October 31st, 2008 laurie
The advocacy group Public Citizen wants Avandia banned by the FDA because the diabetes drug can cause death from liver failure and poses many other life-threatening risks that greatly outweigh its benefits, HealthDay News reports.
Public Citizen said it has identified 14 cases of Avandia-induced liver failure, including 12 deaths. The cases were found in […]
October 31st, 2008 joshua
A recent report from the American College of Chest Physicians links the sedative drug propofol to a high risk of serious complications and death when it is used to treat seizures.
At its annual conference, the physicians said that use of propofol as an antiepileptic agent to treat refractory status epilepticus face a significant mortality and […]
October 31st, 2008 joshua
In a report released by California Rep. Henry Waxman, dissent has existed regarding a 2006 decision that limits a patient’s ability to sue a drug manufacturer.
The pre-emption ruling in 2006 said federal law trumps state law and basically prohibits many consumers the ability to sue a pharmaceutical company when they’re injured by a defective drug […]
October 30th, 2008 laurie
Another Tysabri patient has contracted PML, a potentially deadly brain disease, Biogen Idec Inc. reported late yesterday. This is the third case since the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri went back on the market two years ago, the Boston Globe reports.
The patient is alive, Biogen said, as are three of the five previous Tysabri patients who […]
October 29th, 2008 joshua
Researchers have linked bisphosphonates - used to treat osteoporosis - to a cardiac side effect known as atrial fibrillation.
The most popular drugs classified as bisphosphonates are Fosamax, Reclast, Boniva and Actonel.
This side effect causes an erratic heart rhythm and leads to blood clots, strokes and heart attacks.
The risk of developing atrial fibrillation while taking […]
October 29th, 2008 laurie
The FDA said Tuesday that aspirin medicines from Bayer designed to promote healthy hearts and stronger bones are being marketed illegally with unproven health claims.
The Associated Press reports that the FDA scolded the company in two warning letters for never submitting proof that its pills - Bayer Women’s Low Dose Aspirin + Calcium and […]
October 29th, 2008 joshua
As report after report from federal agencies seem to back the human papillomavirus, Gardasil, some believe a national database on which these determinations are being made may be missing some unique, rare conditions.
Approximately 1 or 2 in every 100,000 girls and young women receiving Gardasil treatment, designed to prevent the development of cervical cancer, suffer […]
October 28th, 2008 laurie
The overall cost of drugs for type 2 diabetes almost doubled between 2001 and 2007, but a new study published in the Oct. 27 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that the drugs might not be doing much to improve overall outcome or health for diabetics.
HealthDay reports that the total spending on diabetes […]
October 27th, 2008 laurie
The U.S. Supreme Court next week will begin hearing the case of Wyeth v. Levine, which centers on the question of whether FDA approval of a drug warning label pre-empts product safety suits brought in state courts over defective drugs, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The case involves Diana Levine, who lost her hand and […]
October 24th, 2008 laurie
Tysabri, a multiple sclerosis drug, was taken off the market in 2005 when reports surfaced that it was linked to a rare brain disorder known as multifocal leukoence phalopathy. It was later re-introduced with strict marketing and safety guidelines. Forbes reports that concerns over dangerous Tysabri side effects have weakened sales.
“We said in the past […]
