Formulary Watch |
All News - Page 156
Low literacy predicts nonadherence to medication regimens
March 18, 2011
Many patients, especially those with limited literacy, do not consolidate prescription medication regimens efficiently, which could lead to nonadherence, according to a recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Both benefits and adverse effects influence elderly's adherence to cardiovascular medication
March 18, 2011
The willingness of the elderly to take medication for primary cardiovascular disease prevention is relatively insensitive to its benefit but highly sensitive to its adverse effects, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
FDA: Monthly liver enzyme tests no longer needed for PAH drug
March 11, 2011
FDA has approved a change to the prescribing information for ambrisentan 5-mg and 10-mg tablets (Letairis, Gilead Sciences) once-daily treatment to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group 1) and predominantly WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms.
Opioid use in pregnant women is linked to higher risk of birth defects
March 11, 2011
The risk of certain birth defects is higher in women given opioid analgesics such as hydrocodone during pregnancy, according to a new study.
FDA to remove unapproved cough, cold, and allergy drugs from market
March 11, 2011
FDA recently announced its plans to remove certain unapproved prescription medicines used to treat cough, cold, and allergy symptoms.
Coadministration of flu, pneumococcal vaccine increases febrile seizure risk
March 11, 2011
Children aged 6 to 23 months who receive trivalent inactivated flu vaccine concurrently with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine are at increased risk of febrile seizures, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Bevacizumab implicated in treatment-related death in cancer patients
March 11, 2011
The angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab, used with chemotherapy or biological therapy, carries an increased risk of treatment-related death in cancer patients compared with chemotherapy alone, a new study shows.
Cancer drug may save sight of premature infants
March 11, 2011
The anticancer drug bevacizumab could help prevent babies with retinopathy of prematurity from becoming blind, reports a new study from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School.
Labeling change for antipsychotic drugs highlights risk to newborns
March 11, 2011
FDA has updated the pregnancy section of drug labels for the entire class of antipsychotic medications to provide more information about the potential risk of extrapyramidal signs and withdrawal symptoms in newborns whose mothers take antipsychotics during the third trimester of pregnancy.
FDA advisory committee recommends approval of once-daily bronchodilator for COPD
March 9, 2011
FDA's Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted to approve Novartis' QAB149 (indacaterol) 75 µg as a once-daily long-term maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema, PR Newswire reported.
ACP issues guideline for intensive insulin therapy in hospitalized patients
March 4, 2011
The American College of Physicians recently issued 3 recommendations for use of intensive insulin therapy for the management of glycemic control in hospitalized patients.
FDA approves roflumilast for severe COPD
March 4, 2011
FDA approved the first-and-only selective phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor roflumilast (Daliresp, Forest Pharmaceuticals), once-daily oral tablet to decrease the frequency of exacerbations or worsening of symptoms from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
FDA approves guanfacine ER tablets to treat ADHD in children, teens
March 4, 2011
FDA approved the use of once-daily guanfacine (Intuniv, Shire) extended-release tablets as adjunctive therapy to stimulants for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years as part of a total treatment program.
FDA issues CRL to EMD Serono's MS drug
March 4, 2011
FDA issued a complete response letter to EMD Serono, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, requesting additional information on cladribine (Movectro), a drug intended for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Corticosteroids' safety affirmed in treatment of childhood asthma
March 4, 2011
Children being treated with a short course of oral corticosteroids for an acute asthma attack may experience a brief and transient depression of their immune response, according to a recent study conducted by Université de Montréal.
Company expands generic warfarin recall to other product lines
March 4, 2011
A recent recall of generic warfarin tablets was expanded to include 6 other drug products prepared on the same packaging line.
US Marshals seize Auralgan Otic Solution
March 4, 2011
In mid February, US Marshals acting on a request of FDA seized all lots of Auralgan Otic Solution from Integrated Commercialization Solutions in Brooks, Ky.
Formulary Digital Edition March 2011
March 1, 2011
Treatment of bipolar disorder: A focus on medication therapy for mania; Focus on ceftaroline; Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of rare cancers
Drug Watch: Rare cancers (PDF) (March 2011)
March 1, 2011
Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of rare cancers.
FDA Pipeline Preview, March 2011 (Contrave, rabeprazole sodium extended-release capsules, Avodart, Mu Delta, Carfilzomib, Vascugel, INX-0818, vosaroxin, Acurox, fidaxomicin, melanoma cancer vaccine, NSI-566RSC, Regorafenib)
March 1, 2011
Recent FDA action (through, February 2011) related to Contrave, rabeprazole sodium extended-release capsules, Avodart, Mu Delta, Carfilzomib, Vascugel, INX-0818, vosaroxin, Acurox, fidaxomicin, melanoma cancer vaccine, NSI-566RSC, Regorafenib.
Fentanyl sublingual tablets (Abstral): An opioid analgesic for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients
March 1, 2011
New formulation: Fentanyl sublingual tablets were approved by FDA to manage breakthrough pain in patients aged ?18 years who are already receiving and tolerant to opioids for their underlying persistent cancer pain.
First-time generic approvals March 2011
March 1, 2011
Generic drugs approved by FDA (through February 2011): Galantamine hydrobromide
Health system databases support comparative studies, quality assessment, and regulatory decision-making
March 1, 2011
The active drug safety surveillance system being established by FDA promises to do more than obtain timely adverse event information on marketed medicines.
Vilazodone hydrochloride (Viibryd): A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and partial 5HT1A receptor agonist for the treatment of major depressive disorder
March 1, 2011
New molecular entity: Vilazodone hydrochloride tablets were approved by FDA on January 21, 2011, for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults.
FDA Actions in Brief March 2011 (Edarbi, Gralise, Rituxan, Menveo, Makena, Corifact, Epicyn HydroGel)
March 1, 2011
Recent FDA Approvals (through February 2011) related to Edarbi, Gralise, Rituxan, Menveo, Makena, Corifact, Epicyn HydroGel
Treatment of bipolar disorder: A focus on medication therapy for mania
March 1, 2011
In recent years there has been an explosion of new investigations into the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and its medication therapies. This article will review current, emerging, and controversial therapies for the treatment of bipolar disorder, specifically the mania aspect.
Ceftaroline: A novel cephalosporin with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae activity
March 1, 2011
Ceftaroline has demonstrated activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae as well as common respiratory Gram-negatives including Haemophilus, Moraxella, and Klebsiella species.
FDA approves azilsartan medoxomil to treat hypertension
February 28, 2011
FDA approved azilsartan medoxomil tablets (Edarbi, Takeda Pharmaceutical North America) to treat hypertension in adults.
Drugs in short supply: Change and challenge among all stakeholders
February 25, 2011
Unprecedented levels of drug shortages, especially those drugs for which there are no substitutes, has prompted legislators to take action. Since the inception of the FDA Drug Shortage Program in 2000, the agency has been tracking the nation?s prescription pharmaceuticals and publishing a list of drugs in short supply.
