FDA & Prescription Drugs

• Vioxx Lawsuit

  Eddie Farah | November 24, 2006 2:19 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  U. S. District Court Judge Fallon ruled on Wednesday, that thousands of lawsuits, which claim Vioxx, caused heart attacks, strokes and other conditions couldn't be pooled into one national class action suit.Judge Fallon was appointed to deal with all federal suits involving Merck's withdrawal painkiller has ruled on the possibility of separate class-action suits on a state level. He rejected...

• Tamiflu

  Eddie Farah | November 14, 2006 7:44 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  Government officials have announced that children treated with the flu drug Tamiflu should be watched for signs of bizarre behavior.The FDA is currently conducting investigation to determine whether the 100 reported cases including three deaths from falls, are linked to the drug or the flu virus or a combination ob both. Staff at the FDA suggests updating Tamiflu's label to recommend all closle...

• Acetaminophen recalled

  Eddie Farah | November 10, 2006 7:27 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  Today a nationwide recall of generic brand of 500-milligarm caplets of Acetaminophen was recalled because they may contain metal fragmentsThis recalled affects 11 million bottles containing 500-milligram ">acetaminophen caplets made by Perrigo Co., sold under store brands by Wal-Mart, CVS, Safeway and more than 120 other retailers.Although there are no immediate reports of injuries or illness,...

• Thimerosal restrictions rejected by Government

  Eddie Farah | October 25, 2006 7:04 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  In 2004, The Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs petitioned the FDA iseeking restrictions on Thimerosal citing it was linked to autism. Yesterday the FDA rejected the petitions.Only a small number of licensed and approved products still contain thimerosal, and the available evidence supports FDA's conclusion that all currently licensed vaccines and other pharmaceutical drug products containing...

• Lamictal Epilepsy drug and birth defects

  Eddie Farah | October 02, 2006 6:44 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  U. S. regulators warned Lamictal an epilepsy drug may increase chances of babies being born with a cleft pip or palate when sued during the first three months of pregnancy.The FDA advises "women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant should not stop taking Lamictal without talking to a doctor. Lamotrigine is the generic name for Lamictal. This drug is used to control seizures or...

• Birth Control Patch and Blood Clots

  Eddie Farah | September 20, 2006 9:06 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  The FDA has updated the label on the Ortho Evra birth-control patch to reflect women face twice the risk of blood clots over women using the pill, even though a second study found no difference in risk between the patch and the pillAlthough the results of the two studies are conflicting, the results of the second epidemiology study support FDA's concerns regarding the potential for Ortho Evra...

• Heart Safety

  Eddie Farah | September 12, 2006 7:47 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  Recently, reviews of dozens of studies involving hundred of thousands of patients revealed most patients should try naproxen also known as Aleve for pain. According to experts "it doesn't raise hart attack or stroke risk and naproxen is less expensive; has been around of years; and is available as an over the counter medicationThere is a drawback however it can irritate the stomach. Dr. Steven...

• Sinus Drug causes skin problems

  Eddie Farah | September 11, 2006 8:09 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  Federal Health officials report an antibiotic manufactured by Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corp needs further studies because of serious skin reactions associated with its use.The FDA advises when compaire with other antibiotics used in treatment of minor infections, the incidents of serious rashs has them concerned how safe this drug is.The FDA approved Factive in 2003 to treat pneumonia and...

• Testosterone a threat to hormone therapy

  Eddie Farah | September 05, 2006 8:27 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  According to researchers from Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard Medical School revealed 800 women who took the combination of estrogen and testosterone raised the risk of developing breast cancer by 77 percent over women not taking hormones.The combination of estrogen and testosterone is targeted to boot depressed moods, sex drive, and lessen bond deterioration faced higher...

• Merck suffers Vioxx setback

  Eddie Farah | August 17, 2006 8:49 PM | 0 CommentsJacksonville, FL

  The jury in a federal trial held in New Orleans found Merck & Co knowingly misrepresented or failed to disclose information about Vioxx to the doctors of Gerald Barnett, a retired FBI agent. The jury said Mr. Barnett should receive $50 million in compensatory damages plus $1 million in punitive damages. The jury found that Merck "acted win wanton, malicious, willful or reckless disregard for...