FDA & Prescription Drugs

• 11 Million Bottles of Acetamenophen Recalled

  Staff Writer | November 09, 2006 6:40 AM | 0 CommentsOrange County, CA

  The FDA announced today that there is a nationwide acetamenophen recall which affects 11 million bottles of the drug. The recall covers store-brand acetamenophen, not brand-name Tylenol products, is voluntary, and is being conducted by Michigan-based Perrigo Company due to metal fragments being found in a small number of the pills.FDA is currently investigating the cause of the metal particles...

• Novel Drug therapies create new morbidity

  Ed Smith | October 23, 2006 4:07 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  During the recent Fourth INternational Conference on Inflammnatory bowel diseases, an Italian physician, Dr. Eduard Strange stated tha it is not surprising that this treatment [Remicade] is associated with side effects, including severe infections such as tuberculosis, and opportunistic infections including listeriosis, histoplasmosis, and many others (published as case reports or in the large...

• Ortho Evra and "confidentiality agreements" - We may never know how many have been injured.

  Ed Smith | October 18, 2006 5:23 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  In what may be viewed by some as a "disturbing" business practice, the maker of the Ortho Evra birth control patch appears to be 'settling Ortho Evra lawsuits almost as quickly as they are filed', in exchange for confidentiality agreements which prevent the persons settling from discussing the facts of their cases (and, in doing so, preventing the public from becoming better educated as to the...

• Bone Death in Women taking osteoporosis Drugs

  Ed Smith | October 18, 2006 5:16 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  It was recently reporter that there is a link between women taking certain bone strengthening drugs known as bisphosphonates, including ( Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, Skelid, Didronel, Zometa, Aredia, and Bonefos) and death of bone tissue.The study was printed in the Harvard Women's Health Watch (September 2006).The above drugs are widely prescribed for osteoporosis and also to treat bone pain...

• Zyprexa Diabetes Link Focus of New York Times

  Staff Writer | June 12, 2006 9:28 AM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  The New York times today has a great article on the mentally ill's burden with Zyprexa's link to diabetes. Zyprexa is an anti-psychotic drug that has also been linked to Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) and Tardive Dyskinesia (TD). According to the article, approximately 20 percent of mentally ill patients develop diabetes. It is important to note that there are two types of diabetes: Type...

• New Depo Provera Recommendations From Canada

  Staff Writer | May 17, 2006 12:42 PM | 0 CommentsVentura, CA

  The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada recommended last week a new set of guidelines for physicians prescribing the birth-control injection Depo Provera. The recommendations include asking that doctors weigh heavily the benefits and potential risks of the drug before writing prescriptions.Research has confirmed that use of [Depo Provera] is associated with a decrease in...