Pharmacists Clinical Briefs

• Folate Supplementation Linked to Increased Cancer Incidence and Mortality CME/CE The finding comes from a new analysis of data from 2 cardiovascular trials but American researchers suggest there is a benefit and no cancer problem with folic acid fortification.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Nicotine Patch Plus Lozenge Best Therapy for Smoking Cessation CME/CE An important head-to-head study of smoking cessation therapies shows combination treatment with a nicotine patch plus lozenge doubles the rate of abstinence at 6 months.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• FDA Approvals: Arzerra and Berinert CME/CE The FDA has granted accelerated approval of ofatumumab intravenous infusion for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and has also approved an intravenous therapy for hereditary angioedema.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: DepoDur, Neoral, Lexiva CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for morphine sulfate extended-release liposome injection, cyclosporine capsules and oral solution, and fosamprenavir calcium tablets and oral suspension.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• First-Time Antipsychotic Use Linked to Rapid Weight Gain, Adverse Metabolic Changes in Kids CME/CE First-time, second-generation antipsychotic use in children and adolescents is associated with rapid and significant weight gain as well as varied adverse metabolic changes, new research shows.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Inhaled Corticosteroids May Be Helpful in Steroid-Naive Patients With Moderate to Severe COPD CME/CE In a randomized controlled trial, inhaled corticosteroids reduced inflammation and slowed decline in lung function in these patients; adding a long-acting beta agonist did not enhance these effects.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Elitek, Fluarix, Votrient CME/CE The FDA has approved an expanded indication for rasburicase intravenous infusion, a pediatric use of a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, and pazopanib tablets for advanced renal cell carcinoma.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• CDC Issues Guidelines for Early Empiric Antiviral Treatment in Persons With Suspected Influenza CME/CE The new recommendations aim to assist clinicians in prioritizing use of antiviral medications for hospitalized patients and those at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Ultram, Ultracet, Sustiva, Kayexalate CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for tramadol HCl tablets, tramadol plus acetaminophen tablets, efavirenz capsules and tablets, and sodium polystyrene sulfonate powder.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Intramuscular Methylprednisolone-Acetate May Be Helpful in Very Early Inflammatory Polyarthritis CME/CE In a randomized controlled trial, this treatment appears to postpone the prescription of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and prevent 1 in 10 patients from progressing into rheumatoid arthritis.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Gardasil, Cervarix, Micardis CME/CE The FDA has approved a vaccine for the prevention of genital warts in males, a human papillomavirus vaccine for cervical cancer prevention, and an expanded indication for telmisartan.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• New-Onset Breast Tenderness During Hormone Therapy Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Risk CME/CE In a randomized controlled trial, new-onset breast tenderness during conjugated equine estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone therapy was associated with increased breast cancer risk.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Nontramadol Opioids Should Not Be Routinely Used for Osteoarthritis CME/CE In a review, small to moderate benefits of nontramadol opioids were outweighed by large increases in risk for adverse events; these should not be used routinely even if osteoarthritic pain is severe.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Mirena, Welchol, FetaLink CME/CE The FDA has approved a new indication for a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, an expanded indication for colesevelam, and clearance granted to maternal-fetal data-keeping software.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• New Review Confirms Homocysteine Lowering Does Not Prevent CVD Events CME/CE The latest review to look at the effects of homocysteine lowering with vitamin-B supplementation has come to much the same conclusions as most other studies and analyses in this field.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• Prenatal SSRIs Linked to Problems in Newborns CME/CE Babies of mothers who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy are more likely to have preterm birth, low 5-minute Apgar scores, and neonatal intensive care unit admission.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Symbyax, Zoladex, INOmax CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for olanzapine/fluoxetine HCl capsules (Symbyax), goserelin acetate implants (Zoladex), and nitric oxide for inhalation (INOmax).
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Tamiflu, Stelara, Folotyn CME/CE The FDA has approved use of oseltamivir phosphate 12-mg/mL oral suspension, ustekinumab subcutaneous injection, and accelerated approval and orphan drug status for pralatrexate injection.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Arixtra, Sulfonylureas, Tobramycin CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for fondaparinux sodium, glipizide and glipizide extended-release tablets, micronized glyburide, glipizide/metformin, glyburide, and tobramycin.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• European Guidelines Update Drug Treatment of Migraine CME/CE Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and triptans, preceded by antiemetics, are now advised for the acute treatment of migraine under updated treatment guidelines.
  Reuters Health Information CME, October 2009