Drug Formulary Review articles from April 2005

Drug Formulary Review archives from April 2005

FDA panelists stop short of removing pain killers from market.
April 1, 2005... FDA panelists stop short of removing pain killers from market Stronger warnings, patient information recommended for the drugs A joint U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has allowed three cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)...

Meta-analysis: BP elevation with COX-2 inhibitors.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Meta-analysis: BP elevation with COX-2 inhibitors A recently published meta-analysis associates cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors with a point-estimate blood pressure (BP) elevation compared with placebo and nonselective nonsteroidal...

More vigilance needed in prescribing for the elderly.
April 1, 2005... More vigilance needed in prescribing for the elderly 'Fewer-the-better' approach has fallen by the wayside Conventional wisdom has swung toward concerns about underuse of beneficial drug therapies for older Americans, says a physician...

Aspirin helps prevent strokes, not heart attacks in middle-aged women.
April 1, 2005... Aspirin helps prevent strokes, not heart attacks in middle-aged women Study reveals gender differences Results from a new major study show that middle-aged women who take aspirin lowered their risk of having a stroke, but their risk of...

Biogen Idec voluntarily suspends natalizumab marketing.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Biogen Idec voluntarily suspends natalizumab marketing The FDA has announced that Biogen Idec is voluntarily suspending marketing of natalizumab (Tysabri) because of two serious adverse events reported with its use. The FDA has...

FDA issues public health advisory on rosuvastatin (Crestor).
April 1, 2005... FDA issues public health advisory on rosuvastatin (Crestor) The FDA has announced that Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals has revised the package insert for the cholesterol-lowering drug rosuvastatin (Crestor). The label changes include results...

Americans count on drugs but question manufacturers' motives.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Americans count on drugs but question manufacturers' motives Although many Americans count on prescription drugs to improve their health and quality of life, many say drug makers place financial gain ahead of consumers' well-being, a recent...

U.S. marshals seize lots of paroxetine, others.
April 1, 2005... U.S. marshals seize lots of paroxetine, others In a response to ongoing concerns about manufacturing quality, the FDA and the Department of Justice initiated seizures of paroxetine (Paxil) CR and rosiglitazone maleate and metformin HCl...

New FDA Approvals.
April 1, 2005... These drugs were recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): * Vaccinia immune globulin intravenous (VIGIV) by DynPort Vaccine Co. LLC. The FDA has approved vaccinia immune globulin intravenous (VIGIV), the first...

CE Questions.
April 1, 2005... CE Questions Pharmacists participate in this continuing education program by reading the article, using the provided references for further research, and studying the CE questions. Participants should select what they believe to be the...