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Pharmacology
Compared to separate drug administration, a 4-drug combination regimen had comparable effectiveness in patients with tuberculosis according to a study in JAMA. Read more at http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/305/14/1415.abstract.
Coffee-ground emesis tips off caregivers to acute upper GI bleeding.
On Oct. 8, Abbott Laboratories voluntarily withdrew its weight loss drug Meridia (sibutramine) from the market in response to a request from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.…
To make drug use safer in older adults, nurses must take complete medication histories, report suspected reactions to the FDA, and take a holistic view of our patients’…
Learn what steps you can take to help patients avoid drug contamination and cope with drug shortages.
The combination of anastrozole and fulvestrant was more effective than anastrozole alone or sequential anastrozole and fulvestrant for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal…
Rapid withdrawal from antidepressant drugs can cause serious problems in acute-care patients. This article explains why acute-care nurses need to put antidepressant discontinuation syndrome on thier radar screen.
Scientists are learning more about this baffling disorder, but a cure is a long way off.
Banned in September, this designer stimulant can cause dangerous side effects and death.
Methemoglobinemia from benzocaine exposure causes tissue hypoxia.
New biotherapy drugs and older chemotherapy agents may improve quality of life in patients with autoimmune diseases.
Leonard McGram, age 89, arrives at the emergency department (ED) with Marissa, his daughter. As you help him out of her car, he looks at her and asks,…
A pilot study found that cocaine use was associated with open-angle glaucoma. Read more.
In older adults with arthritis, opioid use increases the risk of fractures and safety events requiring hospitalization, compared to nonselective NSAIDs (nsNSAIDs) and selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors (coxibs),…
Continuing statin therapy in patients already on this therapy is associated with a lower daily risk of delirium in ICU patients, according to a study in the American…
Prescription substance use disorders (SUDs) have a serious impact on society. In 2013, 6.5 million adults admitted to illicit use of prescription medications. The annual cost of prescription…
Drugs that inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) may improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, reducing the risk of disease complications.
In a new report, the Institute of Medicine concludes that at least 25% of harmful adverse drug events are preventable, and recommends specific preventive actions for nurses and…
In the not-so-distant future, the science of pharmacogenetics may enable clinicians to give the right drug in the right dosage to the right patient—in every case.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
A monthly update of drug news, including alerts, approvals and removals.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
A weekly update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals and removals.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
In the hospital setting, emergencies typically occur in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). But many also take place in progressive care units or general nursing…
Learn what you can do to manage this devastating effect of cancer treatment.
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society. Dyspnea is “a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that consists of…
Tim Waters, age 28, is admitted to a burn intensive care unit for treatment after a natural gas explosion in his home causes deep partial- and full-thickness burns…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated the boxed warning tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers to include the risk of infection from Legionella and Listeria. Read more.
On March 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary nationwide recall of all lots of all products produced by Med Prep Consulting Inc. of…
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Adempas (riociguat) to treat adults with two forms of pulmonary hypertension. Read more.
On June 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Afrezza (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, a rapid-acting inhaled insulin to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes…
On Jan. 18, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) to treat adults with overactive bladder who can’t use or don’t…
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brintellix (vortioxetine) to treat adults with major depressive disorder. Read more.
On July 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Beleodaq (belinostat) for the treatment of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, a rare and fast-growing type of…
On Dec. 31, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sirturo (bedaquiline) as part of combination therapy to treat adults with multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)…
On May 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa) for the treatment of Gaucher disease. Read more.
On Dec. 31, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Fulyzaq (crofelemer) to relieve symptoms of diarrhea in HIV/AIDS patients taking antiretroviral therapy; it is the…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Juvisync (sitagliptin and simvastatin), the first combination drug to treat type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol in one tablet. Read…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Jakafi (ruxolitinb), the first drug approved to treat patients with the bone marrow disease myelofibrosis. Read more.
On Nov. 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Flucelvax, the first seasonal influenza vaccine licensed in the United States produced using cultured animal cells, instead…
On Sept. 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic version of Xeloda (capecitabine), used to treat metastatic breast and colorectal cancer. Read more.
On June 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brisdelle (paroxetine) to treat moderate to severe hot flashes associated with menopause. Brisdelle, which contains the selective…
On March 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Impavido (miltefosine) to treat a tropical disease called leishmaniasis. Read more.
On April 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Levaquin (levofloxacin) to treat patients with plague. The drug was approved under the agency’s Animal Efficacy Rule, which…
On Oct. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Liposorber LA-15 System to treat pediatric patients with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) either before transplant, or…
On Jan. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it had approved Mekinist (trametinib) in combination with Tafinlar (dabrafenib) to treat patients with advanced melanoma that…
On July 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide) for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary…
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Invokana (canagliflozin) tablets to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Invokana has been studied as a stand-alone…
On June 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sivextro (tedizolid phosphate) to treat patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections caused by certain…
On July 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ruconest, the first recombinant C1-Esterase Inhibitor product for the treatment of acute attacks in adult and adolescent…
On July 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise for chronic weight…
On April 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tanzeum (albiglutide) subcutaneous injection to improve glycemic control, along with diet and exercise, in adults with type…
On August 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tivicay (dolutegravir), a new drug to treat HIV-1 infection. Read more.
On March 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Topamax (topiramate) for prevention of migraine headaches in adolescents ages 12 to 17. This is the first FDA…
On April 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Votrient (pazopanib) to treat patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who have previously received chemotherapy. Read more.
On Nov. 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xeljanz (tofacitinib) to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate…
On April 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zykadia for patients with a certain type of late-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Read more.
On March 1, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is joining health professional organizations in encouraging prescribers to seek education to safely prescribe…
On Jan. 9, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance document to assist industry in developing new formulations of opioid drugs with that…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that the breast cancer indication for Avastin be removed from its label “because the drug has not been shown…
On Jan. 10, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is requiring the manufacturers of Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar and Zolpimist, sleep drugs that contain…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that terbutaline, indicated for asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, should not be used in pregnant women for prevention or prolonged…
On May 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers and healthcare professionals about a counterfeit version of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ Adderall 30 milligram tablets that…
On Feb. 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified healthcare professionals and patients about a counterfeit version of Avastin 400 mg/16mL, which may have been purchased and…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to purchase “Japan Rapid Weight Loss Diet Pills Yellow,” which contains sibutramine and phenolphthalein. Sibutramine is a…
On Feb. 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that drug interactions between the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor Victrelis (boceprevir) and certain ritonavir-boosted human immunodeficiency virus…
According to a study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the widespread use of fever reducing medications may lead to more cases of, and deaths from, influenza.…
Compared to vancomycin, patients treated with fidaxomicin for Clostridium difficile infection were significantly less likely to have a recurrence. Read more here.
A study in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that cassia cinnamon, commonly used in products sold the U.S., contains higher concentrations of coumarin than in…
According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, administering a neuromuscular blocking agent for 48 hours at the onset of severe Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome…
Leah Curtin discusses a restraint situation.
Many patients with HIV/AIDS are doing well on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Yet HAART can increase cardiovascular risks by reducing high-density lipoprotein levels, raising triglyceride levels, and…
Many people assume herbs can’t cause harm, and neglect to tell healthcare providers they’re using them. This article will boost your herbal awareness and help you eradicate herbal…
High-energy drinks carry risks nurses need to know.
By addressing patients’ concerns, you can help them adhere to insulin therapy with less pain and anxiety.
Myth debunking and better recognition of respiratory compromise can help prevent deaths.
For chronically ill older adults who take multiple medications, a hospital stay can result in various medication-related changes. Nurses administer their medications to them. Their medication schedules may…
Patients with ovarian cancer may receive intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy, which delivers chemotherapeutic agents directly into the peritoneal cavity. Drugs given by this route include paclitaxel, carboplatin, and cisplatin.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has released “Scientific Standards for Studies on Modified Risk Tobacco Products.” Read more.
Both of these complex endocrine disorders involve the adrenal glands and cause abnormal cortisol levels. Based on physical and laboratory findings, could you determine which one your patient…
Are you using the right hand lotion at work?
Not all AV blocks are dangerous. Find out which ones are and how they’re managed.
Many clinicians are tempted to withhold or discontinue an EGFR inhibitor when the skin reaction appears or when they can’t control it. Yet, because the reaction correlates with…
A type of dialysis, MARS removes toxins and replaces lost liver functions.
“2013 Medication Adherence in America: A National Report 2013” gives people in the U.S. with chronic medical conditions a C+ grade. The report, from the National Community Pharmacists…
A medication error can occur in any healthcare setting-with devastating consequences. The authors describe weaknesses in the key elements of medication use and propose ways to make drug…
Recent product recalls include B. Braun Infusomat Space Infusion System, CareFusion Alaris PC Unit, Model 8015, and Dukal Benzalkonium Chloride Antiseptic Wipes. Read about other recalls http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm.
The World Health Organization has released new guidelines for malaria treatment to counter the misuse of anti-malarial drugs. Access the guidelines at http://www.who.int/malaria/en/.
Researchers have developed a new opioid drug, UMB 425, which is as strong as morphine, but has reduced tolerance over time and no obvious toxic effects. The drug…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that new safety information has been added to the label for the HIV antiviral drug Invirase (saquinavir). The warning describes potentially…
Nurses have a right to know if they’re being exposed to toxins at work, at home, and in the community.
A comparative effectiveness report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that pelvic floor muscle exercises (similar to Kegel exercises) are effective in increasing the ability…
When it comes to acids and bases, the difference between life and death is balance. The body’s acid-base balance depends on some delicately balanced chemical reactions. The hydrogen…
Too often, pharmaceutical waste – much of it hazardous – shows up in our surface, ground, and drinking water. To solve this problem, the healthcare industry must work…
Brush up on your knowledge of these potentially life-saving drugs.
When you administer paternal and enteral phenytoin (Dilantin), make sure your patient stays free from seizures and drug toxicity.
Many people who take prescription opioids underestimate the abuse potential.
Understand the terms opioid tolerant and opioid naïve so you can safely administer opioids and protect patients.
Mistakes involving medications are among the most common healthcare errors. Medication errors lengthen hospital stays, increase inpatient expenses, and lead to more than 7,000 deaths annually in the…
Preventable medication errors cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $21 billion annually, according to the National Priorities Partnership and National Quality Forum. This number has risen significantly…
Polypharmacy refers to the effects of taking multiple medications concurrently to manage coexisting health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension. Too often, polypharmacy becomes problematic, such as when…
The latest in a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society.
The latest in a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society.
On Oct. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that Codman & Shrutleff, Inc., has recalled its MedStream Programmable Pump and MedStream Refill Kit because air…
On Oct. 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that Hospira has recalled one lot of metoclopramide injection and two lost of ondansetron injection because of…
All kids can be moody and unpredictable. But for roughly 5% of children, behavioral changes reflect depression. Learn why depression holds added dangers for children – and how you…
This nightly vexation afflicts nearly 10% of the elderly.
Without quick thinking and a call to the rapid response team, this reaction to atypical antipsychotics can kill.
For a patient receiving high-dose opioids, frequent monitoring of the sedation level and quick intervention when that level increases stops respiratory depression from claiming another victim.
On Dec. 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the 32 mg, single IV dose of the anti-nausea drug Zofran (ondansetron hydrochloride) will no longer be…
What you need to know about six high-impact drugs.
These six drug profiles, along with the six in the March issue of American Nurse Today, bring you up to date on significant advances in drug therapy.
Men with high-risk prostate cancer who take statin drugs while receiving radiation therapy are less likely to have their cancer return than patients who don’t take statins according…
A study published by the Journal of Virology failed to find an association between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and murine leukemia virus-related viruses (MRV), and states, “off-label use…
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treatment with a leukotriene-receptor antagonist (LTRA) was as effective as inhaled glucocorticoid therapy as first-line controller therapy…
A systematic review published in Diabetes Care reports that that people taking antidepressants are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, although it’s not certain whether the…
A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that potential harm from antibiotic resistance can be reduced through formal programs to improve antibiotic prescribing…
Recent daily aspirin use is associated with lower cancer mortality but the size of the effect may be smaller than what was observed in previous studies, according to…
A study published by Critical Care Medicine reports that in-hospital mortality rates for sepsis decreased from 47% between 1991 and 1995 to 29% between 2006 and 2009, a…
A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that infusing a solution of donor feces through a nasoduodenal tube was “significantly more effective” for the treatment…
Ginkgo biloba doesn’t improve memory, executive function, or attention in healthy individuals, according to “Is Ginkgo biloba a cognitive enhancer in healthy individuals? A meta-analysis,” published by Human…
In patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the administration of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) or maintaining a higher hemoglobin (Hgb) concentration through blood transfusion did not improve…
A study presented at the 2013 53rd Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy meeting has found that low dose oral vancomycin showed similar effectiveness compared to…
The size and shape of two brain regions (the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala) involved in emotion and motivation may differ in young adults who smoke marijuana at…
A Phase II study found that patients with ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema who received ecallantide were more likely to be discharged sooner than those treated with antihistamines and steroids.…
Two studies presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 66th Annual Meeting, 2014, may offer hope to people with migraines. The two phase II drugs (ALD403 and LY2951742)…
According to a study from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pradaxa (dabigatran), in comparison to warfarin, was associated with a lower risk of stroke and death,…
Thoughts of suicide, sexual difficulties and emotional numbness as a result of anti-depressants may be more widespread than previously thought, according to a study of 1,829 adults in…
A study in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy reports a survey of oncology pharmacists in the United States found that shortages of oncology drugs can cause treatment…
According to a study in JAMA, adding thrombolytics to conventional approaches when treating patients with sudden-onset pulmonary embolism is associated with 47% fewer deaths than using standard anticoagulant…
An analysis published in The Cochrane Report says current evidence doesn’t provide strong support for using antibiotics to prevent ear infections and pneumonia in children with undifferentiated acute…
“Effect of Vitamin E and memantine on functional decline in Alzheimer disease,” a study published in JAMA, reports that 2,000 units of vitamin E, compared to placebo, slowed…
Our grandparents’ generation first witnessed the wonders of antimicrobial agents. These drugs saved millions of lives and rendered harmless a number of previously untreatable fatal illnesses. But their…
Pam Cipriano to receive ANA’s Distinguished Member Award American Nurse Today Editor-in-Chief Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN, will receive the Distinguished Member Award from the American Nurses Association…
CDC recommends HIV screening for everyone New recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call for routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening for all patients…
Low-carb diets don’t affect cardiac risk Although diets low in carbohydrates and high in fats and proteins have been popular for the last few years, some experts have…
On-line video-based course on emergency preparedness The need for better coordination between governmental agencies and hospitals became apparent after 9/11 and again after Hurricane Katrina. To fill this…
A weekly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
A monthly round up of clinical, practice, and career news, updates, and alerts.
A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
American Diabetes Association releases food guidelines for specific medical categories “When you’re talking about diabetes, there is no ‘one size fits all’ diet,” said Ann Albright, PhD, RD,…
Web Exclusive! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts.
This review of the six classes of antihypertensives tells you what you need to know and what you need to teach patients.
Read an interesting editorial about Avandia here. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recommended keeping the drug on the market, but increasing warnings about the drug’s potential…
Extensive use of third-generation cephalosporins has led to cephalosporin-resistant bacterial strains. Learn how these organisms cause deadly infections and you can help control their spread.
This complex disorder takes many forms, has many causes, and is growing more common due to increased heparin exposure. Learn how to help prevent it, identify it early,…
Our editor-in-chief discusses the upcoming insurance requirement related to the Affordable Care Act and emphasizes the need for nurses to be knowledgeable about the requirements so they can…
Oncology nurses have long appreciated that the “one size fits all” strategy—basing chemotherapy dosages on body surface area—for treating cancer does not work because of variations in patients’…
On Jan. 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FA) approved Voraxaze (glucarpidase) to treat patients with toxic blood levels of methotrexate because of renal failure. Read more.
FDA’s REMS program is one more way the agency is trying to reduce drug risks.
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles from the National Human Genome Research Institute. http://www.genome.gov/ All nurses in clinical practice interact at least occasionally with patients who…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has new safety requirements for long-acting beta-agonists used to treat asthma. Read the requirements at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm200776.htm.,/p>
In the ever-escalating war between bacteria and human beings, some of the bugs are outsmarting us. Here’s what you need to know about antibiotic therapy to help reduce…
How genetic testing ensures that patients start warfarin therapy at their personal-best doses.
Mrs. Muriel H, age 78, is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with GI bleeding. She has a 5-year history of atrial fibrillation and has been taking warfarin 5…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released “Consolidated Guidelines on the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs for Treating and Preventing HIV Infection.” Access the guidelines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report on global antibiotic resistance, which according to the accompanying press release, “is happening right now in every region of…
4-drug combination regimen effective for TB
Compared to separate drug administration, a 4-drug combination regimen had comparable effectiveness in patients with tuberculosis according to a study in JAMA. Read more…
A swift, decisive response to GI bleeding
Coffee-ground emesis tips off caregivers to acute upper GI bleeding.
Abbott withdraws Meridia from market
On Oct. 8, Abbott Laboratories voluntarily withdrew its weight loss drug Meridia (sibutramine) from the market in response to a request from the U.S.…
Adverse drug reactions in the elderly: Can we stem the tide?
To make drug use safer in older adults, nurses must take complete medication histories, report suspected reactions to the FDA, and take a holistic…
Advocating for patients in an era of drug-delivery problems
Learn what steps you can take to help patients avoid drug contamination and cope with drug shortages.
Anastrozole and fulvestrant combination effective in metastatic breast cancer
The combination of anastrozole and fulvestrant was more effective than anastrozole alone or sequential anastrozole and fulvestrant for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive metastatic…
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome: What every acute-care nurse should know
Rapid withdrawal from antidepressant drugs can cause serious problems in acute-care patients. This article explains why acute-care nurses need to put antidepressant discontinuation syndrome…
Are we making progress against autism?
Scientists are learning more about this baffling disorder, but a cure is a long way off.
Awash in “bath salts”: The dangers and skyrocketing use of mephedrone
Banned in September, this designer stimulant can cause dangerous side effects and death.
Benzocaine puts a patient in a bind
Methemoglobinemia from benzocaine exposure causes tissue hypoxia.
Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Drugs for Autoimmune Disease
New biotherapy drugs and older chemotherapy agents may improve quality of life in patients with autoimmune diseases.
Closing in on the cause of agitation
Leonard McGram, age 89, arrives at the emergency department (ED) with Marissa, his daughter. As you help him out of her car, he looks…
Cocaine use may be associated with glaucoma
A pilot study found that cocaine use was associated with open-angle glaucoma. Read more.
Compared to nsNSAIDs and coxibs, opioid use in older adults with arthritis increases risk of safety events
In older adults with arthritis, opioid use increases the risk of fractures and safety events requiring hospitalization, compared to nonselective NSAIDs (nsNSAIDs) and selective…
Continuing use of statins may reduce risk of delirium in ICU patients
Continuing statin therapy in patients already on this therapy is associated with a lower daily risk of delirium in ICU patients, according to a…
Doctor shopping and prescription substance use disorders: A nursing response
Prescription substance use disorders (SUDs) have a serious impact on society. In 2013, 6.5 million adults admitted to illicit use of prescription medications. The…
DPP-4 inhibitors: A new option for diabetes management
Drugs that inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) may improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, reducing the risk of disease complications.
Drug errors harm 1.5 million people each year, report finds
In a new report, the Institute of Medicine concludes that at least 25% of harmful adverse drug events are preventable, and recommends specific preventive…
Drug therapy gets personal with genetic profiling
In the not-so-distant future, the science of pharmacogenetics may enable clinicians to give the right drug in the right dosage to the right patient—in…
Drugs Today – January 2009
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
Drugs Today – July/August 2009
A weekly update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
Drugs Today – November 2008
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Drugs Today – October 2008
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.
Drugs Today – September 2008
Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.
Emergency cardiac drugs: Essential facts for med-surg nurses
In the hospital setting, emergencies typically occur in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). But many also take place in progressive care…
Evidence-based interventions for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
Learn what you can do to manage this devastating effect of cancer treatment.
Evidence-based interventions for dyspnea
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society. Dyspnea is “a subjective experience of breathing…
Excessive opioids lead to a close call for a burn patient
Tim Waters, age 28, is admitted to a burn intensive care unit for treatment after a natural gas explosion in his home causes deep…
FDA adds to boxed warning for tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated the boxed warning tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers to include the risk of infection from Legionella and…
FDA announces recall of drug products from Med Prep Consulting
On March 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary nationwide recall of all lots of all products produced by Med…
FDA approved Adempas for pulmonary hypertension
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Adempas (riociguat) to treat adults with two forms of pulmonary hypertension. Read more.
FDA approves Afrezza
On June 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Afrezza (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, a rapid-acting inhaled insulin to improve glycemic control…
FDA approves Botox for treatment of overactive bladder
On Jan. 18, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) to treat adults with overactive bladder who…
FDA approves Brintellix for major depression
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brintellix (vortioxetine) to treat adults with major depressive disorder. Read more.
FDA approves drug for treating rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
On July 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Beleodaq (belinostat) for the treatment of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, a rare…
FDA approves drug to treat multi-drug resistant TB
On Dec. 31, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sirturo (bedaquiline) as part of combination therapy to treat adults with multi-drug…
FDA approves Elelyso for Gaucher disease
On May 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa) for the treatment of Gaucher disease. Read more.
FDA approves first anti-diarrheal drug for HIV/AIDS patients
On Dec. 31, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Fulyzaq (crofelemer) to relieve symptoms of diarrhea in HIV/AIDS patients taking antiretroviral…
FDA approves first combination tablet to treat type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Juvisync (sitagliptin and simvastatin), the first combination drug to treat type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol…
FDA approves first drug for myelofibrosis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Jakafi (ruxolitinb), the first drug approved to treat patients with the bone marrow disease myelofibrosis. Read…
FDA approves first flu vaccine using new manufacturing technique
On Nov. 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Flucelvax, the first seasonal influenza vaccine licensed in the United States produced using…
FDA approves first generic capecitabine to treat breast and colorectal cancers
On Sept. 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic version of Xeloda (capecitabine), used to treat metastatic breast and…
FDA approves first nonhormonal treatment for hot flashes
On June 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brisdelle (paroxetine) to treat moderate to severe hot flashes associated with menopause. Brisdelle,…
FDA approves Impavido to treat leishmaniasis
On March 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Impavido (miltefosine) to treat a tropical disease called leishmaniasis. Read more.
FDA approves Levaquin for plague
On April 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Levaquin (levofloxacin) to treat patients with plague. The drug was approved under the agency’s…
FDA approves Liposorber Apheresis System for pediatric use
On Oct. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Liposorber LA-15 System to treat pediatric patients with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)…
FDA approves Mekinist in combination with Tafinlar for advanced melanoma
On Jan. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it had approved Mekinist (trametinib) in combination with Tafinlar (dabrafenib) to treat patients…
FDA approves new COPD treatment
On July 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide) for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm in patients…
FDA approves new diabetes drug
On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Invokana (canagliflozin) tablets to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Invokana has been…
FDA approves new drug for serious skin infections
On June 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sivextro (tedizolid phosphate) to treat patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure…
FDA approves new product to treat hereditary angioedema
On July 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ruconest, the first recombinant C1-Esterase Inhibitor product for the treatment of acute attacks…
FDA approves new weight-loss drug
On July 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and…
FDA approves Tanzeum to treat type 2 diabetes
On April 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tanzeum (albiglutide) subcutaneous injection to improve glycemic control, along with diet and exercise,…
FDA approves Tivicay for HIV infection
On August 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tivicay (dolutegravir), a new drug to treat HIV-1 infection. Read more.
FDA approves Topamax for migraine prevention in adolescents
On March 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Topamax (topiramate) for prevention of migraine headaches in adolescents ages 12 to 17. This…
FDA approves Votrient for advanced soft tissue sarcoma
On April 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Votrient (pazopanib) to treat patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who have previously…
FDA approves Xeljanz for rheumatoid arthritis
On Nov. 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xeljanz (tofacitinib) to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who…
FDA approves Zykadia for NSCLC
On April 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zykadia for patients with a certain type of late-stage non-small cell lung cancer…
FDA encourages prescribers to seek education on prescribing opioid pain meds
On March 1, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is joining health professional organizations in encouraging prescribers to seek…
FDA issue draft guidance on making opioids harder to abuse
On Jan. 9, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance document to assist industry in developing new formulations of…
FDA recommends removing Avastin’s breast cancer indication
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that the breast cancer indication for Avastin be removed from its label “because the drug…
FDA requires lower recommended doses for drugs containing zolpidem
On Jan. 10, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is requiring the manufacturers of Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar and Zolpimist,…
FDA warning for terbutaline in preterm labor
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that terbutaline, indicated for asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, should not be used in pregnant women…
FDA warns against counterfeit Adderall
On May 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers and healthcare professionals about a counterfeit version of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ Adderall…
FDA warns of counterfeit Avastin
On Feb. 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified healthcare professionals and patients about a counterfeit version of Avastin 400 mg/16mL, which may…
FDA warns of danger of ‘Japan Rapid Weight Loss Diet Pills Yellow’
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to purchase “Japan Rapid Weight Loss Diet Pills Yellow,” which contains sibutramine and…
FDA warns of drug interactions between Victrelis and ritonavir-boosted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors
On Feb. 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that drug interactions between the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor Victrelis (boceprevir) and certain…
Fever-reducing drugs may help spread flu
According to a study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the widespread use of fever reducing medications may lead to more cases of,…
Fidaxomicin reduces C. diff recurrence
Compared to vancomycin, patients treated with fidaxomicin for Clostridium difficile infection were significantly less likely to have a recurrence. Read more here.
Form of cinnamon used in U.S. contains higher concentrations of coumarin
A study in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that cassia cinnamon, commonly used in products sold the U.S., contains higher concentrations…
Giving a neuromuscular blocking agent early in ARDS may improve survival
According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, administering a neuromuscular blocking agent for 48 hours at the onset of severe…
HAART and its effects on the heart
Many patients with HIV/AIDS are doing well on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Yet HAART can increase cardiovascular risks by reducing high-density lipoprotein levels,…
Herbal facts, herbal fallacies
Many people assume herbs can’t cause harm, and neglect to tell healthcare providers they’re using them. This article will boost your herbal awareness and…
High-energy drinks: What you don’t know could hurt you
High-energy drinks carry risks nurses need to know.
Improving insulin adherence in diabetes care
By addressing patients’ concerns, you can help them adhere to insulin therapy with less pain and anxiety.
Improving outcomes in med-surg patients with opioid-induced respiratory depression
Myth debunking and better recognition of respiratory compromise can help prevent deaths.
Improving posthospital medication management for chronically ill older adults
For chronically ill older adults who take multiple medications, a hospital stay can result in various medication-related changes. Nurses administer their medications to them.…
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy: Improving the odds for ovarian cancer patients
Patients with ovarian cancer may receive intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy, which delivers chemotherapeutic agents directly into the peritoneal cavity. Drugs given by this route include…
IOM issues new report on modified tobacco products
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has released “Scientific Standards for Studies on Modified Risk Tobacco Products.” Read more.
Is it Addison’s disease or Cushing syndrome?
Both of these complex endocrine disorders involve the adrenal glands and cause abnormal cortisol levels. Based on physical and laboratory findings, could you determine…
Managing atrioventricular blocks
Not all AV blocks are dangerous. Find out which ones are and how they’re managed.
Managing skin reactions to targeted cancer therapy
Many clinicians are tempted to withhold or discontinue an EGFR inhibitor when the skin reaction appears or when they can’t control it. Yet, because…
MARS®: The new frontier in treating acute liver failure
A type of dialysis, MARS removes toxins and replaces lost liver functions.
Medication adherence report gives U.S. C+
“2013 Medication Adherence in America: A National Report 2013” gives people in the U.S. with chronic medical conditions a C+ grade. The report, from…
Medication errors: Best Practices
A medication error can occur in any healthcare setting-with devastating consequences. The authors describe weaknesses in the key elements of medication use and propose…
MedWatch: Product recalls
Recent product recalls include B. Braun Infusomat Space Infusion System, CareFusion Alaris PC Unit, Model 8015, and Dukal Benzalkonium Chloride Antiseptic Wipes. Read about…
New guidelines for treatment of malaria
The World Health Organization has released new guidelines for malaria treatment to counter the misuse of anti-malarial drugs. Access the guidelines at http://www.who.int/malaria/en/.
New pain drug developed
Researchers have developed a new opioid drug, UMB 425, which is as strong as morphine, but has reduced tolerance over time and no obvious…
New safety information for Invirase
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that new safety information has been added to the label for the HIV antiviral drug Invirase (saquinavir).…
Nurses and chemical toxins: Your right to know
Nurses have a right to know if they’re being exposed to toxins at work, at home, and in the community.
Pelvic floor muscle exercises effective for urinary incontinence in women
A comparative effectiveness report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that pelvic floor muscle exercises (similar to Kegel exercises) are effective…
Perfecting your acid-base balancing act
When it comes to acids and bases, the difference between life and death is balance. The body’s acid-base balance depends on some delicately balanced…
Pharmaceutical waste: What nurses need to know
Too often, pharmaceutical waste – much of it hazardous – shows up in our surface, ground, and drinking water. To solve this problem, the…
Pharmacology review: Drugs that alter blood coagulation
Brush up on your knowledge of these potentially life-saving drugs.
Phenytoin: Keep patients in the range and out of danger
When you administer paternal and enteral phenytoin (Dilantin), make sure your patient stays free from seizures and drug toxicity.
Prescription opioids: A growing epidemic of abuse
Many people who take prescription opioids underestimate the abuse potential.
Preventing complications in patients receiving opioids
Understand the terms opioid tolerant and opioid naïve so you can safely administer opioids and protect patients.
Preventing high-alert medication errors in hospital patients
Mistakes involving medications are among the most common healthcare errors. Medication errors lengthen hospital stays, increase inpatient expenses, and lead to more than 7,000…
Preventing medication errors by empowering patients
Preventable medication errors cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $21 billion annually, according to the National Priorities Partnership and National Quality Forum. This…
Preventing polypharmacy in older adults
Polypharmacy refers to the effects of taking multiple medications concurrently to manage coexisting health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension. Too often, polypharmacy becomes…
Putting evidence into practice: Hot flashes
The latest in a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society.
Putting evidence into practice: Pain
The latest in a series of articles on managing cancer-related symptoms from the Oncology Nursing Society.
Recall of MedStream Programmable Infusion Pump and Refill Kits
On Oct. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that Codman & Shrutleff, Inc., has recalled its MedStream Programmable Pump and MedStream…
Recall of metoclopramide and ondansetron injections
On Oct. 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that Hospira has recalled one lot of metoclopramide injection and two lost of…
Recognizing depression in children
All kids can be moody and unpredictable. But for roughly 5% of children, behavioral changes reflect depression. Learn why depression holds added dangers for children…
Reversing neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Without quick thinking and a call to the rapid response team, this reaction to atypical antipsychotics can kill.
Reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression
For a patient receiving high-dose opioids, frequent monitoring of the sedation level and quick intervention when that level increases stops respiratory depression from claiming…
Single-dose IV Zofran pulled from market
On Dec. 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the 32 mg, single IV dose of the anti-nausea drug Zofran (ondansetron hydrochloride)…
Six more hot drugs for today and beyond
These six drug profiles, along with the six in the March issue of American Nurse Today, bring you up to date on significant advances…
Statins lower prostate cancer recurrence
Men with high-risk prostate cancer who take statin drugs while receiving radiation therapy are less likely to have their cancer return than patients who…
Study fails to support MRV link to CFS
A study published by the Journal of Virology failed to find an association between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and murine leukemia virus-related viruses (MRV),…
Study finds LTRA as effective as inhaled steroids in first-line asthma management
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treatment with a leukotriene-receptor antagonist (LTRA) was as effective as inhaled glucocorticoid therapy…
Study: Antidepressants may pose risk for type 2 diabetes
A systematic review published in Diabetes Care reports that that people taking antidepressants are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, although it’s…
Study: CDC says improved antibiotic prescribing would reduce resistance
A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that potential harm from antibiotic resistance can be reduced through formal programs…
Study: Daily aspirin use lowers cancer mortality
Recent daily aspirin use is associated with lower cancer mortality but the size of the effect may be smaller than what was observed in…
Study: Decreased sepsis mortality
A study published by Critical Care Medicine reports that in-hospital mortality rates for sepsis decreased from 47% between 1991 and 1995 to 29% between…
Study: Donor feces more effective than vancomycin in treatment of recurrent C. difficile
A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that infusing a solution of donor feces through a nasoduodenal tube was “significantly more…
Study: Ginkgo biloba doesn’t improve memory, executive function, or attention in healthy people
Ginkgo biloba doesn’t improve memory, executive function, or attention in healthy individuals, according to “Is Ginkgo biloba a cognitive enhancer in healthy individuals? A…
Study: Higher Hgb or receiving EPO doesn’t improve neuro outcomes in patients with TBI
In patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the administration of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) or maintaining a higher hemoglobin (Hgb) concentration through blood…
Study: Low-dose vancomycin as effective as high dose against C. diff
A study presented at the 2013 53rd Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy meeting has found that low dose oral vancomycin showed…
Study: Marijuana use in young adults may cause brain changes
The size and shape of two brain regions (the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala) involved in emotion and motivation may differ in young adults…
Study: New drug effective for ACE-inhibitor angioedema
A Phase II study found that patients with ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema who received ecallantide were more likely to be discharged sooner than those treated…
Study: Phase II drugs may help prevent migraine attacks
Two studies presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 66th Annual Meeting, 2014, may offer hope to people with migraines. The two phase II…
Study: Pradaxa reduces stroke and death, but increases GI bleeding compared to warfarin
According to a study from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pradaxa (dabigatran), in comparison to warfarin, was associated with a lower risk…
Study: Psychological adverse effects of antidepressants
Thoughts of suicide, sexual difficulties and emotional numbness as a result of anti-depressants may be more widespread than previously thought, according to a study…
Study: Shortages of cancer drugs associated with medication errors and higher
A study in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy reports a survey of oncology pharmacists in the United States found that shortages of oncology…
Study: Thrombolytics significantly reduce mortality in sudden-onset PE
According to a study in JAMA, adding thrombolytics to conventional approaches when treating patients with sudden-onset pulmonary embolism is associated with 47% fewer deaths…
Study: Use of antibiotics to prevent complications from respiratory infections in children isn’t supported
An analysis published in The Cochrane Report says current evidence doesn’t provide strong support for using antibiotics to prevent ear infections and pneumonia in…
Study: Vitamin E may slow decline from Alzheimer disease
“Effect of Vitamin E and memantine on functional decline in Alzheimer disease,” a study published in JAMA, reports that 2,000 units of vitamin E,…
Superbugs trump wonder drugs
Our grandparents’ generation first witnessed the wonders of antimicrobial agents. These drugs saved millions of lives and rendered harmless a number of previously untreatable…
Take Note – April 2008
Pam Cipriano to receive ANA’s Distinguished Member Award American Nurse Today Editor-in-Chief Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN, will receive the Distinguished Member Award from…
Take Note – December 2006
CDC recommends HIV screening for everyone New recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call for routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)…
Take Note – February 2007
Low-carb diets don’t affect cardiac risk Although diets low in carbohydrates and high in fats and proteins have been popular for the last few…
Take Note – July 2007
On-line video-based course on emergency preparedness The need for better coordination between governmental agencies and hospitals became apparent after 9/11 and again after Hurricane…
Take Note – June 2007
A monthly round up of clinical, practice, and career news, updates, and alerts.
Take Note – November 2006
American Diabetes Association releases food guidelines for specific medical categories “When you’re talking about diabetes, there is no ‘one size fits all’ diet,” said…
Teaching patients to tame their hypertension
This review of the six classes of antihypertensives tells you what you need to know and what you need to teach patients.
The Avandia saga
Read an interesting editorial about Avandia here. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recommended keeping the drug on the market, but increasing warnings…
The growing threat of cephalosporin resistance
Extensive use of third-generation cephalosporins has led to cephalosporin-resistant bacterial strains. Learn how these organisms cause deadly infections and you can help control their…
The multiple causes and myriad presentations of thrombocytopenia
This complex disorder takes many forms, has many causes, and is growing more common due to increased heparin exposure. Learn how to help prevent…
The new health insurance marketplace
Our editor-in-chief discusses the upcoming insurance requirement related to the Affordable Care Act and emphasizes the need for nurses to be knowledgeable about the…
The role of pharmacogenomics in cancer
Oncology nurses have long appreciated that the “one size fits all” strategy—basing chemotherapy dosages on body surface area—for treating cancer does not work because…
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FA) approved Voraxaze (glucarpidase)
On Jan. 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FA) approved Voraxaze (glucarpidase) to treat patients with toxic blood levels of methotrexate because of…
Understanding FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy
FDA’s REMS program is one more way the agency is trying to reduce drug risks.
Understanding the link between genomics and brain illness
Editor’s note: One of a series of articles from the National Human Genome Research Institute. http://www.genome.gov/ All nurses in clinical practice interact at least…
USDA new safety requirements for beta-agonists
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has new safety requirements for long-acting beta-agonists used to treat asthma. Read the requirements at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm200776.htm.,/p>
Using antibiotics effectively for acute-care patients
In the ever-escalating war between bacteria and human beings, some of the bugs are outsmarting us. Here’s what you need to know about antibiotic…
Warfarin therapy and pharmacogenomics: A step toward personalized medicine
How genetic testing ensures that patients start warfarin therapy at their personal-best doses.
What’s new in anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation?
Mrs. Muriel H, age 78, is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with GI bleeding. She has a 5-year history of atrial fibrillation and has…
WHO releases guidelines for antiretroviral drugs in HIV
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released “Consolidated Guidelines on the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs for Treating and Preventing HIV Infection.” Access the guidelines.
WHO says antibiotic resistance is global threat
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report on global antibiotic resistance, which according to the accompanying press release, “is happening right now…