Drug Formulary Review Archives – March 1, 2003
March 1, 2003
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Health care workers express concerns over smallpox immunization plans
The Bush administrations plan to immunize half a million health care workers against the smallpox virus is meeting increasing resistance. As of the last press telebriefing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on Feb. 6, the agency had shipped 204,600 doses of vaccine to 40 states or counties that had requested it. The CDC, however, had documentation of fewer than 700 people in 16 jurisdictions being vaccinated in the first two weeks of the program. -
Judge stops Medicare Rx discount program again
The Bush administrations latest try at proposing a Medicare drug discount plan was shot down by a federal judge Jan. 29. Now the administration says it may turn to Congress for help. -
Diuretic suggested as initial hypertension treatment
The largest hypertension trial ever conducted is recommending thiazide diuretics as initial therapy over newer, more costly angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or calcium channel blockers. The researchers do say, however, that most patients will need to be prescribed more than one drug to control their blood pressure. -
Changing physician practice a challenge
After reviewing results of the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT), some physicians predicted that the findings would soon change medical practice in hypertension. -
News Briefs
FDA approves new labels for hormone therapy; USP gives tips to prevent drug errors in children; American Pharmaceutical Association changes name; Consumers still taking risks with OTC painkillers -
In the Pipeline
The following drugs are in various stages of clinical studies and trials. -
Drug Criteria & Outcomes: Moxifloxacin IV formulary evaluation
Moxifloxacin (Avelox), a member of the fluoroquinolone class of antibacterial agents, possesses a broad spectrum of bacterial coverage, including both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms.1 Moxifloxacin also offers some coverage against anaerobic bacteria. -
Drug Criteria & Outcomes: New FDA Approvals
These drugs recently received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):