FDA approves drug to treat opioid addiction

FDA has approved a once-daily buprenorphine/naloxone (Zubsolv, Orexo) sublingual tablet CIII for use as maintenance treatment for people with opioid dependence. It should be used as part of a complete treatment plan that includes counseling and psychosocial support. » Full article

FDA approves drug for bipolar depression

FDA approved 2 new indications for the use of lurasidone HCl (Latuda, Sunovion and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma) as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy with either lithium or valproate, for adults with bipolar depression. » Full article

Olmesartan medoxomil safety warning

FDA issued a warning July 3 that olmesartan medoxomil, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), may cause sprue-like enteropathy several months to years after initiation of treatment.
» Full article

Women and opioid-related deaths

Opioid overdose deaths in women in the United States increased 5-fold from 1999 to 2010. During the same time period, the risk of opioid pain reliever (OPR) deaths in men increased 3.6 times, according to the July 2 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
» Full article

Continuing Education

Pain Management: New July CPE activity available

Welcome to our CPE series: Pain Management Considerations for Medication Therapy Management, which has been designed for pharmacists who take care of patients who need pain relief. You can earn up to 10 credits by completing our April 2013 through August 2013 monthly knowledge-based activities and 2 credits from September 2013 to October 2013 with 2 monthly interactive online case studies.

The July activity covers regulatory and ethical issues in pain management.

To read and print the article with TEST QUESTIONS, click here. To proceed to the online exams and earn up to 2 CPE credits, click here to log in.

Announcement: Welcome to the new user registration process. This new process requires all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to provide or update their NABP e-Profile ID in order to electronically keep track of CPE credits from ACPE-accredited providers. If you have not done so, you can obtain your NABP e-Profile ID now at www.MyCPEmonitor.net. This profile will enable you to have one login for all the NABP programs and services you will need throughout your career.

The current state of HIV therapy [INFOGRAPH]

Incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has decreased dramatically since its emergence in the early 1980s, but it remains a worldwide epidemic. There is a reduction in newly diagnosed patients, but prevalence is increasing due to a longer life expectancy, which is attributed in part to highly effective antiretroviral therapies. Newly approved and investigational antiretroviral therapies provide additional options for the healthcare team to prevent progression of disease as well as transmission of HIV. » Full article

• FDA approves Diclegis for treatment of morning sickness

• Medication management care transition guide

• Medication adherence reduces cost for CAD patients

• AMCP calls on Congress for prohibition of generic exclusion agreements

SURVEY

With a third new oral agent (Tecfidera) recently introduced for relapsing-remitting MS, how will the MS market look in the next 3-5 years?

— Orals will become the most frequently prescribed products

— Injectables will continue to dominate market share

— Equal split between orals and injectables

Click Here to let us know.

RESOURCES

Drug Watch

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