Opioid Prescribing to US Children and Young Adults in 2019
Recent national data are lacking on the prevalence, safety, and prescribers of opioid prescriptions dispensed to children and young adults aged 0 to 21 years. More
Recent studies in antibiotic stewardship
A single-center study of terminal cancer patients found a high rate of antibiotic use within the last 30 days of life, with significantly lower use among those who asked for limited antimicrobial treatment, researchers reported yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. More
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Drug Prescribing in Ontario Nursing Homes
The pharmacoepidemiologic study by Campitelli et al examined changes in medication prescribing in nursing homes in Ontario, Canada, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. More
Facing Headwinds on New Alzheimer’s Drug, Biogen Launches Controversial Campaign
Do you sometimes lose your train of thought or feel a bit more anxious than is typical for you? Those are two of the six questions in a quiz on a website co-sponsored by the makers of Aduhelm, a controversial new Alzheimer’s drug. But even when all responses to the frequency of those experiences are “never,” the quiz issues a “talk to your doctor” recommendation about the potential need for additional cognitive testing. More
Expert panel votes unanimously that Biogen Alzheimer’s drug doesn’t offer patient benefits
The 15-to-0 vote on the Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm amounted to a rebuke of both Biogen and the Food and Drug Administration. More
Cleveland Clinic and Mount Sinai Won’t Administer Aduhelm to Patients
The rejection of the new Alzheimer’s drug by the two major medical centers is one of the starkest signs of concern over its approval by the F.D.A. More
Nearly One in Four People Say Their Medications are Not Routinely Reviewed and Evaluated by Their Medical Team
Today, The Get the Medications Right™ (GTMRx) Institute is sharing the results of a new survey that assesses the medication management habits and needs of over 1,000 people. Among the findings, nearly one quarter of people surveyed cited that their medications are not routinely reviewed and evaluated by their medical team—a shocking fact, given that one-third are taking four or more medications and/or supplements per day. More
(PDF) The Spread in Hospital Chargemaster Prices for Common Drugs
How New Hospital Transparency Regulations Fall Short More
Prohibited, unlisted, even dangerous ingredients turn up in dietary supplements
Consumers may think they’re safer or more “natural” than pharmaceuticals, but multiple studies show they are sometimes adulterated with medicines and unknown additives. More
A crucial, overlooked question on the new Alzheimer’s drug: When should patients stop taking it?
Doctors told STAT it will be critical — and exceedingly difficult — to determine whether Aduhelm's effects are waning with time. More
Pricey drugs paid by Medicare lack cost-effectiveness data
"Efforts for value-based reforms may be hampered by a lack of cost-effectiveness data," the authors write. More
Higher prices drove up Medicare drug spending, advisers say
It was not due to higher volumes of filled prescriptions. More
Association of New Perioperative Benzodiazepine Use With Persistent Benzodiazepine Use
This cohort study examines the frequency of use and persistent use of benzodiazepines among patients undergoing major and minor surgical procedures. More
The Vaccine Rollout Is Changing How We Think about Prescription Meds
A new survey reveals that, for the first time, many Americans see pharmaceutical companies as brand names, just like Nike or Amazon More
Drug pricing watchdog says there’s ‘insufficient’ evidence that Biogen’s Alzheimer’s medicine would help patients
In a draft report, Boston-based ICER cites conflicting data from two trials. The Cambridge biotech says it “does not accurately reflect the possible holistic value” of the experimental treatment. More
Doctors More Likely to Prescribe Opioids to Covid ‘Long Haulers,’ Raising Addiction Fears
Chronic pain from covid can linger for months after patients appear to recover from the disease. More
Antidepressants Not Clinically Useful for Back Pain
While professional guidelines recommend antidepressants for back pain, researchers point out the lack of evidence for their usefulness. More
Doctor group advises shorter antibiotic course for common infections
The ACP guidelines apply to inpatients and outpatients who have uncomplicated infections. More
Assessment of Patient-Preferred Language to Achieve Goal-Aligned Deprescribing in Older Adults
This survey study examines older adults’ preferences regarding different rationales a clinician may use to explain why a patient should stop an unnecessary or potentially harmful medication. More
Many hospitalized Covid-19 patients are given antibiotics. That’s a problem
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, using existing antibiotics appropriately and finding new ones has never been more urgent. More