Cephalon has issued two “Dear Health Care Professional” letters to inform prescribers and other health care providers of important safety information regarding fentanyl buccal tablets (Fentora). Fentanyl buccal tablets are indicated only for breakthrough pain in patients with cancer who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for underlying persistent cancer pain. Serious [...]]]...

The FDA has announced that the prescribing information for haloperidol (Haldol, generic versions) has been revised to include a new cardiovascular subsection in the Warnings section. Life-threatening arrhythmias (e.g., sudden death, QT prolongation, torsades de pointes) have been reported in patients treated with haloperidol, especially when the drug is administered intravenously or at doses higher than [...]]]...

Important revisions have been made to the Contraindications, Warnings, and Dosage and Administration sections of the full prescribing information for ceftriaxone (Rocephin, Roche). This new information addresses the interaction of ceftriaxone with calcium-containing products based on reports of fatal cases in neonates. Although no cases of ceftriaxone-calcium precipitates in patients other than neonates have been reported, [...]]]...

For the first time in a decade, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program has updated clinical guide lines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. New features include: • an expanded section on asthma for children 5 to 11 years of age. • information on medications. • recommendations for patient education other than in a physician’s office. • advice for controlling environmental [...]]]...

The nasal influenza vaccine FluMist (MedImmune) is now approved to in clude children between two and five years of age. Approval had previously been limited to healthy children five years of age and olderand to adults up to age 49. The vaccine contains a weakened form of the live virus and is sprayed into the [...]]]...