FDA enters consent decree of permanent injunction against Florida drug companies
October 11th 2011FDA recently announced that the District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered a consent decree that prohibits Hill Dermaceuticals Inc., Hill Labs Inc., and certain individuals from introducing adulterated drugs into interstate commerce.
FDA approves Combivent Respimat Inhalation Spray for patients with COPD
October 10th 2011FDA has approved ipratropium bromide and albuterol (Combivent Respimat Inhalation Spray, Boehringer Ingelheim) for patients using a regular aerosol bronchodilator who continue to have evidence of bronchospasm and who require a second bronchodilator.
FDA approves sitagliptin and simvastatin combination therapy
October 7th 2011FDA has approved sitagliptin and simvastatin (Juvisync, MSD International GmbH Clonmel), a fixed-dose combination prescription medication that contains 2 previously approved medications in 1 tablet for use by adults who need both sitagliptin and simvastatin.
OTC product news for pharmacists (September 2011)
September 19th 2011In this section we showcase products and product news that ran up against space limitations or fell outside the parameters of recently featured categories in the print edition. Look for more OTC Product News in upcoming issues of the Community Pharmacists? Report.
NSAIDs increase miscarriage risk in early pregnancy
September 13th 2011Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be used with caution during pregnancy, as exposure may increase the risk of spontaneous abortion, reported a study published online September 6 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
FDA panel recommends approval of rivaroxaban for stroke prevention
September 9th 2011An FDA advisory panel voted 9-2 (with 1 abstention) to recommend approval for rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Johnson & Johnson and Bayer AG), an oral, once-daily anticoagulant as a treatment to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
FDA acknowledges ongoing drug shortage, warns pharmacists of fraud
September 1st 2011Drugs such as Taxol, Cytarabine, Daunorubicin, Doxil, and Leucovorin are in short supply, delaying patients with various forms of cancer from getting the treatments they need or forcing them to seek alternative, possibly less-effective treatments, FDA announced recently.
Some patients may quit long-term Rxs after hospital discharge
August 31st 2011Patients discharged from the hospital are at increased risk of not continuing their long-term medications for chronic diseases, and ICU admission appears to expand this risk, according a recent study published August 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Daily azithromycin plus treatment decreased COPD exacerbations, improved QOL
August 31st 2011When added to usual treatment, azithromycin taken daily for 1 year decreased the frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations and improved quality of life among patients, reported a study published August 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine.