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As many as 80% of patients who are candidates for preventive treatments for migraine headaches could be helped by these treatments, the author of new guidelines issued by the American Academy of Neurology told Formulary.

Twice-daily dabigatran etexilate mesylate (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) was shown to be associated with lower rates of fatal and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage compared with warfarin, according to the results of a retrospective subanalysis published online, April 5, in Stroke, the Journal of the American Heart Association.

FDA has issued a Drug Safety Communication (April 20) warning of possible risks when using blood pressure medicines containing aliskiren with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with diabetes or kidney (renal) impairment. These drug combinations are contraindicated in patients with diabetes.

Guidelines for managing elevated blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, developed jointly by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), are being published concurrently in the ADA?s journal, April 19 online edition of Diabetes Care and in EASD?s journal, Diabetologia.

FDA?s approval (April 10) of generic versions of ViroPharma?s antibiotic Vancocin (vancomycin hydrochloride) for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, has some industry experts wondering if FDA is trying to speed up the availability of generics or politically favor new company competition in select areas of therapy.

FDA approved the first 4-strain influenza vaccine live, intranasal (FluMist Quadrivalent, MedImmune) for the prevention of influenza. The vaccine?s 4 strains (2 type-A and 2 type-B lineages) help provide broad protection against circulating influenza A and B.

Weekly mobile phone text messaging may help patients with human immunodeficiency virus adhere to antiretroviral therapy that is often associated with difficult side effects, according to a study published online March 14 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

FDA added new label warnings for the antidepressant citalopram (Celexa, Forest Laboratories), discouraging patients with certain conditions from using the drug and lowering the dosage recommendations to 20 mg daily for patients aged 60 and older. The warning is also applicable to generic versions of Celexa.

FDA has approved beclomethasone dipropionate (QNASL Nasal Aerosol, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries), a ?dry? nasal aerosol corticosteroid that treats year-round and seasonal nasal allergy symptoms in people aged 12 years and older.