The FDA has approved Gimoti (Evoke), a nasal spray formulation of the dopamine-2 (D₂) receptor antagonist metoclopramide, for relief of symptoms in adults with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis. Metoclopramide (Reglan, and generics) has been available for years in conventional and orally-disintegrating tablets and in an injectable formulation. It is the only drug that is FDA-approved for treatment of diabetic gastroparesis.

Rosacea is a common, chronic inflammatory facial eruption of unknown cause. It is more prevalent in women than in men, and disease onset typically occurs after age 30. Rosacea is characterized by erythema, telangiectasia, and flushing, and sometimes by recurrent, progressive crops of acneiform papules and pustules, usually on the central part of the face. Some patients develop granulomas and tissue hypertrophy, which may lead to rhinophyma (a bulbous nose), particularly in men. Blepharitis and conjunctivitis are common. Keratitis and corneal scarring occur rarely.

Pravastatin (Pravachol - Bristol-Myers Squibb) and simvastatin (Zocor - Merck), two new inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis similar to lovastatin (Mevacor - Merck), have been marketed in Canada and several European countries and may soon be available in the USA for treatment of high plasma cholesterol concentrations. Drugs already marketed here for this indication were recently reviewed in The Medical Letter (Volume 33, page 1, January 11, 1991).

Cefdinir (Omnicef - Parke-Davis), a third-generation oral cephalosporin, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of acute sinusitis, otitis media, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, pharyngitis, community-acquired pneumonia and skin infections. Other drugs available for these indications are reviewed in The Medical Letter Handbook of Antimicrobial Therapy, 1998.

Gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin are now available for once-daily treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, or acute sinusitis.

Oxcarbazepine, which is chemically similar to carbamazepine, and levetiracetam, a pyrrolidine acetamide chemically unrelated to other antiepileptic drugs, are the sixth and seventh drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the last five years for oral use in partial seizures.

Atorvastatin (Lipitor - Parke-Davis), an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (or 'statin'), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia. A single stereoisomer of a pyrrole derivative, the new drug is chemically different from other statins.

Gemifloxacin (Factive - Oscient), a new oral fluoroquinolone antibiotic, has been approved by the FDA for 5 days' treatment of acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (ABECB) and 7 days' treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults. For the next 6-8 months it will only be available, presumably for commercial reasons, in states east of the Rocky Mountains.

A recent letter to the editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine documented a single case of myopathy apparently due to an interaction between simvastatin (Zocor, and others) and green tea. Since it became available generically, simvastatin has surpassed atorvastatin (Lipitor) as the best selling statin. As such, it is probably the most common cause of statin-induced myopathy, which is often a result of drug interactions.

Epiduo gel (Galderma), a fixed-dose combination of adapalene 0.1% (Differin), a synthetic retinoid analog, and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) 2.5%, an oxidizing agent, has been approved by the FDA for topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients ≥12 years old.