FDA & Prescription Drugs

• Fentanyl Patches Made by Actavis Recalled

  Jenny Albano | February 19, 2008 12:11 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Actavis Inc., in conjunction with the FDA, is recalling 14 lots of its Fentanyl transdermal system CII patches because the patches have a defect that can cause them to leak. The Fentanyl patches were available from wholesalers and pharmacies throughout the United States. Fentanyl patches sold in Europe are not affected by this recall.The 14 lots of Fentanyl transdermal system patches being...

• Medication Abuse a Problem Among Young Adults

  Linda Snyder | January 14, 2008 11:12 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  A staggering new report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stated that 3.1 million Americans ages 12 to 25 have used an over-the-counter cough and cold medicine in order get high.Cough syrups and cold pills are being used in large doses to get high and induce hallucinations for young people. The 2006 survey was completed with 45,000 people ages 12 to 25...

• Merck Takes Responsibility For Vioxx Through $4.85 Billion Settlement(2)

  Linda Snyder | November 14, 2007 12:17 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  It's been since 2004 that Merck & Co., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, has taken the pain medication Vioxx off of the shelves. Finally, on November 9th, Merck settled the numerous Vioxx lawsuits with agreeing to pay $4.85 billion. It appears that the Vioxx manufacturer finally recognized, after obtaining mixed results in the early Vioxx cases it forced to trial, that a...

• Trasylol Pulled From Market

  Shannon Weidemann | November 05, 2007 1:17 PM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  The antibleeding drug Trasylol has been pulled from the market around the world after a study has shown there may be an increased risk of death from use. The drug is used during heart bypass surgery. The announcement came as a Canadian study comparing the safety and efficacy of Trasylol with two others was halted. Preliminary results from that trial also suggested Trasylol increased the risk...

• Fentanyl Tablets Warning From FDA, Cephalon Oncology

  Courtney Mills | September 13, 2007 1:28 PM | 0 CommentsGrand Junction, CO

  The FDA has issued on its MedWatch page an announcement about the publication of two "Dear Healthcare Professional" letters from Cephalon Oncology about potential dangers of their fentanyl buccal tablets.Fentora is manufactured by Cephalon oncology and is indicated in the treatment of breakthrough cancer pains. Fentanyl tablets are not appropriate for patients suffering from post-operative...

• Counterfeit Drug Sales through the Internet a Growing Problem

  Courtney Mills | September 05, 2007 2:49 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Last month a federal grand jury indicted 18 people on charges stemming from fraud to racketeering over their participation in an international online pharmaceutical sales ring. The company's name was Affpower, and by the time the federal government had shut the sales operation down, Affpower had moved over $126 million in illegally prescribed pharmaceuticals.The arrests haven't managed to stem...

• Avandia Gets Black Box Warning Label

  Shannon Weidemann | August 16, 2007 10:17 AM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  The FDA has issued that the diabetes drug Avandia should carry a black box warning label for possible heart failure related to taking the drug. The warning labels will appear on all drugs in the thiazolidinedione class. GlaxoSmithKline is the manufacturer of Avandia. "This new boxed warning addresses FDA's concerns that despite the warnings and information already listed in the drug labels,...

• Zelnorm Back on the Market

  Jenny Albano | July 27, 2007 1:01 PM | 0 CommentsGrand Junction, CO

  The drug Zelnorm, manufactured by Novatis, was taken of the market in March because of a high risk of heart attacks, stroke, and chest pain. But now the FDA is allowing the irritable bowel syndrome drug to become available again, but only for a restricted access program. Zelnorm will remain off the market for the general public.The program is for women in the US under 55 years of age who...

• Public Citizen Alerts Public of Class Action Against Paxil on You Tube

  Jenny Albano | July 18, 2007 7:26 PM | 0 CommentsGrand Junction, CO

  Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, decided advertise a class action suit a little differently. The group of lawyers used You Tube, a popular video website, to announce a $48 million class action settlement for people who had purchased Paxil for their kids.There are two videos up on the website. The first video that shows a teenager wandering around looking confused, and then a news...

• Avandia Heart Attack Link Known Long Ago?

  April Armani | May 23, 2007 12:59 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  According to consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, the FDA knew about the link between the Diabetes drug Avandia and heart attacks as long as five years ago.In 2002, U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff scientists called for reports of congestive heart failure to be included on the label of Avandia as well as Actos, made by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., the group said, citing an internal...