Drug Prescribing: New Drugs and Drug Classes in Family Medicine

New drug approvals and safety information are constantly being released. Staying up-to-date can be a daunting task for family physicians. Several electronic resources provide valuable, concise information directly. It is important to be well informed about new drugs, and drug mechanisms, indications, and administration routes. Pertinent new drug mechanisms include calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists for migraine prevention, selective inhibitors of influenza cap-dependent endonuclease, and adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase inhibitors for hypercholesterolemia. Dapagliflozin recently gained approval for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction with or without type 2 diabetes. Newly approved administration routes include oral semaglutide and intranasal esketamine and glucagon. Drug accessibility, cost, and advantages over existing drugs should be considered. Physicians also should search formularies and promptly respond to prior authorization requests. Physicians should be knowledgeable about drug safety updates, such as adverse events and drug recalls. When a drug has been recalled, it is imperative for prescribers to provide accurate patient advice and therapeutic alternatives. Clinical pharmacists are excellent resources for new drug information, formulary and cost savings management, and drug recall navigation.