FDA & Prescription Drugs

• Rosenberg sounds off on big pharmaceuticals

  Staff Writer | January 19, 2007 10:41 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Columnist Martha Rosenburg delivered a biting, satirical article on January 2 about so-called "New Year's Resolutions for Big Pharma." The article bashes pharmaceutical companies for promoting dangerous or defective drugs to the public without concern for the possible results.

• HRT side effects and risks

  Staff Writer | January 19, 2007 10:29 AM | 0 CommentsMobile, AL

  Many doctors recommend their female patients take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for a variety of reasons, including protecting the heart and helping curb mood swings during menopause. However, patients should be aware of the HRT risks and side effects. Many women have reported serious side effects while using HRT, including blood clots or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can be fatal.Like...

• Hernia repair patch maker sued over defects

  Staff Writer | December 28, 2006 1:46 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Davol, Inc. of Rhode Island is being sued over claimed defects and severe bowel problems a patient experienced as a result of the manufacturer's Composix Kugel Mesh Patch. The plaintiff claims that the patch failed and adhered to his bowels, resulting in severe abdominal pain and bowel dissection surgery. Kugel Mesh Patches, a medical device employed in many hernia repair surgeries, was recalled...

• Drug interactions major concern among seniors

  Staff Writer | December 27, 2006 8:37 AM | 0 CommentsMobile, AL

  Today's seniors are taking a variety of medications to keep health issues under control. Many doctors may unknowingly prescribe medications that interact with other medications the patient is taking. A report out of Idaho's Times-News says that drug interactions and overmedicating are growing problems among our nation's aging population.The pharmacist interviewed in the article says that he sees...

• FDA advisers say Ketek too risky

  Staff Writer | December 21, 2006 8:03 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  According to a December 16 report, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers recommended that Ketek, an antibiotic manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis, should no longer be marketed for bronchitis or sinusitis due to the risks involved in using the drug.Patients using Ketek have reported liver damage, liver failure, blurred vision, loss of consciousness and other side effects. IMS Health...

• Health officials want painkillers to include new warnings

  Staff Writer | December 20, 2006 7:47 PM | 0 CommentsMobile, AL

  A Reuters report Tuesday revealed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receive a U.S. proposal recommending that over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen to include warnings on labels about possible liver and stomach damage. The proposed new warnings are mostly associated with possible liver damage and stomach bleeding associated with taking these...

• Birmingham jury gives Merck courtroom victory

  Staff Writer | December 19, 2006 3:08 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  A plaintiff suing drug maker Merck & Co. lost his Vioxx product liability lawsuit Friday. A Birmingham jury said they did not think Merck hid information about health risks associated with using the popular arthritis drug.The 59-year-old plaintiff held Merck responsible for his heart attack in 2001, after using Vioxx.Merck pulled Vioxx from the shelves in 2004 after a study linked the drug to...

• Diseases caused by drugs

  Staff Writer | December 05, 2006 12:52 PM | 0 CommentsMobile, AL

  Many consumers are unaware of the many disturbing statistics about diseases caused by drugs. Worstpills.org offers an article detailing some of the statistics and drug-induced diseases. They say that more than 9.6 million adverse drug reactions in older Americans happen each year, and many are unreported to doctors.The following national estimates are based on well-conducted studies, mainly in...

• Safe drug use tips

  Staff Writer | December 01, 2006 9:21 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Many older Americans are prescribed a number of medications each year by their doctors. Often, these drugs may cause adverse reactions that patients do not realized are caused by their medications. WorstPills.org has composed a helpful list of "Ten Rules for Safer Drug Use."The list includes:Rule 1: Have "Brown Bag Sessions" with Your Primary Doctor; Fill Out a Drug Worksheet.Rule 2: Make Sure...

• Information about drug-induced diseases

  Staff Writer | November 30, 2006 9:01 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Worstpills.org has an interesting article posted on drug-induced diseases and the problem of adverse drug interactions. The article reports that more than 9.6 million drug reactions each year affect older Americans, and a study also found that 37% of these adverse reactions were not reported to doctors. This may be, in part, because patients do not know that their symptoms are related to...