Active ingredient(s): valproic acid

Dosage form: delayed-release capsule

Manufacturer: Banner Pharmacaps

Usage: Manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, adjunctive therapy in multiple seizure types (including epilepsy), and prophylaxis of migraine headaches.

Approval Date: 07/29/2008

For more information visit http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2008/022152lbl.pdf

Disclaimer: All contents published on RxInfoBlog.com is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Like any printed material, it may become out-of-date over time.  The site and its services are not a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes to your diet, health routine or treatment.

From the FDA Medwatch on July 24, 2008:

FDA informed healthcare professionals that serious and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) caused by abacavir therapy are significantly more common in patients with a particular human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA-B*5701. FDA reviewed data from two studies that support a recommendation for pre-therapy screening for the presence of the HLA-B*5701 allele and the selection of alternative therapy in positive subjects. Genetic tests for HLA-B*5701 are available and all patients should be screened for the HLA-B*5701 allele before starting or restarting treatment with abacavir or abacavir-containing medications. Development of clinically suspected abacavir HSR requires immediate and permanent discontinuation of abacavir therapy in all patients, including patients negative for HLA-B*5701.

For more information, visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Abacavir

Disclaimer: All contents published on RxInfoBlog.com is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Like any printed material, it may become out-of-date over time.  The site and its services are not a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes to your diet, health routine or treatment.

Active ingredient(s): Hypromellos; Dextrose; Glutathione

Dosage form: irrigating solution

Manufacturer: Alcon

Usage: Intraocular irrigating solution during surgical procedures involving perfusion of the eye.

Approval Date: July 24, 2008

For more information visit http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2008/022193lbl.pdf

Disclaimer: All contents published on RxInfoBlog.com is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Like any printed material, it may become out-of-date over time.  The site and its services are not a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes to your diet, health routine or treatment.

There has been some confusion on how much prescription coverage is available to certain individuals who have Medicaid.  In the State of Texas, for example, a person is limited to three prescriptions per month unless they are classified as a nursing home patient or are children then they have unlimited prescriptions per month.  Maximum fills on Medicaid prescriptions are for six months; this means that even if you doctor gives you a prescription with refills for a whole year, Medicaid in Texas will require a new prescription after six months.  However, if you want to pay out of pocket for the prescription, then you can purchase the medication until the prescription expires after 1 year for non-controlled drugs, and 6 months for controlled medications.  Check with your pharmacies, every state is a little different.  Most pharmacies will automatically contact the prescribers for you to obtain a new prescription.  Just remember to call in advance to give them time to contact you doctor.  As mentioned previously, you can always choose to pay for the prescription if you cannot wait.  You may also ask your pharmacists to loan a few pills until the doctor gets back with them.

Disclaimer: All contents published on RxInfoBlog.com is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Like any printed material, it may become out-of-date over time.  The site and its services are not a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes to your diet, health routine or treatment.

FDA notified healthcare professionals that a boxed warning and medication guide are to be added to the prescribing information to strengthen existing warnings about the increased risk of developing tendinitis and tendon rupture in patients taking fluoroquinolones for systemic use.

This risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture is further increased in those over age 60, in kidney, heart, and lung transplant recipients, and with use of concomitant steroid therapy. Physicians should advise patients, at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or inflammation, to stop taking the fluoroquinolone, to avoid exercise and use of the affected area, and to promptly contact their doctor about changing to a non-fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drug. Selection of a fluoroquinolone for the treatment or prevention of an infection should be limited to those conditions that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

Some examples of drugs considered to be fluoroquinolones are ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Cipro XR, Proquin XR), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and ofloxacin (Floxin).  If you are unsure if your antibiotic is a fluoroquinolone, check with your doctor or pharmacist.  You may also find more information at FDA MedWatch - Fluoroquinolones.

Disclaimer: All contents published on RxInfoBlog.com is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Like any printed material, it may become out-of-date over time.  The site and its services are not a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes to your diet, health routine or treatment.

Active ingredient(s): Gadoxetate Disodium

Dosage form: single use injectable vials

Manufacturer: Bayer

Usage: Contrast agent for intravenouse use in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver to detect and characterize lesions in adults with known or suspected focal liver disease.

Approval Date: July 3, 2008

For more information visit http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2008/022090lbl.pdf

Disclaimer: All contents published on RxInfoBlog.com is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Like any printed material, it may become out-of-date over time.  The site and its services are not a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes to your diet, health routine or treatment.

Active ingredient(s): Ropinirole 2mg, 4mg, 8mg

Dosage form: extended release tablets

Manufacturer: GlaxoSmithKline

Usage: once daily dosing for the treatment of signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.

Approval Date: July 1, 2008

For more information visit http://www.requipxl.com/

Disclaimer: All contents published on RxInfoBlog.com is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Like any printed material, it may become out-of-date over time.  The site and its services are not a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor before making any changes to your diet, health routine or treatment.