New Drug Update 2013-14

The FDA is approving new medications at a fast pace, there are new warnings on many existing medications, and changes in the guidelines for many of the diseases seen in primary care. In addition, primary care providers are being evaluated and incentivized for meeting quality indicators. Healthcare continues to move toward improving access to high quality, evidence-based and cost effective patient centered care. This lecture addresses the FDA warnings and label changes that relate to medication safety and how this information should be applied in the selection and monitoring of evidence-based pharmacotherapy to achieve better patient related outcomes. Current information concerning newly FDA approved medications (pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety data, drug interactions, dosing, monitoring and cost) in the selection of evidence-based pharmacotherapy is presented. Selected newer agents will be compared to existing therapies so that a determination of the appropriate medication regimen for a specific patient can be determined.