Unaware of Course of Illness, Patients Seek Antibiotics Too Early in Acute Bronchitis

Believing that acute bronchitis should last 7 to 9 days, many patients go to their physicians seeking antibiotics and then receive them unnecessarily, according to a new study. Researchers point out that the illness actually lasts an average of around 18 days, and resolution in most cases is unrelated to antibiotic use. They urge better education by pharmacists and other health care professionals to increase good antibiotic stewardship. Find out what their study shows about the need for patient education.

Newly Approved Anti-Coagulant Will Be Widely Available by End of Month

The latest alternative to warfarin treatment approved by the FDA, apixaban, will be widely available by the end of January, according to its manufacturer. Here is background on the drug, Eliquis, and its advantages over older therapies.

Rare Blood-Clotting Disease Could Be Linked to Misuse of Abuse-Deterrent Opioid

A new report from the CDC raises concerns about the misuse of a new formulation of Opana ER designed to inhibit crushing or dissolving tablets. It notes that 14 cases in Tennessee of a rare blood-clotting problem were associated with injection of the drug. That report came out within a week of new FDA guidance on development of more abuse-deterrent opioids. Here are the details.

Costs for Retail Prescription Drugs Spike While Overall Increases Remain Low

The slowest growth rates in half a century for health care expenditures continued for the third year in 2011, according to a recently published analysis. Going against that, however, were retail prescription drug costs, which posted a greater increase in growth rate from 2010 to 2011 than any other health care component. What was behind the increases and decreases?