Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy, breathing 100% O₂ while exposed to increased atmospheric pressure, has been used for years to treat refractory wounds, especially diabetic foot ulcers.

Pregabalin (Lyrica - Pfizer), a structural analog of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) similar to gabapentin (Neurontin - Pfizer, and others), which recently became available generically, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and for adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy.

The injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide (Wegovy) has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH; previously known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis in adults. It is the second drug and the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to be approved in the US for treatment of MASH; resmetirom (Rezdiffra), a thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonist, was granted accelerated approval for the same indication in 2024.

Glimepiride (Amaryl - Hoechst Marion Roussel), a new sulfonylurea similar to glyburide and glipizide (Medical Letter, 26:79, 1984), was recently marketed for treatment of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) not controlled by diet and exercise. The new drug is the first sulfonylurea approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use concurrently with insulin.

The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin (Farxiga – AstraZeneca) was approved by the FDA in 2020 to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The indication has now been expanded to include a reduction in the risk of urgent HF visits and use in adults with any left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

The FDA has required labeling changes that replace serum creatinine (SCr) with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as the parameter used to determine the appropriateness of treatment with the biguanide metformin (Glucophage, and others) in patients with renal impairment. These changes will allow more patients with mild to moderate renal impairment to receive metformin, which is generally the first drug prescribed for treatment of type 2 diabetes.Metformin was previously contraindicated in women with a SCr level ≥1.4 mg/dL and in men with a SCr level ≥1.5 mg/dL, but use of SCr as a...

Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa – Amarin), the ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has been approved by the FDA for use as an adjunct to maximally tolerated statin therapy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dL) who have either established cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes and ≥2 additional risk factors for CVD. It is the only omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) product to be approved in the US for this indication. Icosapent ethyl and two other omega-3 PUFA prescription products (Lovaza, Epanova),...

The FDA has required changes in the labeling of all systemic fluoroquinolone antibiotics to strengthen warnings about the risk of severe hypoglycemia and mental health effects associated with their use.1An FDA review identified 67 cases of hypoglycemic coma associated with fluoroquinolone use, 22 of which resulted in death or disability. Most cases occurred in patients with risk factors such as diabetes (especially those taking a sulfonylurea), older age, or renal insufficiency.1 In observational studies in older adults and patients with diabetes, fluoroquinolones have been associated with...

The FDA has requested the removal of the suicidal behavior and ideation warning from the labels of the 3 glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists approved for chronic weight management: liraglutide (Saxenda), semaglutide (Wegovy), and tirzepatide (Zepbound). The warning was initially included in the labels of these drugs based on an increased risk of suicidal behavior and ideation observed with older weight loss drugs.

Pioglitazone is the third thiazolidinedione ("glitazone") to be marketed in the USA for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Thiazolidinediones decrease resistance to insulin.