FDA & Prescription Drugs | InjuryBoard Mobile

The prescription drug Ambien (genericly named zolpidem) has been reported to cause serious side effects, including disorientation, sleep walking, and more, according to an article published on WorstPills.org. (http://www.worstpills.org/member/newsletter.cfm?n_id=529)A Democratic representative from Rhode Island reported crashing his car near the Capitol building in Washington while disoriented...

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The Washington Post reports that popular diabetes drug Avandia has been shown to increase heart risks, according to an FDA study and a report published in a medical journal.The study confirms that 60,000 to 100,000 reported heart attacks from Avandia users may be linked to the drug, which has been on the market for 8 years.Avandia's manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline PLC, a British company, has sold...

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The world's second largest drug manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, will pay nearly $64 million to settle claims from parents of minor patients who were taking antidepressant drug Paxil.The plaintiffs claim that the company provided misleading information about giving Paxil to minors, not adequately warning about possible suicidal side effects and withdrawal symptoms. ``The settlement was agreed upon...

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A story from The New York Times details a new study that shows an increased risk of mental retardation in children who were exposed to epilepsy drug Depakote prenatally. The authors of the study presented their research at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting this year.Toddlers who had been exposed in the womb to the drug Depakote, from Abbott Laboratories, scored seven to eight...

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Thomas A. Sharon, R.N., M.P.H. points out the hazards of using Patient Controlled Analgesics (PCAs) in hospitals and other health care facilities. He says that much of the information available to patients about the supposed safety of PCAs is misleading. On his Forensicare Blog, Sharon reveals the actual dangers and possible side effects patients may experience due to accidental narcotic...

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Drug manufacturer Merck & Co. released a new vaccine to prevent cervical cancer called Gardasil, which actually vaccinates against HPV or the herpes virus, a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer. According to the Associated Press, Merck has been quietly pushing a campaign through a third party to encourage schools to require vaccination among 11- and 12-year-old girls....

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An announcement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2006, warned that Lamictal (lamotrigine), a drug used to treat seizures and depression, may cause birth defects. Specifically, if a patient is pregnant and taking Lamictal during her first trimester, birth defects such as cleft lip or cleft palate are more likely to occur.Findings from the NAAED (North American...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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An interesting article on Healthday.com discusses a study out of Virginia Commonwealth University in which two physicians looked at research studies, clinical trials and other information related to bronchitis, and determined that antibiotics don't actually help these patients. "Physicians should be encouraged to avoid antibiotics in most cases," said Dr. Richard P. Wenzel, chairman of the...

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A group called Public Citizen filed a petition to the FDA in August 2006, urging them to issue a warning about the risks of tendon rupture associated with certain antibiotics called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. One example of this type of drug is ciproflaxacin (Cipro). An article on worstpills.org provides the details:Between November 1997 and the end of December 2005, 794 cases of...

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Dr. David Graham's testimony for federal Vioxx trials "goes beyond anything he has said previously and shouldn't be heard by jurors," said Merck's attorneys. Graham alleged that the drug maker dragged its feet about adding a warning label and that Vioxx should not have even been approved when it was. A hearing is scheduled for later this week to decide what part of his depositions will be...

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According to the Parmaceutical Business Review online, a study out of Washington University School of Medicine shows that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) can increase liver damage in patients. Here are some details of the study:Using an experimental mouse model of the disorder, the researchers investigated the effects of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) on liver...

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