FDA backs previous stance on Pradaxa bleeding risks
Federal health officials have issued an update on its stance on the new blood thinner drug Pradaxa, indicating the risk of severe bleeding associated with the drug is no more significant than any other drugs available on the market for the same purpose. This stance goes against a lot of current research that found Pradaxa to carry … [Read more...]
Bisphosphonate drugs Fosamax, Boniva not right for women in “pre-menopause”
Women suffering from osteopenia, often referred to as pre-menopause, should avoid taking bisphosphonate drugs like Fosamax to prevent bone loss in most circumstances. Consumer Reports magazine's team of medical experts issued this advisory when questioned about the use of these prescription drugs that are almost ritually taken by … [Read more...]
Elderly Dementia Linked to Anxiety, Insomnia Drugs
Elderly patients taking benzodiazepines or other similar anxiety or insomnia drugs are more likely to develop symptoms of dementia than those who avoid the drugs entirely. According to a WebMD.com report on a new study appearing in the journal, British Medical Journal, among a group of more than 1,000 patients in two French … [Read more...]
Doctors Petition FDA to Act on Opioid Painkillers
In response to growing opioid pain prescribing practice abuse, a group of doctors has petitioned the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to take action on the powerful and powerfully addictive painkillers. Opioids are highly potent drugs approved for moderate to severe persistent pain that requires treatment for an extended … [Read more...]
Watchdog Says FDA Needs Drug Safety Tracking Database
A leading public health advocacy group has suggested the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve a comprehensive system for tracking adverse reactions and dangerous side effects of prescription drugs once they reach the U.S. market. According to a HealthDay News report on a new study from the Institute of Medicine, the group … [Read more...]
Report Finds FDA Post-Market Oversight of Drugs is Improving
A just-released report finds that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) oversight of drugs is improving, says the agency. The report states that the FDA has strengthened the way in which it monitors post-approval drug safety—approved drugs receive equal priority for safety reviews as do drugs undergoing the stringent … [Read more...]
U.K. Regulator Warns of Tolvaptan Side Effects
A U.K. regulator just issued a warning over side effects linked to Tolvaptan. Side effects include serious neurological events. Tolvaptan is a selective vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist used for the treatment of adults diagnosed with hyponatremia, secondary to inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Hyponatremia … [Read more...]
Study Finds Doctors Frequently Prescribe Drugs Off-Label
A new study finds that doctors are frequently prescribing medications for off-label uses The study looked at the off-label prescribing practices of primary care physicians in a Canadian network, said Science Daily. The report was published in Online First by the Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA network publication; the repot is … [Read more...]
Drug Marketing Campaigns Obscure Side Effects
Although drug makers must indicate a drug’s adverse effects on its labeling, drug marketing campaigns obscure drug side effects. OpEdNews notes that 100,000 Americans die every year over complications from prescribed drugs; another 1.5 million people become ill or seriously injured over medication mistakes. These figures are … [Read more...]
Plavix – Aspirin Combo Linked to Higher Risk of Gastrointestinal bleeding
Taking low doses of aspirin along with the blood thinning drug Plavix could increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to a new study. According to a Reuters report, the authors of the study calculated that if 1,000 people not taking the Plavix-aspirin combo were to start such a regimen, an extra one to three of them … [Read more...]
Enbrel Lawsuit Claims Drug Caused Cancer
Alleging a diagnosis of cancer and accusing drugmakers of hiding Enbrel side effects, Wayne Stone Sr. is suing Immunex, Pfizer, Wyeth, and so-called "John Doe" distributors of the drug, reported Courthouse News. Amgen and Pfizer market Enbrel for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Stone Sr. claims Enbrel gave him lymphoma and the … [Read more...]
Users of Plavix, Valium, Other Meds Could Suffer Reactions if they Carry CYP2C19 Gene Variant
Does a gene variant explain a U.S. lawmaker's odd behavior? According to Rep. David Wu, an Oregon Democrat, a variant in the CYP2C19 gene, which plays a role in metabolizing some drugs, like Plavix and Valium was the reason he seemingly went AWOL around Election Day in 2008. We've written about the CYP2C19 gene variant before. … [Read more...]
Motrin Lacks Warning on Dangerous Skin Reactions
Motrin, the pain killer known generically as ibuprofen, can cause an allergic reactions - Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) - that make skin shed off. According to BNET, citing a California state appeals court ruling, Johnson & Johnson knew Motrin could lead to this dangerous reaction, and has known … [Read more...]
Nitrous Oxide During Surgery Could Cause Heart Attacks
A newly-published study suggests that there are risks for heart attack from Nitrous Oxide when undergoing surgery and receiving general anesthesia. The Nitrous Oxide side effects were found to be long term, said Becker's ASC Review. The study was released by the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia and appears in the February … [Read more...]
Depakote Lawsuit Says Drug Caused Birth Defects
Abbott Laboratories is involved in a another Depakote lawsuit in an action involving its defective drug and over two dozen parents. The lawsuit alleges that Depakote, an anti-epileptic medication, caused birth defects in their children, wrote the Saint Clair Record. The class complaint was filed on December 15th. The issue with … [Read more...]
