Drug Therapy

Gout drug prevents BP jump in men

December 17, 2009

Allopurinol, which is used to lower uric acid levels to counteract gout, may also reduce BP that has been raised by a diet high in fructose, the only common sugar currently known to increase uric acid levels.
 

Drug-drug interaction stumps doctors

September 17, 2009

A study found that physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants incorrectly identified more than 50% of drug pairs with potentially dangerous interactions.
 

FDA accepts application for once-weekly exenatide

July 13, 2009

The agency will review the New Drug Application submitted for once-weekly exenatide as a subcutaneous injectable treatment of type 2 diabetes.
 

FDA mandates smoking-cessation warnings

By Traci Dantoni July 02, 2009

The FDA is now requiring the popular smoking-cessation drugs varenicline and bupropion to carry the highest safety warning amid reports of suicide and depression.
 

Statins may prevent PSA relapse

July 01, 2009

After radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, men who took the medications had a 30% lower risk.
 

MPR drug database available to mobile devices

June 08, 2009

The popular service adds handhelds to its desktop and laptop offerings, including Blackberry and Palm.
 

New HIV strategies presented at CROI

By Kevin J. Armington, MD May 26, 2009

Cortlandt Forum correspondent Kevin J. Armington, MD, reports on highlights from the 16th Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), which took place recently in Montreal.
 

New evidence points to earlier start for HIV treatment

May 11, 2009

Starting antiretroviral therapy for HIV when CD4 counts are as high as 500 cells/mm3 reduces mortality risks by as much as 94%, according to several recent studies.
 

Boosting pancreatic beta cells

Question by Shah Niranjan, MD, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.; response by Lyle Mitzner, MD April 20, 2009

Is there a role for sitagliptin in enhancing pancreatic beta-cell function or quantity? Our expert discusses the issue.
 

Hair loss as a side effect of statins?

Question by Jyoti Khatri, MD, Omaha; response by Peter F. Cohn, MD April 15, 2009

A 63-year-old woman wants to discontinue the simvastatin (Zocor) 10 mg she is taking for hypercholesterolemia because she believes the medication is causing her to lose her hair. Is there any evidence supporting this side effect of Zocor?
 

Switch meds for this patient with diabetes?

Question from Mostafa M. Rehab, MD, Greensburg, Ind; response by Lyle D. Mitzner, MD March 27, 2009

Can this patient's insulin glargine dose be increased? If so, how high? Should he be switched to insulin detemir?
 

Symbyax approved for treatment-resistant depression

March 23, 2009

The FDA has approved a new indication for Eli Lilly's Symbyax(R) (olanzapine and fluoxetine HCl capsules). Symbyax is the first drug approved by the FDA for the acute treatment of treatment-resistant depression.
 

Too many alerts mar e-prescriptions

March 20, 2009

Does prescribing software give you too much of a good thing with its constant drug warnings? Alert fatigue could waste time and, worse, harm patients.
 

Anti-anxiety effect of zolpidem

Question asked by Eric Busse and Shailendra K. Saxena, MD, PhD, Omaha, and answered by David Brody, MD March 16, 2009

Do any data support the use of zolpidem as an antianxiolytic agent?
 

FDA approves insomnia drug

March 16, 2009

Edluar (formerly Sublinox) 5 mg and 10 mg sublingual tablets can be used for short-term treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep initiation.
 

Persistent Nocturia? Diuretic May Help

March 11, 2009

Adding a diuretic to alpha-blocker therapy may be an effective second-line treatment for nocturia in some men with lower urinary tract symptoms, according to researchers.
 

FDA approves Symbicort for COPD

March 03, 2009

The FDA has approved Symbicort 160/4.5 micrograms (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dehydrate, from AstraZeneca) for the maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
 

Apidra SoloSTAR insulin pen approved

February 27, 2009

The FDA has approved a new prefilled disposable insulin pen from sanofi-aventis.
 

From the Editorial Board: I thought I knew how to manage diabetes

By Daniel G. Federman, MD February 19, 2009

The ACCORD, ADVANCE, and other trials have suggested a shifting landscape in diabetes treatment. After you read what this physician thinks, let us know your thoughts.
 

Subcutaneous vs. IV insulin

Question from Dennis A. Fito, MD, Oklahoma City; response by Lyle Mitzner, MD February 17, 2009

Can administering subcutaneous insulin every one to two hours substitute of IV insulin therapy?
 

Contemporary insulin administration

Question asked by Steven Schwartz, MD, Bronx, N.Y., and answered by Lyle Mitzner, MD February 05, 2009

An update on administering insulin
 

Cleviprex

February 05, 2009

An IV calcium channel blocker to reduce BP from The Medicines Company
 

Antidepressants ease fibromyalgia complaints

By Myra Dembrow February 05, 2009

Antidepressants are effective against most symptoms, a meta-analysis of clinical trials reports.
 

Popular drugs lower PSA levels

January 21, 2009

According to a pair of recent studies, two of the most commonly used classes of medication—statins and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—may compromise already controversial cancer screenings by lowering serum levels of prostate-specific antigen.
 

Autoimmune and vasculitic renal diseases

Question asked by Dennis Fito, MD, Oklahoma City, and answered by Edgar V. Lerma, MD January 09, 2009

The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of autoimmune and vasculitic renal diseases
 

ARBs and ACE inhibitors for proteinuria

Question asked by Absar Qureshi, MD, Columbus, Ohio, and answered by Edgar V. Lerma, MD January 09, 2009

Can we prescribe the ARBs and the ACE inhibitors in insurance company formularies for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, or must we push for specific agents?
 

Lowering LDL cholesterol still important, says FDA

January 09, 2009

The agency reaffirmed its position that elevated amounts of LDL are a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke, and sudden death and that lowering LDL cholesterol reduces the risk of these diseases.
 

Inhaled steroids for pregnant patients

Question by Absar Quereshi, MD, Columbus; answer by R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM January 07, 2009

Are the recommendations for inhaled steroids different for pregnan patients?
 

Non-group A strep: A continuing debate

Question by Russell W. Piper, MD, Washington, Pa., and answer by Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH January 05, 2009

A reader seeks conclusive evidence-based data that "treatment is definitely indicated" in patients with significant clinical complaints and positive testing for non-group A strep.
 

FDA approves new extended release painkiller

January 05, 2009

The agency gives the nod to Ryzolt (tramadol HCl extended-release tablets), a once-daily formulation of the analgesic tramadol. Ryzolt is indicated for the management of moderate-to-moderately severe chronic pain in adults who require long-term, around-the-clock pain treatment.
 

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