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P&T October 2012

Features

Editorial
Synthetic Cathinones (‘Bath Salts’)
Legal and Health Care Challenges

The growing abuse of toxic stimulants known as “bath salts” can cause psychosis and possibly death. Raising awareness of the dangers through patient counseling and community outreach programs will be important—especially efforts aimed at young people.

State Cutbacks to Medicaid May Hit Hospitals Hard
New Federal Reductions Might Compound the Stress
Hospitals, low-income families, and disabled individuals who rely on Medicaid funding will be struggling financially if the government reduces its outlays to the states by $800 billion over the next 10 years in order to reduce the federal deficit.
Pregabalin and Simvastatin
First Report of a Case of Rhabdomyolysis

A 70-year-old man with a history of fibromyalgia, type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and chronic low back pain presented to the emergency department with altered mental status, limb weakness, twitching, and slurred speech. The authors sought to determine whether his rhabdomyolysis resulted from an adverse reaction associated with pregabalin and simvastatin.

The Nanomedicine Revolution
Part 2: Current and Future Clinical Applications

Although many nanotherapeutic and nanodiagnostic agents are in use and have the potential to improve health care, many barriers have impeded the development and availability of these products. Despite these impediments, it is expected that nanomaterials will become an integral part of mainstream medicine.

Meeting Highlights
European Society of Cardiology Congress 2012
Topics include antiplatelet drugs for acute coronary syndrome, renal denervation for hypertension, contrast-induced nephropathy, “e-cigarettes,” and resistant hypertension.

Departments

Medication Errors
‘Inattentional Blindness’
Many mistakes can result from “inattentional blindness.”
Prescription: Washington
‘Gray Market’ Not Such a Gray Area Anymore
Hospitals are paying exorbitant prices for drugs because of an insidious “gray market” pipeline.
New Drugs/Drug News/New Medical Devices October 2012

FDA approvals, drug indications, and updates

Pharmaceutical Approval Update October 2012

Truvada for HIV prevention, Xtandi for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and Marqibo, a vincristine liposome injection for acute myelogenous leukemia

Drug Forecast
Ticagrelor (Brilinta), an Antiplatelet Drug for Acute Coronary Syndrome
Ticagrelor (Brilinta) for acute coronary syndrome