By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS The FDA recently approved Dartisla ODT, an orally disintegrating tablet form of the antimuscarinic agent glycopyrrolate. Originally approved in 1961, glycopyrrolate is currently available in tablet and solution forms for oral use. In addition, an inhaled version of glycopyrrolate is available to help treat…

By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS The FDA recently approved inclisiran (Leqvio), a first-in-class small interfering RNA (siRNA) PCSK9 inhibitor. The drug is indicated for LDL-C lowering in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in conjunction with maximally tolerated statin therapy. In contrast to other PCSK9 inhibitors, inclisiran…

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can be a very distressing condition. If you are among the many Americans suffering from tinnitus, you likely want to explore all your treatment options to improve or cure the condition. One of these treatment options — believe it or not — might be…

By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS The FDA recently approved a new oral suspension dosage form of the factor Xa inhibitor Xarelto (rivaroxaban). Besides remaining available as an oral tablet, the medication is now also available as an oral suspension. …

By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS The FDA recently approved the CGRP antagonist atogepant (Qulipta) for the prevention of episodic migraine. It joins rimegepant (Nurtec) as the only other oral CGRP antagonist approved for this indication. …

By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS The FDA recently approved a dihydroergotamine mesylate nasal spray, to be sold under the brand name Trudhesa, for the treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. The drug is the newest formulation of this ergot derivative, which was first approved in 1946…

By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS The CDC recently published an advisory stating that overdoses from synthetic opioids, generally fentanyl, and psychostimulants have significantly increased during COVID-19 mitigation attempts. …

By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS The American Gastroenterological Association recently released a set of best practices to improve screening and surveillance colonoscopies. The best practices consist of 15 recommendations to help guide care at both the provider and facility levels: 1. The quality of bowel preparation quality should be…

By Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association explored whether the combination of short and long-acting insulin, compared with long-acting insulin alone, increased cardiovascular events and mortality. …