Cholesterol-lowering agent leads list of most-prescribed drugs

Rosuvastatin (Crestor, AstraZeneca), a cholesterol-lowering agent, is currently the most-prescribed drug among the 100 most-prescribed and best-selling drugs in the United States. In the past 12 months, new prescriptions and refills for rosuvastatin have been estimated to amount to 23.7 million. » Here are the top-selling drugs

Risk of exacerbations of COPD not increased in patients discontinuing inhaled glucocorticoids

Risk of moderate or severe exacerbations in patients with severe but stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who receive tiotropium plus salmeterol has been found to be similar among patients discontinuing inhaled glucocorticoids and subjects continuing their use. » Read more about the study

Continuing Education

MTM essentials for weight management

This month's CE activity is part of a year-long CPE series, Medication Therapy Management Considerations for Adult Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. From February 2014 through January 2015, pharmacists can earn up to 24 hours of CPE credit with 12 monthly knowledge-based activities from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Drug Topics.

The goal of this month's activity is to educate pharmacists about the prevalence, health consequences, and nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment options for obesity, with a focus on the recommendations made in the 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS guideline for the management of overweight and obesity in adults.

To read and print the article with TEST QUESTIONS, click here. To proceed to the online exam and earn up to 2 CPE credits, click here to log in with the session code 14DT12-FKX42.

Announcement: Our CE activities have moved to a new learning management system to better serve you. The login to the Online CE Center is https://web2.uconn.edu/pharmacyce/login.php. All current user registration information has been uploaded for your convenience. Current users do not need to register. To review your registration page to ensure the data is up to date or to register, go to https://web2.uconn.edu/pharmacyce/program_register.php. For a full list of courses, go to http://pharmacy.uconn.edu/academics/ce/drug-topics-and-uconn-ce/

Drugs in Perspective: Otezla (apremilast)

Otezla (apremilast), a small-molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), was approved for a second indication, the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. » Read about the drug's relevance, advantages and disadvantages, and cost

• Poorer diets, weight gain associated with statin use

• Maintaining normal waist circumference can help prevent COPD

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