Quick hits: The FDA conducted a surprise inspection of JUUL Labs as part of the agency’s effort to gain more information on the e-cigarette company’s sales and marketing practices. The FDA reportedly seized more than 1,000 documents. The action comes just weeks after the FDA ordered JUUL and four other manufacturers to come up with plans to curb use of e-cigs by teens. JUUL has the largest share of the e-cig market, and its sales grew more than seven-fold from 2016 to 2017, according to newly released data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The CDC also noted that JUUL has among the highest nicotine content of e-cigs available. Posted October 2, 2018. Via CDC.
Quick hits: More than half of people with asthma that take oral steroids such as prednisolone experience significant side effects, according to a new survey. Asthma UK, a charitable organization, interviewed 1,200 patients with severe asthma, most of whom had at least two asthma attacks in the prior year and were on an oral steroid. Of those on a steroid, about 56% experienced weight gain, 55% had trouble falling asleep, 43% were more irritable and more easily upset. And 37% said they were more anxious and had less energy. Asthma UK said that healthcare providers should use newer biologic-based drugs known as monoclonal antibodies to treat asthma, as they have been shown to reduce asthma attacks by up to 50%. Some of these medications include Xolair (omalizumab), Cinqair (reslizumab) and Nucala (mepolizumab). However, they are more expensive than oral steroids. Posted October 2, 2018. Via The Times.
Quick hits: About 20% of people with Alzheimer’s disease use two or more psychotropic drugs that can raise the risk of experiencing adverse events. Researchers in Finland examined the medical records of more than 70,000 people diagnosed with the disease. Antipsychotics were eight times as likely to be prescribed in those with Alzheimer’s compared to those without the disease. The use of at least two psychotropics together was three times more common among people with Alzheimer’s. The most common combination was an antidepressant with either an antipsychotic or benzodiazepine, a class of medications used for anxiety and sleep. Use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, a first-line dementia treatment, such as Aricept (donepezil), was associated with less risk for psychotropic polypharmacy, while use of Namenda (memantine), another dementia drug, was associated with a higher risk. Posted October 1, 2018. Via European Neuropsychopharmacology.
