PHARMACOM LLC

A Consulting Company

January 2020

New Antibiotic Guidelines for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

The American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America published updated guidelines on outpatient treatment of adults with community-acquired pneumonia. The new guidelines recommend high-dose amoxicillin (1 gram three times daily) or doxycycline (100 mg twice daily) for generally healthy adults. Use of azithromycin is now discouraged because Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance is high. Patients with comorbidities may require a combination of antibiotics.

Prediabetes Rates in Adolescents and Young Adults

Nearly 20% of adolescents aged 12-18 years and 24% of young adults aged 19-34 years have prediabetes, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Prediabetes rates were higher in males and in those with obesity. Adolescents and young adults with prediabetes had higher blood cholesterol, higher blood pressure, and more abdominal fat compared to those without prediabetes.

New Drug Approvals

Dayvigo (lemborexant) is approved for treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep onset or sleep maintenance. It is an orexin/hypocretin receptor antagonist that promotes sleep by inhibiting orexin signaling. Dayvigo will be available in 5 mg and 10 mg tablets.

Caplyta (lumateperone) is approved for treatment of schizophrenia in adults. It is a first-in-class antipsychotic drug with an unknown mechanism of action. Caplyta is a capsule taken once daily.

The first generic versions of Eliquis (apixaban) have been approved. This is the first generic approval of a direct oral anticoagulant. Apixaban is approved to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Increased Teen Vaping of THC

Vaping of THC is increasing among teenagers. The CDC-funded survey Monitoring the Future found that 14% of 12th graders reported vaping THC within the last 30 days. This percentage nearly doubled since last year's survey. Overall marijuana use by teens has remained stable, suggesting teens may be switching from smoking marijuana to vaping THC. Vaping is more discreet than smoking, and vaping may lead to higher concentrations of THC in the blood.

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Happy New Year!