Spotlight on medicines

Fingolimod

Fingolimod is an effective medicine for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Prucalopride

Chronic constipation affects about 10% of women under 65 years of age in the UK and some will become laxative-resistant. A new serotonin agonist, prucalopride, is a treatment option for these women

Denosumab

Denosumab is the first in a new class of medicines for the treatment of osteoporosis. But, considering that there are other well established treatment options, what is denosumab’s place in therapy?

Dronedarone

Medicines used to treat atrial fibrillation can cause various side effects. Dronedarone, the most recent antiarrhythmic drug to become available, is well tolerated. This article looks at its place in therapy

Febuxostat

There are a limited number of licensed treatments available for the management of gout. Febuxostat is the first new agent for the prophylaxis of gout to reach the market in the past 40 years

Doripenem

While media attention focuses on battling MRSA and C diff, some strains of Gram-negative bacteria have developed resistance to many antibiotics. A new carbapenem is a useful addition to the arsenal

Ustekinumab

If a patient with severe psoriasis has not responded to methotrexate or another standard therapy, there is a further option to consider — ustekinumab

Dabigatran and rivaroxaban

Until recently, those who have a knee or hip replaced have had to be given a course of injections after their discharge from hospital to prevent them developing DVT. Now, two oral medicines are on offer

Exenatide

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing. The available antidiabetic medicines include the first in a new class — exenatide

Ivabradine

Treatment options for patients with angina have expanded in recent years. Ivabradine is one of the latest medicines to get to grips with

Pegaptanib and ranibizumab

Treatment for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration has been revolutionised with the availability of medicines that inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor A

Maraviroc

New antiretroviral medicines are necessary to keep ahead of drug-resistant HIV. Maraviroc, a CCR5 antagonist, is one of the newest