FDA & Prescription Drugs

• The Heparin Debacle Part One

  Linda Snyder | April 22, 2008 8:50 PM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  Remember what it felt like as a kid when you went into a candy store and you were overwhelmed with how many choices of sweets lay before you? When I read the New York Times article, U.S....

• Vytorin and Zetia Only to be Used as Last Resort

  Linda Snyder | April 14, 2008 6:52 PM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  The American College of Cardiology has recommended that the popular drugs Vytorin and Zetia should only be used after all other cholesterol lowering drugs fail. The panel's spokesman, Harlan...

• Contaminated Heparin Syringes Recalled

  Shannon Weidemann | April 04, 2008 10:23 AM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  A second manufacturer of pre-filled Heparin syringes has issued a drug recall for 32 lots of product. The syringes were manufactured by Covidien who received components for making Heparin from the...

• Trasylol Pulled From Market

  Shannon Weidemann | November 05, 2007 1:17 PM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  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...

• Avandia Gets Black Box Warning Label

  Shannon Weidemann | August 16, 2007 10:17 AM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  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,...

• Liquid Grifulvin Recalled Due to Glass

  Shannon Weidemann | April 30, 2007 10:59 PM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  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...

• Lyrica added to Worst Pills do not use list

  Staff Writer | February 05, 2007 10:17 AM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  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...

• "Black-Box" Antidepressant Warning Still Debated

  Staff Writer | July 19, 2006 6:32 PM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  According to a report by the United Press International, the debate continues over the antidepressant's "black box" label, warning of the increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior, especially among adolescents. Supporters of the warning see it as necessary and are upset that some doctors are needlessly prescribing these treatments to children. Critics of the warning believe that it...

• Pharmacists Care Important to Patients

  Staff Writer | July 06, 2006 9:33 AM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  A recent study documents that the quality of care provided by pharmacists is important to the outcome for particular patients. The study, which was conducted on in-patient conditions, determined that the involvement of a pharmacist in patient care is a valuable addition to the patient's health care process. This is consistent with the obligation of pharmacists to do more than "just fill...

• Ketek May Increase Possbility of Liver Injury Four Times Over Other Antibiotics

  Staff Writer | June 30, 2006 5:33 PM | 0 CommentsColorado Springs, CO

  Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that use of the antibiotic Ketek could cause dangerous and even fatal liver injury. While all antibiotics carry some risk of liver injury, Ketek appears to be 4 times as likely to cause liver damage as other antibiotics. At least 14 people experiencing liver failure following their use of Ketek, four of which died because of their injuries. 23...