Pharmacology News

Despite guidelines recommending chlorthalidone over hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension, the drugs have similar effectiveness and chlorthalidone was associated with a significantly worse safety profile, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Some in the medical community were initially skeptical of the first statin to win FDA approval, according to a history of the medication published in Heart Views. Now, 32 years later, research suggests it is patients who are reluctant to fully embrace statin use.

Considering a patient’s sex and gender is essential during clinical decision-making, according to a review published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Adding maraviroc to a standard three-drug antiretroviral therapy regimen in patients with advanced HIV did not improve outcomes, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Today is International Epilepsy Day. According to WHO, approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and about 70% of these individuals could live seizure-free if they were properly diagnosed and treated.

In 2017, Medicare Part D could have saved $4.4 billion of the $7.3 billion in post-rebate spending on insulin that year if they had used Veterans Affairs-negotiated prices, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The analgesic medication tramadol was associated with a higher risk for hip fracture compared with codeine and commonly used NSAIDs, according to findings from a population-based study.

Some patients who initiated statin or antihypertensive medications made unfavorable lifestyle changes such as gaining weight and participating in less physical activity, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Initial regimens of antiretroviral therapy for most people living with HIV cost up to $48,000 per year, and prices have risen by an average of 6% each year since 2012, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Taking low-dose aspirin as early as 6 weeks’ gestation could reduce the risk for preterm birth among first-time mothers, according to results from a randomized clinical trial published in The Lancet.