Pharmacology News

The American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society clinical guideline for acute symptomatic treatment of migraines in children and teenagers — updated for the first time since 2004 — emphasizes importance of treating the migraine early and choosing the route of administration best suited to the characteristics of patient’s migraine attack

Pharmacologic treatments to prevent migraine in children and teens are effective, but so is placebo, complicating the issue for clinicians and families. Guidance from the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society suggests that clinicians should counsel their patients on lifestyle and behavioral factors that contribute to migraine frequency, and it encourages shared decision-making with patients and caregivers regarding the use of preventive medication.

In August, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation that encourages clinicians to screen all adults aged 18 to 79 years for HCV infection, including pregnant women. According to the USPSTF, HCV prevalence doubled among women aged 15 to 44 years between 2006 and 2014. Due to the increasing prevalence of the disease in this age group, the task force said clinicians “may want to consider screening pregnant persons aged younger than age 18 years.”

In August, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation that encourages clinicians to screen all adults aged 18 to 79 years for HCV infection, including pregnant women. According to the USPSTF, HCV prevalence doubled among women aged 15 to 44 years between 2006 and 2014. Due to the increasing prevalence of the disease in this age group, the task force said clinicians “may want to consider screening pregnant persons aged younger than age 18 years.”

From 2013 through 2016, an estimated 2.4 million adults in the United States had a current hepatitis C virus infection. A study published in The American Journal of Public Health reported that the infection rate increased more than twofold between 2004 and 2014 as a result of the opioid epidemic.

From 2013 through 2016, an estimated 2.4 million adults in the United States had a current hepatitis C virus infection. A study published in The American Journal of Public Health reported that the infection rate increased more than twofold between 2004 and 2014 as a result of the opioid epidemic.

Rivaroxaban failed to demonstrate noninferiority to dose-adjusted vitamin K antagonists in patients with thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome, and the agent even showed a nonsignificant doubling of the risk for recurrent thrombosis, according to results from an open-label, randomized, noninferiority trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

CHICAGO —Intermittent statin dosing is a treatment option that may have tremendous potential for addressing patients with statin intolerance who are trying to reduce LDL, according to a speaker at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress.

CHICAGO — Findings of cardiovascular benefit with icosapent ethyl treatment from the REDUCE-IT trial have already revealed actionable clinical implications, but determining whether triglyceride reductions or eicosapentaenoic acid increases are the key mechanisms will be the focus of continuing research, according to a speaker at the Cardiometabolic Heath Congress.

The FDA announced it approved Reyvow for the treatment of adults with acute migraine with or without aura.