Drug Formulary Review articles from August 2005

Drug Formulary Review archives from August 2005

FDA approves heart failure drug specifically for black patients.
August 1, 2005... Calls action step toward 'promise of personalized medicine' The FDA has approved a drug for the treatment of heart failure specifically in self-identified black patients, the first time an approval has targeted a racial group. In an...

ED docs uneasy using rt-PA to treat ischemic stroke.
August 1, 2005... Pharmacists are needed to ensure correct dose A survey of emergency department (ED) physicians found that 40% were not likely to use recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on ischemic stroke patients, even in an ideal setting....

Hydroxyurea more effective than anagrelide (Agrylin).
August 1, 2005... Should be first-line therapy for high-risk patients The older drug hydroxyurea plus aspirin has shown to be more effective than the more expensive anagrelide (Agrylin) plus aspirin in treating patients with essential thrombocythemia at high...

Study: Lack of compliance increases medical costs.
August 1, 2005... Patients with diabetes and high cholesterol can save the health care system millions of dollars by properly taking their medication, according to a new study from Medco Health Solutions in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Although prescription drug...

FDA announces efavirenz labeling changes.
August 1, 2005... Bristol-Myers Squibb and the FDA have notified health care professionals of revisions to the prescribing information for efavirenz (Sustiva), which is indicated in the treatment of HIV-1 infection. The revisions are a result of four...

Closely watched TB drug enters clinical trial.
August 1, 2005... A new drug candidate that may be effective against both actively dividing and slow-growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis has begun testing in humans, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National...

FDA limits gefitinib patient population.
August 1, 2005... The FDA has approved new labeling for gefitinib (Iressa), which limits the indication to cancer patients who, in the opinion of their treating physician, are currently benefiting, or have previously benefited, from gefitinib treatment. The FDA...

FDA, Qualitest recall insulin syringes.
August 1, 2005... Qualitest Pharmaceuticals and the FDA have notified health care professionals and consumers of a voluntary nationwide recall of AccuSure Insulin Syringes 1 cc, 28 Gauge 1/2 Inch, distributed between October 2004 and June 2005. There may be 1 cc...

These drugs recently were approved by the FDA:.
August 1, 2005... * Tipranavir (Aptivus) by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. The FDA has approved tipranavir (Aptivus) capsules, an HIV protease inhibitor, to be given with ritonavir for treatment of HIV-1-infected adults. This is the second drug approved...

Ziconotide (Prialt) Formulary Evaluation.
August 1, 2005... Part 2 of 2: Overdose, Patient/Staff Education, Clinical Trial Summary, Summary and Recommendations By Tiffany Gilmer, PharmD Candidate Harrison School of Pharmacy Auburn (AL) University Overdose In patients who received...

CE questions.
August 1, 2005... 5. There is no evidence of tolerance observed with Ziconotide (Prialt). *True *False 6. Ziconotide therapy can be interrupted or discontinued abruptly without evidence of withdrawal effects in the event of serious neurological or...