September 30th, 2008 laurie
Last week the Joint Commission, a regulatory group, told hospitals they should adopt strict rules to help prevent dosage errors and other medical mistakes involving blood thinners including heparin. The Associated Press reports that as many as 60,000 such mistakes have been made in recent years, leading to dozens of deaths.
Some of these heparin errors […]
September 30th, 2008 joshua
A Canadian woman says Gardasil caused her daughter to severely react after her third course of the preventative vaccine for human papillomavirus.
In a story appearing in the Caledon (Ontario, CAN) Enterprise, Megan Battilana began feeling sick soon after receiving her third course in her Gardasil treatment.
The 15-year old developed a high fever and experienced difficult […]
September 29th, 2008 laurie
Now that a German study linked a Johnson & Johnson anemia drug to increased deaths, the FDA is reviewing whether anemia drugs should continue to be given to stroke patients.
The Boston Globe reports that Johnson & Johnson informed regulatory agencies worldwide last week of the trial, which found 16 percent of patients getting its drug […]
September 26th, 2008 laurie
Adding to the list of bisphosphonates side effects, doctors are adding inflammatory eye disease to the mix of risks. Bisphosphonates like Fosamax, used to treat osteoporosis, have already been linked to thigh bone fractures in women as well as to severe musculoskeletal pain (pain of the joints, muscles, and/or bones) and a serious bone disease […]
September 26th, 2008 joshua
An article appearing the journal New Scientist links the use of antidepressant drugs like Paxil to damaged sperm.
Earlier this week another study linked the use of hands-free cellular devices to damaged sperm, too.
Specifically, the article calls out paroxetine, sold in the U.S. as Paxil, as the culprit for damaging sperm DNA.
Critics of the study believe […]
September 25th, 2008 laurie
Reuters reports that of the two patients who developed PML, a potentially deadly brain infection, from taking the MS drug Tysabri, one is deteriorating. The other is reportedly improving, per a researcher involved in their care.
Dr. Ralf Gold of the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, said in an interview Friday that a 52-year-old German patient who […]
September 24th, 2008 laurie
Yesterday the FDA announced that companies marketing unapproved ophthalmic balanced salt solutions (BSS) and unapproved topical drug products containing papain must stop manufacturing and marketing these products or risk enforcement action. FDA is taking these actions because it has received reports of serious adverse events associated with their uses.
Ophthalmic balanced salt solutions are used to […]
September 24th, 2008 laurie
Healthcare professionals have received warning letters that Tarceva may cause hepatic failure and hepatorenal syndrome, even death, the FDA and MedWatch report.
“Patients with (liver) impairment should be monitored closely during therapy with Tarceva, and dosing should be interrupted or discontinued if changes in liver function are severe,” the warning letter said.
One patient died from […]
September 23rd, 2008 laurie
Per a WebMD Health News report, research presented yesterday at the National Safety Council meeting indicates deaths from accidental drug overdoses have increased dramatically in recent years, and prescription painkillers account for much of the problem.
As deaths from workplace injuries and motor vehicle crashes have declined by about 19% in the last 15 years, death […]
September 23rd, 2008 joshua
A University of Michigan study says 70 percent of prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, have not been approved to treat children.
This does not prevent physicians from prescribing these drugs to children, however, the study also found. Doctors are writing prescriptions for children to deal with issues ranging from weight problems to […]
