FDA & Prescription Drugs

• FDA Links Botox to Adverse Reactions and Death

  Tara Helms | July 02, 2008 11:34 AM | 0 CommentsHuntsville, AL

  Botox has been linked to serious adverse reactions leading to hospitalization and death. The FDA requests that patients report adverse reactions to its MedWatch program.

• National Health Care Costs Out Of Control - The Truth!

  Greg Cusimano | June 27, 2008 2:54 PM | 1 CommentGadsden, AL

  Health Care Cost in the United States is out of control. Are we getting our money’s worth? Cost of health insurance for family of four exceeded gross earnings for a minimum wage full-time worker. Over 47 million Americans remain uninsured.

• Serious Health Risks Associated with Bowel Cleansing Products

  Tara Helms | May 21, 2008 5:20 PM | 0 CommentsHuntsville, AL

  In recent years, the use of oral sodium phosphate solution (Fleet Phospho-Soda) as a bowel preparation for colonoscopy or surgery has become more and more common. The U.S. Food and Drug...

• Medical Malpractice

  Pete Burns | May 01, 2008 11:51 AM | 0 CommentsMobile, AL

  Desipramine is a dangerous drug which has been associated with sudden deaths in children and adolescents.

• Statins Work As Well As Vytorin

  Shannon Weidemann | March 30, 2008 7:22 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  A new study just released has confirmed that Vytorin does not lower the risk of heart disease. Vytorin is a combination of a statin and a cholesterol lowering drug. The Enhance study showed that while Vytorin lowered cholesterol, it did not reduce plaque in arteries.Doctors had embraced the drug because it does such a great job of lowering low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the so-called bad...

• Class I Recall on Medtronic Drug Pump

  Shannon Weidemann | March 20, 2008 10:00 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Medtronic warned doctors in January of an increase in inflammatory masses around their implantable infusion pumps. The warnings involved the SynchroMed and IsoMed infusion pumps. They deliver medications to patients. The FDA has now said that makes it a Class I recall. The Food and Drug Administration defines a Class I recall as a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use...

• Contamination Found in Recalled Heparin

  Shannon Weidemann | March 07, 2008 8:59 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Researchers have found a contaminent in samples of recalled Heparin that are chemically similar to the drug but may explain the adverse reactions that have been reported. The FDA is unsure how the contaminant got into the Heparin. Initial testing did not reveal the contamination due to the similarity. High-tech testing by Baxter and other groups uncovered a heparin-like compound in batches of...

• China States Importing Countries Responsible for Drug Safety

  Shannon Weidemann | February 27, 2008 8:59 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  The agency responsible for drug safety in China has stated that it is the responsiblity of importing countries and companies to inspect and certify drugs are safe. The statement follows a recall by Baxter for the blood-thinning drug heparin. Four people have died and there have been hundreds of reports of adverse reactions following the use of the drug. "We attach high importance to this,"...

• Lipitor Ads with Dr. Jarvik Pulled

  Shannon Weidemann | February 25, 2008 9:37 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Pfizer made the decision today to pull drug ads for Lipitor with Dr. Robert Jarvik. Dr. Jarvik does not hold a medical license and there was some controversy over his use in the Lipitor drug ad. The ads have appeared on tv and in print since 2006. Dr. Jarvik invented the artificial heart. He does have a medical degree but is not licensed to practice medicine. But House Democrats said the...

• Baxter Recalls Heparin After Allergic Reactions

  Chrissie Cole | February 22, 2008 11:30 PM | 0 CommentsMobile, AL

  On Monday, Baxter announced they are temporarily suspending the production of the drug Heprin, after 350 negative reactions have been reported in conjunction with the drug. The active ingredient in Heprin, a blood-thinning medication, was reportedly made at a Chinese facility that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) failed to inspect, according to a report in the Wall Street...