Current page: Drug Therapy Topics
Page Last Revised: 8/2/00

Drug Alerts!

Drug Formulary Information.

Drug Therapy Topics

Vaccine and Immunobiologics Information

Natural Products Comprehensive Database

PubMed (MEDLINE)

Micromedex

MINDscape

IPA/Drugs &
Pharmacology File

Computer Tips

Disease Management &
Alternative Products

FDA, Reference Library, &
Other Relevant Web Sites

Pharmacy-Compiled
Information

As indicated by the icon, some Drug Therapy Topics files are in Portable Document Format to retain the layout of the original publication. (To view PDF documents, you must use Adobe Acrobat Reader. Acrobat Reader (complete with installation instructions) is free and available directly from Adobe's web site. If your computer does not already have Acrobat Reader loaded, you can download it from the Adobe web site. For your convenience, a link to the Adobe web site is located at the bottom of this document. Please check with your system administrator before attempting to download Acrobat Reader.)

Terms of Use

August 2000

• Vol. 29 No. 8 Newsletter (65K file)
  I. Iron, EPO, and Cancer: A Conservative Approach (by Heather L. Davis, Pharm.D.) Bibliography (33K file)
  
  
• Vol. 29 No. 8 Supplement: Contemporary Issues in Drug Therapy (33K file)

  I. DRUGS IN DEVELOPMENT -- First Drug to Treat Sepsis May Be on the Horizon
  

  II. NEW DRUGS & INDICATIONS -- Etanercept for Early-Stage rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
  

  III. DRUG EVALUATION

  -- Lipid-Lowering Statins Prevent Fractures in Older Women
  -- Evolving Role of Anti-Estrogens in Breast Cancer
  -- Warfarin for Cancer Prevention
  -- Add Salmeterol Rather than Increase Steroid Dose for Sysmptomatic Asthma
  -- Venlafaxine Relieves Diabetic Neuropathy Pain
  

  IV. CONTROVERSIES AND DILEMMAS -- Five-Year Survival Rates and Cancer Mortality

  VI. DRUG SAFETY -- Confusion in Prescribing Lamictal and Lamisil

  VII. VACCINES

  -- Manufacturing Problems Delay Flu Vaccine
  -- Field Trial Demonstrates Chickenpox Vaccine Efficacy

  VIII. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE -- Chinese Herbal Diabetes Products Adulterated, Unsafe

July 2000

• Vol. 29 No. 7 Newsletter (65K file)
  I. Optimal Properties of Agents Used to Treat Acute, Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (by Julie Garrison, Pharm.D.) Bibliography (33K file)
  II. Letter from ID Subcommittee to Medical Staff Regarding Linezolid
  III. Percocet Reminder: Strength Required on Prescriptions
  
• Vol. 29 No. 7 Supplement: Contemporary Issues in Drug Therapy (65K file)

  I. NEW DRUGS & INDICATIONS

  -- Insulin Glargine for Type 1 and 2 Diabetes
  -- FDA Approves Third New NSAID

  II. DRUG EVALUATION

  -- Drugs Ameliorate Hot Flashes in Women with Breast Cancer
  -- Media Celebrates the Pill's 40th Birthday
  -- Prevention of Delayed Nausea and Vomiting Induced by Chemotherapy
  -- Tamoxifen Reduces Breast Cancer Deaths in US and UK
  -- COX-2 Selective NSAIDS: Safety Issues
  -- Short-Acting Inhaled Beta-Agonists: To Be Taken Regularly or as Needed
  -- Treatment in Early Parkinson's Disease with Ropinirole or Levodopa

  III. BIOTECHNOLOGY -- Genetic Polymorphisms Predict Clozapine Response

  IV. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE -- Herbal Preparation Said to Slow Prostate Cancer Progression

June 2000

• Vol. 29 No. 6 Newsletter (98K file)
  I. Use of Anticonvulsants for Painful Neuropathy (by Megan McMurray, Pharm.D.) Bibliography (33K file)
  II. Potential for Adverse Drug Events: St. John's Wort-Associated Drug Interactions (by Elizabeth Rudy, D.V.M., R.Ph.)
  III. ADR Report Summary
  
• Vol. 29 No. 6 Supplement: Contemporary Issues in Drug Therapy (65K file)
  I. BIOTECHNOLOGY

  -- Gene Therapy for SCID and Hemophilia B Shows Efficacy
  -- Leukemia Antibody Therapy

  II. DRUG EVALUATION

  -- Underuse of Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation Patients Criticized
  -- Place of Aspirin Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism
  

  III. NEW DRUGS & INDICATIONS

  -- Celecoxib Indicated for Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
  -- Leuprolide Implant for Prostate Cancer

  IV. DRUG SAFETY

  -- More Information on HRT and Breast Cancer Risk
  -- Alendronate Safe for Postmenopausal Women
  

  V. VACCINES

  -- Pneumococcal Vaccine for Infants and Young Children
  -- Vaccine Modified for 2000-2001 Influenza Season

  VI. PHARMACOECONOMICS -- Full Course AZT for Vertical Prophylaxis is Cost-Saving

April/May 2000

• Vol. 29 No. 4-5 Newsletter (40K file)
  I. University of Washington/Harborview Medical Center Adopt Medical Marijuana Policy (by Jennifer Brzana, Pharm.D.)
  II. Milo Gibaldi Honored at World Congress as “Millennial Pharmaceutical Scientist”
  III. P & T COMMITTEE ACTIONS, March/April '00 (Also see: Drug Formulary Information)
  
• Vol. 29 No. 5 Supplement: Contemporary Issues in Drug Therapy (44K file)

  I. DRUG SAFETY

  -- Isotretinoin-Related Birth Defects Continue
  -- FDA Pulls the Plug on Troglitazone and Cisapride
  -- Warnings for Abacavir
  -- St. John’s Wort Reduces Indinavir Levels

  II. NEW DRUGS & INDICATIONS

  -- Dexmedetomidine for Intensive Care Sedation
  -- Sotalol Now Indicated for Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation

  III. DRUG EVALUATION

  -- Donepezil Improves Cognition in Alzheimer’s Patients
  -- Protease Inhibitor Improves Children’s Virological Response
  -- Ondansetron & Bulimia Nervosa
  -- Inhaled Nitric Oxide for Newborn Pulmonary Hypertension

  IV. DRUGS IN DEVELOPMENT

  -- Methylnaltrexone Reverses Opioid Constipation
  -- New Drugs Against Cancer May Outperform Paclitaxel

  V. VACCINES

  -- Combination Vaccine Use
  -- Influenza in Young Children

  VI. DILEMMAS AND CONTROVERSIES -- Amoxicillin Not Warranted for Otitis Media Under Age 2

• Vol. 29 No. 4 Supplement: Contemporary Issues in Drug Therapy (44K file)

  I. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE -- Phyto-estrogens

  II. NEW DRUGS & INDICATIONS

  -- Levofloxacin for Penicillin-Resistant Pneumonia
  

  -- Oxcarbazepine for Seizures
  

  -- New MS Treatment Strategies

  III. DRUG SAFETY
  

  -- Ritonavir Linked to Hepatotoxicity in Some HIV Patients
  -- Streptokinase – An Unsafe Substitute for Urokinase
  -- Warning on Zanamivir

  IV. DRUGS IN DEVELOPMENT -- New Drug Class Aimed at HIV

  V. VACCINES -- Healthcare Worker Vaccination Reduces Influenza Deaths
  

  VI. UNDERSTANDING DISEASES -- HIV Transmitted via Breast Milk

  VII. DILEMMAS AND CONTROVERSIES

  -- Breast Cancer Researcher Falsifies Data
  -- Testing for Vancomycin-Resistant Staph Infection
  -- Rise in Multi-Drug Resistant HIV
  

  VII. PHARMACOECONOMICS -- Dialysis Cost Savings Proposed

March 2000

• Vol. 29 No. 3 Newsletter (64K file)
  I. Emergency Contraceptive Pills: It’s Not Too Late (by Michael L. Lim, Pharm.D.) Bibliography (20K file)
  II. Ketorolac Use in the Breast-feeding Woman
  III. ADR Report Summary
  IV. P & T COMMITTEE ACTIONS, February '00 (Also see: Drug Formulary Information)
  
• Vol. 29 No. 3 Supplement: Contemporary Issues in Drug Therapy (44K file)
  I. NEW DRUGS AND INDICATIONS
  

  -- FDA Approves Infliximab for Rheumatoid Arthritis
  

  -- Limited Distribution for Dofetilide, New Antiarrhythmic Agent
  

  II. DRUG EVALUATION
  

  -- Ramipril Strongly Indicated for At-Risk Patients
  -- Heart Association Updates Guidelines on TIA Management
  -- Efficacy of Efavirenz Combination Regimens
  -- Losartan Disappoints in Heart Failure
  

  III. DRUGS IN DEVELOPMENT
  

  -- Antiviral Drugs Show Promise for Common Cold
  -- HIV Immunogen Decreases Viral Load, Increases CD4 Count
  

  IV. DRUG SAFETY
  

  -- Hormone Replacement and Breast Cancer Risk
  -- New Pertussis Vaccine Shows Fewer Side Effects
  -- Dexfenfluramine Increases Heart Valve Regurgitation
  

  V. DILEMMAS AND CONTROVERSIES

  -- Resistant Salmonella enterica
  -- Emergency Contraception in NY
  

January/February 2000

• Vol. 29 No. 1-2 Newsletter (92K file)
  I. The Glitazones: Proceed with Caution (by Daniel Krische, Pharm.D.) Bibliography (48K file)
  II. Focus on Process Improvement: Discharging Patients on Warfarin (Coumadin)
  III. Index to 1999 Drug Therapy Topics Feature Articles
  IV. Summary of 1999 Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee Drug Formulary Actions
  V. P & T COMMITTEE ACTIONS, January '00 (Also see: Drug Formulary Information)
  
• Vol. 29 No. 2 Supplement: Contemporary Issues in Drug Therapy (44K file)
  I. DRUGS IN DEVELOPMENT -- First Agents for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  

  II. DRUG EVALUATION
  

  -- Post-exposure Prophylaxis Against HIV Infection
  -- Initial Regimens to Treat HIV
  -- Goserelin in Prostate Cancer
  -- Tamoxifen or Anastrozole for Breast Cancer?
  -- Alteplase or Prourokinase for Ischemic Stroke?
  -- Drugs to Decrease Excessive Blood Loss in Cardiac Surgery
  -- National Cholesterol Education Guidelines Hold Up
  -- Treatment Report on ADHD

  III. NEW DRUGS & INDICATIONS
  

  -- U.S. Approval for Moxifloxacin
  -- Targretin Approved for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
  -- FDA Clears Levetiracetam
  -- Taxol for Early Breast Cancer
  -- Pediatric Indication for Epoetin
  

  IV. BIOTECHNOLOGY -- Monoclonal Antibodies and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
  

  V. PHARMACOECONOMICS -- Patient Care Costs in Clinical Research

• Vol. 29 No. 1 Supplement: Contemporary Issues in Drug Therapy (44K file)
  I. PHARMACOECONOMICS -- Curbing Cost of Flu Treatment
  

  II. NEW DRUGS & INDICATIONS
  

  -- New Indications for SSRIs
  -- Exemestane for Advanced Post-Menopausal Breast Cancer
  -- Combined Estrogen/Progestin Transdermal Patch
  -- Caffeine Citrate for Apnea

  III. DRUG EVALUATION
  

  -- Calcium Supplements Prevent Pre-Menopause Bone Loss
  -- Sequential Doxorubicin and Docetaxel for Breast Cancer
  -- Cilostazol Increases Walking in Intermittent Claudication
  -- Current Therapy Will Not Eradicate HIV

  IV. VACCINES
  

  -- Hepatitis A Vaccine Guidelines
  -- Pediatric Hepatitis B Vaccine
  -- Pneumococcal Vaccine Benefits

  V. DRUG SAFETY
  

  -- COX-2 Inhibitors Reduce Endoscopic Ulcer Rate
  -- Grepafloxacin Withdrawn
  -- Reducing Cardiotoxicity of Anthracyclines by Dexrazoxane

  VI. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE -- Glucosamine for Osteoarthritis

Back Issues

• 1999
• 1998
• 1997
• Special Reports