Pharmacology Watch
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AMA: Ban Direct-to-Consumer Ads
The American Medical Association is concerned the billions of dollars spent on drug and device ads is “driving demand for expensive treatments despite the clinical effectiveness of less costly alternatives” and is “fueling escalating drug prices.”
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Sildenafil Improves Insulin Sensitivity
Chronic use of sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra) improves insulin sensitivity in prediabetics, according to a new study.
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Group Calls for Generic Drug Use
The American College of Physicians recommends the use of generic medications when possible.
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FDA Actions
FDA approves reversal agents, signs off on schizophrenia drug, warns of liver damage associated with hepatitis C treatment, green lights hyperkalemia treatment, and approves the first oncolytic virus for the treatment of melanoma.
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Rethinking Calcium Supplementation
Increasing calcium intake from dietary sources or supplements produces small, non-progressive increases in bone mineral density, which are unlikely to make a clinically significant reduction in fracture.
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FDA Actions
FDA strengthens warning about canagliflozin, approves cariprazine to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and green lights insulin degludec, a new long-acting insulin analog.
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Spironolactone Effective Add-on for Resistant Hypertension Patients
Spironolactone was the most effective add-on drug for treatment of resistant hypertension, suggesting that sodium retention plays a role in this condition.
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Study: Delay Shingles Vaccine to Age 60
The shingles vaccine does not represent a good value for patients at age 50 years, according to generally accepted standards.
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CDC Issues New Guidelines for Pneumococcal Vaccines
The time interval between the two vaccines improves the immune response.
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Diabetes Drug Reduces Heart Failure, Cardiovascular Death Risk
Patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk for cardiovascular disease who received empagliflozin had significantly lower rates of the composite cardiac vascular outcome and death from any cause.