Dementia :: Anticholinergic drugs for the elderly could cause dementia
Some commonly used drugs by the elderly to treat illnesses like Parkinson’s or urinary incontinence may lead to mild mental impairment, says a study.
Drug
Constipation :: Amitiza, lubiprostone for treating chronic constipation
The FDA approved Amitiza (lubiprostone), the first drug of its chemical type, for the treatment of chronic constipation in the adult population where there is no known cause for the condition. The product will be available as capsules for use by adults to treat idiopathic constipation cases not caused by other diseases or by use of medications.
Depression :: Treating depression during pregnancy with antidepressants
Pregnant women who stop taking antidepressants run a high risk of slipping back into depression, a study found, busting the myth that the surge of hormones during pregnancy keeps mothers-to-be happy and glowing.
Heart Disease :: Ranexa, ranolazine – for treating chronic angina – chest pain
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Ranexa (ranolazine), a new drug for the treatment of chronic angina. Ranexa, a new molecular entity (NME), is the first drug approved to treat chronic angina in over ten years. Although several pharmacological activities of ranolazine have been described, the precise way the drug works is not fully understood. Because Ranexa affects electrical conduction in the heart (prolong the QT interval), it should only be used by patients who have not responded to other anti-anginal (long-acting nitrates, calcium channel blockers and beta blockers) drugs.
Diabetes :: Exubera – Inhaled Insulin Combination for Treatment of Diabetes
There is a new, potential alternative for many of the more than 5 million Americans who take insulin injections, with the Food and Drug Administration’s approval today of the first ever inhaled insulin. Exubera, an inhaled powder form of recombinant human insulin (rDNA) for the treatment of adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, is the first new insulin delivery option introduced since the discovery of insulin in the 1920s.
Diabetes :: Weight Loss Improves Bladder Control in Women with Prediabetes
Losing a modest amount of weight through dietary changes and increased physical activity reduces the occurrence of urinary incontinence (UI) in women with prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet diabetic. This finding comes from a new study, published in the February issue of Diabetes Care, of women who participated in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a landmark clinical study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Cancer :: Sutent, sunitinib for Gastrointestinal – Stomach Cancer, Kidney Cancer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced approval of Sutent (sunitinib), a new targeted anti-cancer treatment for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a rare stomach cancer, and advanced kidney cancer. This action marks the first time the agency has approved a new oncology product for two indications simultaneously.
Eczema :: Updated labeling for eczema drugs, Elidel and Protopic
There is an approval of updated labeling for two topical eczema drugs, Elidel Cream (pimecrolimus) and Protopic Ointment (tacrolimus).
Cystic Fibrosis :: First dry powder inhalation antibiotic for cystic fibrosis
Forest Laboratories, having developed what it believes is the world?s first dry powder inhalation system for antibiotics, is now conducting phase III trials on a new dry powder antibiotic formulation which promises to change the lives of cystic fibrosis sufferers by drastically reducing the daily treatment time.
Diabetes :: Generex developing new chewing gum for diabetes
Buccal drug delivery pioneer, Generex, is expanding its diabetes treatment pipeline to include a new metformin chewing gum that aims to avoid the significant adverse gastrointestinal side-effects often accompanying the use of metformin tablets.