Colorado updates tagged with 'Drug Products'

PLOS Medicine, an online medical journal conducted a study using numbers from 2004 and concluded that pharmaceutical companies spent almost twice as much on marketing than on their research and development for their United States markets.As a marketing person, on the one hand I am in awe of these marketing budgets, in excess of $57.5 billion dollars. But as a consumer, I'm a bit dismayed that...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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OxyContin is an incredibly addicting painkiller. Until today, however, few realized that the pharmaceutical company which manufactures the drug actually promoted an OxyContin addiction. Roughly 6.3 million Americans report that they're currently using prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Prescription drug abuse knows no age....

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Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. is recalling glass bottles of GRIFULVIN V(R) griseofulvin oral suspension (liquid) due to glass fragments found in some bottles. The recall is only for the liquid form of the drug. Consumers should call their pharmarcy to see if their prescription is included in the recall. The two reports of glass fragments are believed to be the result of bottle breakage...

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WorstPills.org recommends that patients using levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA) consider using the older and less expensive asthma inhaler albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin).They also recommend that before stopping use of any drug, you should consult your physician. WorstPills.org reports that levalbuterol does not offer any benefits over albuterol; it just costs more.The editors of the highly respected...

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WorstPills.org posted in January an alert saying that consumers should not used Lyrica to treat neuropathic pain because of the potential risks and side effects.Lyrica (pregabalin), manufactured by Pfizer, is often used to treat epilepsy. WorsPills.org specifically recommends not to use this drug until 2012, or seven years after FDA approval. This means that they believe the drug needs more...

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