By specialty
Articles filed under By specialty.
FDA: statins do not increase the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
From FDA’s patient safety news website: Statin Use and the Risk of ALS A recent FDA analysis provides new evidence that using statins does not increase the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease also known “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” Cholesterol-lowering statins such as Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) and Zocor (simvastatin) have been shown to
Pharmacology mnemonic. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins): side effects, contraindications, interactions
Pharmacology mnemonic about: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins): side effects, contraindications, interactions HMG CoA: Side effects: H epatotoxicity M yositis [aka rhabdomyolysis] _ Contraindications: G irl during pregnancy/G rowing children _ Interactions: C oumarin/ C yclosporine Also, check a related animation on their mechanism of action. Thanks to MedExcel
Pharmacology mnemonic. Beta-blockers: main contraindications and cautions
Beta-blockers: main contraindications, cautions ABCDE: Asthma Block (heart block) COPD Diabetes mellitus Electrolyte (hyperkalemia) From MedicalMnemonics.com
FDA video on Ephedrine and Epinephrine: how to prevent mistakes in their administration.
From FDA Patient Safety News: “Drug Name Confusion: Ephedrine and Epinephrine The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) is warning again about the possibility of mix-ups between ephedrine and epinephrine. Not only do the names of these drugs look and sound similar, but since they’re both used as vasopressors and vasoconstrictors, they’re often stored next
Aldosterone mechanism of action video animation
From Richard Harvey (series editor), Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology (LWW, 2008): ” Mineralocorticoids Mineralocorticoids help to control the body’s water volume and concentration of electrolytes, especially sodium and potassium. Aldosterone acts on kidney tubules and collecting ducts, causing a reabsorption of sodium, bicarbonate, and water.
Epinephrine (adrenaline) mechanism of action: animation showing the signal transduction process
Drugs related to this animation Adrenoceptor-Activating & Other Sympathomimetic Drugs:Dobutamine, Ephedrine, Epinephrine, Hydroxyamphetamine, Isoproterenol, Methylphenidate, Naphazoline, Norepinephrine. Source of animation: Lodish, et al., Molecular Cell Biology, Fifth Edition, W. H. Freeman & Co.Developed by Sumanas, Inc.
Drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system: animation showing their mechanism of action
The following is a list of drugs related to the animation: Adrenoceptor-Activating & Other Sympathomimetic Drugs Dobutamine, Ephedrine, Epinephrine, Hydroxyamphetamine, Isoproterenol, Methylphenidate, Naphazoline, Norepinephrine. Adrenoceptor Antagonist Drugs Acebutolol, Atenolol, Betaxolol, Bisoprolol, Carteolol, Carvedilo,l Carvedilol, Esmolol, Labetalol, Metoprolol, Nadolol, Pindolol, Propranolol, Sotalol, Timolol. Cholinoceptor-Activating (Acetylcholine receptor stimulants) Acetylcholine, Bethanechol, Carbachol, Cevimeline, Pilocarpine. Cholinoceptor-Blocking Drugs (Cholinoceptor antagonists)
EMEA: Physicians should not prescribe Acomplia (rimonabant)
The European Medicines Agency recommends suspension of the marketing authorisation of Acomplia The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended the suspension of the marketing authorisation for Acomplia (rimonabant) from Sanofi-Aventis. The EMEA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has concluded that the benefits of Acomplia no longer outweigh its risks and the marketing authorisation
Cardiovascular and mortality outcomes differences between rosiglitazone and pioglitazone
Comparison of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Diabetes Who Initiated Rosiglitazone vs Pioglitazone Therapy Wolfgang C. Winkelmayer, MD, ScD; Soko Setoguchi, MD, DrPH; Raisa Levin, MS; Daniel H. Solomon, MD, MPH Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(21):2368-2375. Background Recent meta-analyses have raised the possibility that rosiglitazone maleate may increase the risk of ischemic cardiovascular events, whereas
Jupiter trial: comments podcast by Therapeutics Initiative
The Therapeutics Initiative is an independent organization at The University of British Columbia dedicated to providing up to date, evidence based, practical information on rational drug therapy. They produced an excellent podcast about the recent JUPITER trial: Download podcast | Subscribe with iTunes | Show Notes Some official information about the trial: Rosuvastatin to Prevent