(Reuters)—Addressing a growing “epidemic” of opioid overdoses and abuse of the prescribed painkillers in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released voluntary guidelines that instruct primary care doctors to sharply deter use of the medicines for chronic pain. “Overprescribing opioids, largely for chronic pain, is a key driver of America’s…
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California Doctor Gets 30 Years to Life in Landmark Overdose Case
LOS ANGELES (Reuters)—A Southern California doctor was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on Friday for over-prescribing drugs that caused the fatal overdose of three patients in a murder case capped by the first conviction of its kind in the U.S. The case against Dr. Hsiu Ying “Lisa” Tseng, 46, comes amid what…
U.S. Appeals Court Ruling May Clear Barrier to Generic OxyContin
(Reuters)—A federal appeals court ruled Monday that four patents related to Purdue Pharma’s painkiller OxyContin are invalid, potentially bringing Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and others a step closer to introducing generic versions of the drug. Privately owned, Connecticut-based Purdue had sued Teva, Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Epic Pharma after they sought approval from the U.S. Food…

FDA Approves New Drugs for Pain
FDA Updates Belbuca, buccal-administered buprenorphine, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treating severe chronic pain.1 The dosage form is a dissolving film that is absorbed through the inner lining of the cheek for chronic pain management. It’s expected to be commercially available in the first quarter of 2016. Seven dosage strengths…

Does Methotrexate Increase Skin Cancer Risk?
A recent study connects the use of immunosuppressant and biologic agents to an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer in patients being treated for RA and IBD…
Immunotherapy May Be Effective for Some Patients with Autoimmune Cerebellar Ataxia
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Immunotherapy appears to yield neurological improvements in some patients with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia, especially those with nonparaneoplastic disorders, researchers report. “I was surprised that so many patients responded to immunotherapy (steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), and plasma exchange) and remained ambulatory,” Dr. Andrew McKeon from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., told Reuters Health…
Biosimilar for Infliximab Launched in Europe
Plus, updates on arhalofenate, ALO-02, and other rheumatology drug news, safety information
10 Tips for Opioid Prescribing
How to manage the risks when prescribing medications for patients in chronic pain
Fallout from False Assumptions in Medicine
How the lack of clear, concise data has impacted opioid prescribing for chronic pain and is clouding the issue of medical recertification
Decernotinib, Subcutaneous Methotrexate Drug Updates, Trials, Approvals
Plus, rheumatology drug news, safety updates