Side Effects
« Previous EntriesNew Warning Labels for Epilepsy Drugs Coming Soon
Sunday, June 8th, 2008The FDA is preparing to put warning labels on epilepsy drugs that will notify users about the increased risk for suicidal behavior.
“Everything points in the direction of an increase in what we call suicidality,” said Dr. Russell Katz, director of the FDA’s neuropharmacological drug division in a Katz said in a June 6 Wall Street [...]
More Bad Drug News in the NFL
Thursday, June 5th, 2008According to ESPN.com, a convicted steroids dealer who recently met with NFL security officials and gave them names of players he said bought steroids from him was found dead in his home in Plano, Texas on June 5.
Plano police made a welfare check and found 35-year-old David Jacobs and 30-year-old Amanda Jo Earhart-Savell dead. Both [...]
A Little Scary…
Monday, June 2nd, 2008
On May 27, the FDA alerted consumers and healthcare professionals not to buy or use Xiadafil VIP Tablets sold in bottles of 8 tablets or blister cards of 2 tablets. The product is marketed as a dietary supplement and is promoted and sold over the internet for sexual enhancement and to treat erectile dysfunction.
“The product [...]
Over-medicating Seniors
Saturday, May 31st, 2008According to a recent CNN.com article, you shouldn’t be too quick to assume that your aging loved ones are experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia… it could just be a bad case of over-medication.
“Every year, 38 million older Americans suffer drug complications, 180,000 of which are life-threatening, according to research by Dr. Jerry Gurwitz, [...]
Better Warning Labels May Be On the Way
Thursday, May 29th, 2008The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a mandate that would require prescription medicines to have more detailed warning labels than they currently do. In a May 28 USA Today Article, Deputy Director of the FDA’s Office of New Drugs Sandra Kweder said pregnant women in particular need much better guidance.
“Women take an average of three [...]
1-800-SIDE EFFECTS
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008Reuters recently reported that some people are pushing for a side effect hotline that would allow patients to phone in particularly dicey drug complications free of charge.
“The 1-800-FDA-1088 number is part of the agency’s MedWatch program to monitor possible problems with drugs and devices. Consumers and doctors can also report concerns on the FDA’s website.
Last [...]
Numbers, statistics and disturbing factoids (oh my!)
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008According to WorstPills.org there are 212 prescription drugs that people should NOT due to various health hazards, and 62 prescription drugs that can potentially cause eye disease. There are a plethora of other interesting statistics on the site, which are attributed to “well-conducted studies, mainly in the United States.” Here are a few:
Each year, [...]
Had a heart attack? Here’s $200,000. Now go away.
Sunday, May 4th, 2008According to a Wall Street Journal article pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer has settled some of the lawsuits over two of its painkiller medicines, Celebrex and Bextra. Former users of the drugs allege that they caused heart attacks and strokes. Apparently, there have been an estimated 7,000 to 9,000 Celebrex and Bextra lawsuits filed against Pfizer, and [...]
Blockbuster Cholesterol Drug A No-Go
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008The FDA denied approval of the much anticipated Merck & Co. cholesterol drug Cordaptive on Monday, stating that more information on the drug is needed, and that the trade name Cordaptive is not acceptable.
Merck is also the creator of the controversial cholesterol drug Vytorin, which came under fire in January when studies showed that the [...]
The End of An Arranged Marriage
Monday, April 28th, 2008Schering-Plough and Merck have been making moves to bring their two respective allergy drugs — Claritin and and Singulair — together to form one super-drug, but it according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. On April 25, the company said late the FDA had rejected [...]
« Previous Entries