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Adults with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 kg/m² are considered overweight. Those with a BMI ≥30 are considered obese. The initial recommendation for any weight loss effort is to achieve a 5-10% reduction in weight, which has been associated with a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Diet, exercise, and behavior modification are the preferred methods for losing weight, but long-term weight maintenance can be difficult. Several drugs and devices are FDA-approved for weight reduction and maintenance of weight loss.

The FDA has approved the oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor baricitinib (Olumiant) for treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults who require supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Baricitinib was previously available for this indication under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA); it remains available under an EUA for use in children 2-17 years old hospitalized with COVID-19 who require oxygen support.

View the Comparison Table: Some FDA-Approved Drugs for Weight Management

On April 29, the NIH recommended against use of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin for treatment of COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial. The recommendation was made because recent randomized, placebo-controlled trials of ivermectin have produced negative results and because alternative drugs that have been shown to be effective for treatment of COVID-19 are available.

IV antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury) has now been FDA-approved for treatment of COVID-19 in patients ≥28 days old who weigh ≥3 kg and are either hospitalized or at high risk for progression to severe disease. Remdesivir was already FDA-approved for these indications in patients ≥12 years old who weigh ≥40 kg; it was available under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for younger or lighter patients. Remdesivir is the first drug to be FDA-approved for treatment of COVID-19 in children <12 years old.

The FDA has restricted its Emergency Use Authorization for the adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) to adults who are unable or unwilling to receive another COVID-19 vaccine. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna (Spikevax) are preferred for all persons without a contraindication.

The FDA has expanded its Emergency Use Authorization for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) to include administration of a booster dose in children 5-11 years old who completed a primary series of the Pfizer vaccine ≥5 months previously.

The FDA has approved mavacamten (Camzyos – MyoKardia/BMS), a modulator of cardiac myosin, to improve functional capacity and symptoms in adults with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or III obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who have a baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥55%. Mavacamten is the first drug in its class to become available in the US.

The ophthalmic H1-antihistamine alcaftadine 0.25%, which has been available by prescription since 2011 for use in patients with allergic conjunctivitis, is now available without a prescription as Lastacaft Once Daily Relief (Allergan) for temporary relief of itchy eyes due to pollen, ragweed, grass, animal hair, and dander in adults and children ≥2 years old. It is the third ophthalmic antihistamine to be approved for over-the-counter (OTC) use (see Table 1).

This article includes recommendations for management of most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV and viral hepatitis. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA (see Table 1).