January 1, 2019

Many patients with episodic migraine headaches would benefit from preventive therapy, which reduces frequency, severity, and distress from migraines; preventive therapy could improve quality of life and prevent chronic migraines. Indications for preventive therapy include four…

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are rarely occurring genetic conditions that block metabolic pathways, ultimately affecting multiple organ systems. Preconception screening for IEM and non-IEM disorders can be performed in women of all ethnic backgrounds. Specific screening…

Urine drug testing is an essential component of monitoring patients who are receiving long-term opioid therapy, and it has been suggested for patients receiving long-term benzodiazepine or stimulant therapy. Family physicians should be familiar with the characteristics and…

There are four important medication issues to discuss with patients as they get older. Find out more and learn the five steps to individualize deprescribing practices for each patient.

Key clinical questions and their evidence-based answers directly from the journal’s content, written by and for family physicians.

Methylphenidate may improve apathy in select patients with AD (mean difference [MD] = –4.99 on the apathy evaluation scale; 95% confidence interval [CI], –9.55 to –0.43), although the clinical significance associated with these findings remains unclear and the evidence is…

HPV vaccination in women 15 to 26 years of age prevents the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and CIN 3 in women regardless of previous HPV exposure (number needed to treat [NNT] = 39). No serious adverse effects are associated with administration of the…

Family physicians play diverse roles in society, often bridging individual and community perspectives. Family physicians' ethics require providing care to all persons regardless of their geographic, economic, political, racial, religious, or sexual orientation status.

A man presented with new-onset foot pain, as well as long-standing red-yellow lesions on his elbows and knees.

No, antibiotic prophylaxis does not decrease mortality in patients with severe acute pancreatitis, defined as pancreatitis associated with pancreatic necrosis.

Adding a LABA to an inhaled corticosteroid is safe but does not reduce the likelihood of a serious exacerbation requiring hospitalization. There is a small reduction in nonsevere asthma exacerbations, with one fewer exacerbation for every 53 patients treated for six months.

This study found that compared with expensive long-acting insulin analogs costing two to 10 times as much, NPH insulin results in a similar number of episodes of severe hypoglycemia (if not fewer) that result in emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

In this small cohort study of patients older than 85 years, lower systolic blood pressure during treatment with antihypertensive medications is associated with higher death rates and greater cognitive decline.

Combination oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are an excellent treatment option for women desiring medical therapy for hirsutism. Based on this meta-analysis, an accompanying practice guideline recommends adding an antiandrogen, such as finasteride (Propecia), if there is an…

A multidisciplinary group of clinicians as part of the Deprescribing Guidelines in the Elderly project has developed evidence-based guidelines focused on deprescribing long-term Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs) in patients taking them for insomnia, with the goal of…

Study Population: Acutely ill adults, without chronic respiratory illness, requiring hospital admission and with the potential to be exposed to supplemental oxygen

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