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Oral Antiviral Medications for COVID-19

Author/s: 
Petty, L. A., Malani, P. N.

Twonewantiviralmedications, ritonavir-boostednirmatrelvir (Paxlovid,
ie, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio), are currently
available in theUS underemergency useauthorization. These 2 drugs
areauthorized for treatmentofpatientswithmild tomoderateCOVID19 who are not currently hospitalized but are at high risk of developingseveredisease.Nirmatrelvir-ritonavirandmolnupiravirareapproved
for use only within 5 days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms.
Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir andmolnupiravir should be considered for
patients with symptoms of COVID-19 who test positive for SARSCoV-2 and either are an older adult (aged 65 years or older) or are
aged 12 years or older with an underlying condition that increases
risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19 (such as cancer, heart disease,
diabetes, and obesity).

Keywords 
medication Antiviral COVID-19 treatment

Anticraving medication for moderate to severe alcohol use disorder

Author/s: 
Mong, J., Ahamad, K., Bach, P.

Alcohol use disorder is characterized by compulsive use, lack of control and harmful consequences of alcohol. Men who have had more than 5 standard drinks and women who have had more than 4 standard drinks on 1 occasion within the past year should be assessed for alcohol use disorder.1 Anticraving medications can play an effective role in overcoming moderate to severe alcohol use disorder and can be prescribed by primary care physicians.

Keywords 
anticraving alcoholsim harm reduction medication craving

Bedtime hypertension treatment improves cardiovascular risk reduction: the Hygia Chronotherapy Trial

Author/s: 
Hermida, R.C., Crespo, J.J., Domínguez-Sardiña, M, Otero, A., Moyá, A., Ríos, M.T., Sineiro, E., Castiñeira, M.C., Callejas, P.A., Pousa, L., Salgado, J.L., Durán, C., Sánchez, J.J., Fernández, J.R., Mojón, A., Ayala, D.E., Hygia Project Investigators

AIMS:

The Hygia Chronotherapy Trial, conducted within the clinical primary care setting, was designed to test whether bedtime in comparison to usual upon awakening hypertension therapy exerts better cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

In this multicentre, controlled, prospective endpoint trial, 19 084 hypertensive patients (10 614 men/8470 women, 60.5 ± 13.7 years of age) were assigned (1:1) to ingest the entire daily dose of ≥1 hypertension medications at bedtime (n = 9552) or all of them upon awakening (n = 9532). At inclusion and at every scheduled clinic visit (at least annually) throughout follow-up, ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring was performed for 48 h. During the 6.3-year median patient follow-up, 1752 participants experienced the primary CVD outcome (CVD death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, heart failure, or stroke). Patients of the bedtime, compared with the upon-waking, treatment-time regimen showed significantly lower hazard ratio-adjusted for significant influential characteristics of age, sex, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, smoking, HDL cholesterol, asleep systolic blood pressure (BP) mean, sleep-time relative systolic BP decline, and previous CVD event-of the primary CVD outcome [0.55 (95% CI 0.50-0.61), P < 0.001] and each of its single components (P < 0.001 in all cases), i.e. CVD death [0.44 (0.34-0.56)], myocardial infarction [0.66 (0.52-0.84)], coronary revascularization [0.60 (0.47-0.75)], heart failure [0.58 (0.49-0.70)], and stroke [0.51 (0.41-0.63)].

CONCLUSION:

Routine ingestion by hypertensive patients of ≥1 prescribed BP-lowering medications at bedtime, as opposed to upon waking, results in improved ABP control (significantly enhanced decrease in asleep BP and increased sleep-time relative BP decline, i.e. BP dipping) and, most importantly, markedly diminished occurrence of major CVD events.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00741585.

Keywords 
antihypertensives blood pressure hypertension medication

Final Update Summary: Breast Cancer: Medication Use to Reduce Risk

Author/s: 
US Preventive Services Task Force, Owens, Douglas K., Davidson, Karina W., Krist, Alex H., Barry, Michael J., Cabana, M, Caughey, AB, Doubeni, Chyke A., Epling, John W. Jr., Kubik, M, Landefeld, CS, Mangione, Carol M., Pbert, L, Silverstein, Michael, Tseng, Chien-Wen, Wong, JB

IMPORTANCE:

Breast cancer is the most common nonskin cancer among women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death. The median age at diagnosis is 62 years, and an estimated 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. African American women are more likely to die of breast cancer compared with women of other races.

OBJECTIVE:

To update the 2013 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on medications for risk reduction of primary breast cancer.

EVIDENCE REVIEW:

The USPSTF reviewed evidence on the accuracy of risk assessment methods to identify women who could benefit from risk-reducing medications for breast cancer, as well as evidence on the effectiveness, adverse effects, and subgroup variations of these medications. The USPSTF reviewed evidence from randomized trials, observational studies, and diagnostic accuracy studies of risk stratification models in women without preexisting breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ.

FINDINGS:

The USPSTF found convincing evidence that risk assessment tools can predict the number of cases of breast cancer expected to develop in a population. However, these risk assessment tools perform modestly at best in discriminating between individual women who will or will not develop breast cancer. The USPSTF found convincing evidence that risk-reducing medications (tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitors) provide at least a moderate benefit in reducing risk for invasive estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women at increased risk for breast cancer. The USPSTF found that the benefits of taking tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibitors to reduce risk for breast cancer are no greater than small in women not at increased risk for the disease. The USPSTF found convincing evidence that tamoxifen and raloxifene and adequate evidence that aromatase inhibitors are associated with small to moderate harms. Overall, the USPSTF determined that the net benefit of taking medications to reduce risk of breast cancer is larger in women who have a greater risk for developing breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION:

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians offer to prescribe risk-reducing medications, such as tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitors, to women who are at increased risk for breast cancer and at low risk for adverse medication effects. (B recommendation) The USPSTF recommends against the routine use of risk-reducing medications, such as tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitors, in women who are not at increased risk for breast cancer. (D recommendation) This recommendation applies to asymptomatic women 35 years and older, including women with previous benign breast lesions on biopsy (such as atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ). This recommendation does not apply to women who have a current or previous diagnosis of breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ.

Keywords 
breast cancer risk assessment risk reduction medication

Anticoagulant Comparison Chart

Author/s: 
North American Thrombosis Forum

After being diagnosed with a blood clot, navigating the different medications can be confusing. NATF has designed a chart comparing the different anticoagulant medications, which include warfarin and the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

This is a great tool for patients to use when talking to their doctors about which medication is right for them.

Keywords 
blood clot medication
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