Conclusions – Compared with pravastatin, treatment with higher potency statins, especially atorvastatin and simvastatin, might be associated with an increased risk of new onset diabetes.
via Risk of incident diabetes among patients treated with statins: population based study | BMJ.
Six out of 10 patients do not take their medications as prescribed by their physicians, and patients with multiple chronic conditions have the lowest medication adherence rates, according to AAFP Board member Rebecca Jaffe, M.D., M.P.H.
Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, the oldest consumer organization in the United States, talked about barriers to adherence, saying that “there are many reasons why patients are not adherent.”Some patients may be reluctant to remain adherent because of medication side effects, such as sleeplessness or weight gain. Others may be unconvinced about the need to take medications because they do not have symptoms associated with their chronic illness, Greenberg said.Forgetfulness is another issue for some patients, making it difficult for them to remember to take their medications. Out-of-pocket costs may be a challenge for some patients, as well, creating barriers that discourage patients from filling prescriptions, according to Greenberg.
via Poor Medication Adherence Rates Prompt Formation of Broad-Based Coalition — AAFP News Now — AAFP.
…statin discontinuation is common and has been linked to a greater risk of heart-related events and death in patients who have coronary artery disease, the study said.
via Researchers suggest 2 paths to get patients back on statins – amednews.com.
One out of every four Americans over the age of 45 are on a statin.
ISSUE: FDA is warning the public that azithromycin (Zithromax or Zmax) can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm. Patients at particular risk for developing this condition include those with known risk factors such as existing QT interval prolongation, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate, or use of certain drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. FDA has issued a Drug Safety Communication today as a result of our review of a study by medical researchers as well as another study by a manufacturer of the drug that assessed the potential for azithromycin to cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart.
It’s a common problem. According to an April 2011 Mayo Clinic Proceedings article, only about half of those who are prescribed medication take it exactly as prescribed.
via Diabetes: Drugs only work if you take them – MayoClinic.com.
Read in between the lines when reviewing medical records. Adjust your risk assessments accordingly. Decline if warranted.
French medical authorities made headlines recently over Mediator, a diabetes drug widely prescribed by doctors as an appetite suppressant, which is believed to have killed at least 500 people. The head of the French pharmaceutical firm Servier, maker of Mediator, is under formal investigation for manslaughter, and the head of France’s public health agency has resigned. The row has highlighted the links between drug regulators and lobbying drug companies in France, which has one of the world’s highest levels of consumption of prescription drugs.
via France confirms Diane-35 drug deaths | World news | The Guardian.
The oral hepatitis C drug telaprevir (Incivek) will now carry a boxed warning about potentially fatal skin reactions in the wake of multiple deaths, its manufacturer said Wednesday.
via Hep C Drug Linked to Fatal Skin Reactions.
Oops.
According to the Dec. 17 statement, the FDA recently evaluated reports of patients who died while taking Xyrem — which is used to reduce instances of cataplexy and to manage other symptoms of narcolepsy — along with alcohol or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Although the precise cause of the deaths remains uncertain — the reports contained incomplete information and did not adequately address confounding factors, such as pre-existing sleep apnea and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — given some of the circumstances noted in the deaths, the FDA determined that the recommendations in the Xyrem drug label should be strengthened to highlight the risks of using the drug in conjunction with CNS depressant drugs or alcohol.
via FDA Warns Against Combining Alcohol, Other CNS Depressants With Xyrem — AAFP News Now — AAFP.
Oops.
Once the most common treatment for indolent non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the combination chemotherapy known as CHOP is rapidly falling to the wayside in Germany – replaced by bendamustine (Treanda), frequently combined with rituximab (Rituxan), researchers reported here.
via New Combo Replaces CHOP for Lymphoma.
NOTE the commercial interests disclosures at the end of the original article.
A meta-analysis ordered by the agency and conducted by drugmaker Pfizer found a higher occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events — including death, MI, and stroke — with the drug than with placebo.
The FDA noted, however, that such events were uncommon in both groups, and the increased risk wasn’t statistically significant.
via Chantix May Up Heart Risk, FDA Warns.
Quitting smoking is good. Maybe quitting smoking without a pharmaceutical assist is better. Additional link to the FDA release follows.
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