and...
Nabilone (Cesamet - Lilly), a synthetic cannabinoid chemically related to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active ingredient in marijuana, was recently marketed in the USA for oral treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. Oral THC itself, known generically as dronabinol (Marinol), is also commercially available as an antiemetic for cancer patients (Medical Letter, 27:97, 1985). Other drugs used for this purpose include metoclopramide (Reglan - Medical Letter, 24:67, 1982), prochlorperazine (Compazine; and others), haloperidol (Haldol; and others), and corticosteroids. Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan; and others), are used to treat anticipatory nausea and vomiting that occurs before chemotherapy begins.