Ask the Pharmacist: Medications introduced in 2019 – Marco News

Suzy Cohen, Columnist Published 5:02 a.m. ET Dec. 30, 2019

Dear Readers, its time for my annual article regarding new medications of the year. In 2019, a variety of novel entities received FDA approval, and some drugs were approved after just a few dozen people were tested!

What you are reading is syndicated worldwide, however, I will only list American brand names so please ask your medication specialist to find out a medication name as it is known in your country.

More: Ask the Pharmacist: And you thought it was just Romaine

Happy New Year everyone!

Love, Suzy

This medication was granted a fast track to approval for patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Characterized by muscle deterioration and weakness, DMD occurs due to a genetic mutation and symptoms are evident in children at age 3 or 4. Jerry Lewis was a famous actor, comedian and singer who hosted telethons for Muscular Dystrophy until 2010 and would likely be pleased about new treatments for DMD.

This treats sickle cell anemia which causes red blood cells to be shaped abnormally (as a crescent or sickle shape). This restricts blood flow and oxygen to tissues which results in pain, organ damage and inflammation. Oxbryta inhibits a pathway in the body that improves blood flow. Common side effects include headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, rash and pyrexia (fever).

This is a new antibiotic for urinary tract infections (UTIs) that gets injected into your blood stream. It is in the category of beta-lactams so dont take it if youre allergic to Penicillin or Cephalosporins. Fetroja is a hospital antibiotic used to treat complicated UTIs and pyelonephritis that become life-threatening, not your regular UTI.

This medication is for adults with migraines (with or without aura) and should not be taken if you plan to drive. It can cause intense drowsiness. It just received FDA approval as the first and only medication in its category. It is used for acute relief and is significant because migraine pain is severe and incapacitating for many people. If youd like more information, Ive written a wonderful book on this called Headache Free.

Treatment may cause some adverse events and the most frequently reported ones include dizziness, fatigue, paresthesia, sedation, nausea and/or vomiting and muscle weakness.

Think of this as the new type of Botox! It contains a botulinum derivative that temporarily erases frown lines between your eyebrows (glabellar lines). Its pronounced Ju-Vo. Jeuveau was evaluated in 5 different clinical trials that encompassed more than 2,100 people, mainly women.

For Parkinsons, this is a pill that you take twice a day, not injection. Its used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation in adults. This medication may cause serious dehydration, especially in children or elderly. The most common side effects from the initial trials are diarrhea, which sometimes may be severe, abdominal distention, excessive gas and dizziness.

These are capsules of iron to help people with iron deficiency anemia. The iron drug was approved by the FDA based upon three different clinical trials. Accrufer was useful in increasing levels in the patients that took the drug twice daily. Common side effects with this medication were gas, diarrhea, constipation, stool color change, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort, bloating and pain.

This medication pronounced, X-Po-Vee-O comes as a 20mg pill and was approved in July 2019 to treat Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer. The drug is intended to be used along with a corticosteroid (such as dexamethasone) in patients who are unresponsive to at least four prior treatments. Xpovio was fast tracked through the FDAs approval program to allow earlier patient access and was based upon evidence from only 202 patients. It works by binding Exportin 1 which slows cancer cell growth.

Side effects that may be experienced include reduced platelet counts (which could lead to uncontrolled bleeding), neutropenia, respiratory infections and neurological dysfunction. That last one is vague and may be better described as dizziness, fainting, confusion or other mental status changes. This drug should not be given to pregnant women.

A medication approved to treat bladder cancer, this may be used in local, advanced or metastatic cancer whose chemotherapy did not work well enough. This med was speeded through the FDAs approval process to make it available quickly. Thirty-two percent of 87 patients who were studied experienced either complete or partial shrinkage of their tumors. Balversa may negatively affects vision and may lead to retinal detachment. Blood phosphate levels need to be evaluated.

More: Ask the Pharmacist: Natural solutions for burning mouth syndrome

This newspaper pays for all meals related to dining reviews. We do not solicit or accept free food.

Read or Share this story: https://www.marconews.com/story/life/2019/12/30/ask-pharmacist-medications-introduced-2019/2755814001/

Here is the original post:
Ask the Pharmacist: Medications introduced in 2019 - Marco News