Formulary Watch |

Tiotropium for asthma: Appears to be effective adjunct in phase 3 studies

Phase 3 clinical trial data demonstrate tiotropium’s potential benefit as an add-on treatment for asthma patients.

Benzodiazepine prescriptions with opioids increasing

In primary care clinics not only has there been an increase in opioid prescriptions, but there is also a persistent increase in benzodiazepine prescriptions over the last decade, according to new research.

Dabigatran bleeding risk: ISMP calls for FDA action

The high risk of bleeding in patients taking the anticoagulant dabigatran (Pradaxa) has been a major problem that the manufacturer and health experts have been trying to find solutions for over the last four years. Sixteen percent of patients experienced a bleed in one year, including 3.3% who had bleeds that required emergency medical treatment, according to one clinical trial.

More US adults relying on ADHD meds

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prescriptions for US. adults have more than doubled from 2008 to 2012, according to a report by Express Scripts.

Medication therapy management program slashes medication expenses 200% with better outcomes

Penicillin ‘allergy’ label at hospital admission can lead to longer hospital stays

A penicillin "allergy" label adversely affects the quantity and quality of healthcare in hospitalized patients, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The penicillin allergy label is the most common drug "allergy" listed in medical records during hospital admissions.

[INFOGRAPHIC]: E-cigarette use tied to smoking in teens

E-cigarette use is associated with cigarette smoking among teens, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics.

FDA approves first once-weekly pen for diabetes

Bringing a new tool to the arsenal of medications to treat type 2 diabetes, FDA recently approved the only once-weekly injectable pen for adults with type 2 diabetes.

Doribax label changed because of increased death risk

Because the antibacterial drug Doribax (doripenem) has an increased risk of death and lower clinical cure rates than other drugs for pneumonia, FDA approved a new label for the medication.

Saline shortages: A 3-step action plan

Hospital pharmacists are on the frontline of intravenous (IV) saline shortages and need to prepare an action plan to ensure patient safety.

Study establishes link between oral contraceptives and MS

Researchers have found a link between women who have taken oral contraceptives and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, this does not mean women should stop taking birth control.

Expansion of MTM services in Medicare proposal supported by pharmacy groups

Pharmacy groups, representing more than 100,000 pharmacists in different pharmacy practice settings, have written to CMS Administrator Marilyn B. Tavenner to express their support for the expansion of medication therapy management (MTM) services to Medicare Part D Beneficiaries in the CMS proposal released in early January.

Guidance on off-label drug use in pediatric population updated

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a policy statement updating its recommendations for off-label drug use in the pediatric population.

FDA: FDA approvals March 7

FDA drug approvals for the week ending March 7

Teva launches first orally inhaled drug for agitation in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries launched loxapine inhalation powder, 10 mg (Adasuve) March 3, for the acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar 1 disorder in adults.

Poor prescribing practices for antibiotics put patients at risk

Poor antibiotic prescribing practices are putting patients at risk for allergic reactions, super-resistant infections, and deadly diarrhea cause by Clostridium difficile, according to new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Generic morning-after pills: FDA to increase access

FDA is allowing generic sales of emergency contraceptives to be sold over the counter, without age restrictions, NPR reported.

BLOG: Hepatitis C and an expanding specialty pharmacy market basket of drugs

Drugs in Perspective: Liraglutide for the treatment of obesity

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that received FDA approval for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in 2010. The mechanism of action includes slowing gastric emptying, increasing glucose-dependent insulin secretion, decreasing inappropriate glucagon release, and instilling a feeling of satiety. Liraglutide is administered once daily by subcutaneous injection. Common adverse effects of liraglutide include nausea (28%), diarrhea (17%), vomiting (11%), and constipation (10%).

Preventing stroke in the elderly may be excessive

Patients more than 80 years old are being “over-treated” for stroke prevention and doctors need to actively rethink their priorities and beliefs about stroke prevention, according to a new study published in Evidence Based Medicine.

Stethoscopes can be substantially contaminated after physical exam

Stethoscopes can become contaminated with microorganisms following a physical examination and have similar levels of contamination as a physician’s dominant hand, according to a study conducted at a Swiss university teaching hospital in 2009 and published in the March issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

FDA panels votes down OTC Primatene HFA inhaler

FDA advisors decided against recommending over-the-counter (OTC) marketing approval of Primatene HFA inhaler (Armstrong Pharmaceuticals) for the temporary relief of mild symptoms of intermittent asthma in patients 12 years and older, at last week’s joint meeting of the FDA’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee.

OA treatment for knee pain approved by FDA

FDA has approved hyaluronic acid (HA) injection (Monovisc, Anika Therapeutics), a single-injection supplement to synovial fluid of the osteoarthritic joint, for the treatment of pain and the improvement of joint mobility in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

FDA drug approvals: March 2014

FDA actions in brief, breakthrough therapy designations, priority review, fast-track designations, orphan drug designations

NIH study seeks best way to safely step down asthma therapy

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are one of 18 clinical research centers taking part in a national study to establish guidelines for safely stepping down treatment in patients whose asthma is well controlled.

CDC: Flu vaccine more effective this year

This season's flu vaccine has reduced the risk of influenza-associated medical visits by 61% across all age groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thus far it appears to be outperforming its predecessor from 2012-2013, which had an effectiveness rate of 51%.

Forest Labs plans to discontinue Namenda tablets

Forest Laboratories plans to discontinue the sale of memantine HCl (Namenda) 5-mg and 10-mg tablets effective August 15, 2014. Forest has notified FDA of this decision.

Overdose fears fuel groups to urge FDA to revoke Zohydro

A coalition of doctors, addiction experts, and law enforcement officials are urging FDA to revoke approval of the powerful opioid Zohydro ER (hydrocodone bitartrate) extended-release capsules, which reportedly will contain 10 times more hydrocodone than Vicodin

Antihypertensive agents can raise risk of fall injuries in elderly

Blood pressure medications used by many older adults can increase the risk of serious fall injuries by 30% to 40%-injuries that have a similar effect on mortality and functional loss as the strokes and heart attacks the antihypertensive drugs are meant to prevent-according to a study in the Feb. 24 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

Risk scale for COPD could help with hospital admissions

In an attempt to determine which patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at high risk for serious adverse events upon presentation to the emergency department, Canadian researchers identified 10 clinical characteristics and developed a preliminary risk scale to help standardize the admission practices of these patients.