(from Drug News Weekly) 

The FDA is advising health care providers against the use of magnesium sulfate injection for more than 5 to 7 days to stop preterm labor in pregnant women because a longer duration of administration may lead to low calcium levels and bone problems in the developing fetus.

The FDA has approved 2 new drugs and a diagnostic test for advanced or unresectable melanoma:

• Tafinlar (dabrafenib) is a BRAF inhibitor approved to treat patients with melanoma whose tumors express the BRAF V600E gene mutation.
• Mekinist (trametinib) is an MEK inhibitor approved to treat patients whose tumors express the V600E or V600K gene mutations.
• THxID BRAF test, a companion diagnostic that will help determine if a patient's melanoma cells have the V600E or V600K mutation in the BRAF gene.

The FDA has approved a new indication for Amitiza (lubiprostone), for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in adult patients with chronic, noncancer pain.

In the March 2013 issue of Nurse Advise-ERR, ISMP gives the following recommendations to avoid errors when switching from insulin pens to insulin vials in the hospital:

• Alert staff to the upcoming change and re-educate regarding proper medication preparation and administration.
• When possible, have pharmacy prepare and dispense insulin doses. For rapid-acting insulin dosing, have pharmacy dispense a vial (preferably 3 mL) for specific patient.
• Stock the smallest vials to help avoid any catastrophic dosing errors.
• Stock appropriate syringes.
• Label all vials and syringes.
• Don’t leave insulin vials on counters or on top of medication carts; return them to the appropriate storage location.
• Anticipate and address problems that may arise with this transition.