MEDICATION SAFETY

FDA cautions healthcare providers about Pradaxa

FDA is cautioning healthcare providers about the safety of dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim), because of a large clinical trial that showed “serious bleeding events” associated with the anticoagulant. » More

HHS secretary overrules FDA on widening availability of Plan B drug

Levonorgestrel (Plan B One-Step, Teva) will remain available by prescription only to adolescents aged 16 years and younger after the Health and Human Services secretary overruled FDA’s recommendation to allow the emergency contraceptive to be sold over the counter. » More

CLINICAL NEWS

Ranbaxy launches generic Caduet

Ranbaxy has launched an authorized generic version of Caduet in the US market, as part of an agreement with Pfizer. » More

Majority of emergency department visits are due to adverse drug reactions, study finds

A surprisingly few medication classes are responsible for the majority of emergency department visits due to adverse drug reactions among US adults aged 65 years and older, according to a study published in the November 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. » More

Statins show benefits years after treatment stops

Long-term statin use is safe and effective, and it may continue to produce benefits without serious side effects years after patients stop taking the drugs, according to a study published online November 23 in The Lancet. » More

Editor's Pick

Medication Safety and Reliability

FDA requires several changes to bevacizumab label to include safety information.
» Click here.

Survey

With the recent introduction of rivaroxaban (Xarelto) as the second new branded oral anticoagulant alternative to warfarin (the other being Pradaxa), what do you see as the primary positioning of these products in the management of chronic atrial fibrillation?

a) Should be used as first-line therapy in all patients with this diagnosis
b) Reserved as first-line therapy for only those patients who are unable to take warfarin due to contraindications
c) Reserved for second-line use only in those patients who have failed warfarin due to unmanageable side effects, lack of efficacy, and/or inability to maintain adequate INRs
d) b & c
e) Leave it entirely up to discretion of the clinician based upon individual patient circumstances

Respond here and see what your colleagues think too.

Want to see the results of our last survey regarding specialty pharmacies and their service offerings?
Click here.

Abciximab-heparin combination treatment is no more effective than bivalirudin, study finds

Abciximab plus unfractionated heparin was no more effective than bivalirudin at reducing risk of death or other events for patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, according to a study published online November 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine. » More

Alcohol is a risk factor for BBD in young women with family history of breast cancer, study finds

Adolescent girls with a family history of breast cancer who drink alcohol are at an increased risk for benign breast disease as young women, according to a study published November 14 in Cancer. » More

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