Unsafe Drugs: May 2007 Archives

Ohio Doctor Charged in Drug Deaths

Dr. Paul Volkman, 60, an Ohio doctor, and two of his office managers have been charged with distributing painkillers illegally. The illegal distribution is believed to have lead to the deaths of at least 14 people. Volkman and the office managers are accused of having giving out more than 1.5 million painkillers between 2001 and 2006 while working at south Ohio clinics.

Ohio Doctor Indicted in Drug Deaths

Volkman is believed to have written prescriptions for excessive dosages of drugs and prescriptions for patients who did not need the drugs. After pharmacists became wary and refused to fill the prescriptions, Volkman and the office managers opened their own drug dispensary center. Many of the 14 patients who died after using drugs prescribed to them died from "multiple drug intoxication." Many of the patients at the clinic are believed to have been drug addicts who traveled extensive distances in order to get the drugs.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bladder Control May Be Less Effective Than Thought

An article published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that surgery to help improve bladder control in women may not be as effective as believed. Past studies of urinary incontinence surgery had indicated cure rates of 70 percent to 85 percent. The most recent article, however, says that incontinence is relieved in one 35 percent to 43 percent of women.

Bladder Control Surgery May Be Less Effective

The women in the study all suffered from stress incontinence. This is usually caused by childbirth and is more common after menopause. Stress incontinence can cause women to leak urine while running, coughing, sneezing, and any activities that put pressure on the bladder. In the most recent study, 655 women were underwent sling procedure operations or a Burch colposuspension. The sling procedure helped 47 percent of women, while the Burch technique helped 38 percent. However, Linda Brubaker, co-author of the study said that both techniques still had merit: "Women don't have to be perfect to get their life back."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Risks of Getting Drugs Without Proper Medical Supervision

Most states currently mandate that pharmacies only can sell drugs to those with prescriptions from licensed medical professionals. These rules are in place for good reason. There are many dangers that those who attempt to treat themselves with prescription drugs face.

Risks of Obtaining Prescription Drugs Without Proper Medical Care

These risks include undertreatment of the condition, inappropriate treatment, unsafe treatment, drug-drug interactions, allergic reactions, medical complications, adverse reactions and, oftentimes, pharmacies that are willing to sell drugs to those without a prescription sell mislabeled or weaker strains of the drugs. If you need medication, seek the advice of a medical professional.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Avandia Unsafe?

A new review suggests that the diabetes drug Avandia might cause a higher risk of heart attack and death in those who take it. More than 6 million people worldwide have taken Avandia; the drug is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and came onto the market eight years ago. Avandia is used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes; this is the most common type of diabetes.

Diabetes Drug Tied to Heart Risks

Avandia works by sensitizing the body to insulin and was considered a medical breakthrough. Some experts say that Avandia dangers are another Vioxx-like example of the Food and Drug Administration's failings. GlaxoSmithKline plans a press conference to discuss the report.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Controversy Surrounds Ephedra

Ephedra in the form of the Ma Huang plant was discovered more than 5,000 years ago by the Chinese. The Chinese have used ephedra for a long time to treat cold and flu symptoms, among other things. Research has indicated that ephedra increases weight loss and fat burning, burbs the appetite, relaxes the air passages in the lungs, and also helps promote urination to relieve water retention.

The Controversy Surrounding Ephedra

However, concerns over the cardiovascular effects of ephedra caused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban ephedra supplements in 2004. Consumer reaction to the ban was mixed: those who still wanted to use ephedra simply used "copycat" products to achieve affects similar to those of ephedra. In April 2005, Judge Tena Campbell ruled in favor of a Utah supplement company that had challenged the FDA's ephedra ban. Because the FDA had not demonstrated adequately that ephedra was unsafe in small doses, she lifted the ban on sales of 10 mg or less. The FDA, however, stands by its ban firmly.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 08:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dozens with Erroneous Cancer Test Errors Died

A top Newfoundland medical examiner says that three dozen women who were given a false negative on a flawed breast cancer test have died. A letter obtained by The Canadian Press says that 36 women who got a false negative on the test ended up dying because they did not receive potentially life-saving treatment.

Dozens Who Got Cancer Test Errors Died: Examiner

A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Eastern Health authority over the flawed tests. The group arranged for the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto to retest more than 2,000 hormone receptor tests dating back to May 1997 in 2005. "I was advised, I think it was in November or December of last year, of the severity of the number of cases," said Justice Minister Tom Osborne.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

ID Required to Buy Many Cough Medicines

Because of concerns over the abuse of cough syrups and cold medications, grocery stores plan to begin requiring identification to purchase the products. Those under the age of 18 will not be able to purchase drugs containing DXM or dextromethorphan. An increasing number of studies have shown that teenagers are using cough syrup and other medications to get high or go "robo-tripping."

ID Will Be Required to Buy Many Cough Medicines

Robert Keane, a spokesman for Stop & Shop, one of the chains instituting the new policy, said that abuse of cold medication is increasing: "It's recognized by drugstores as a growing trend. We wanted to stem the trend as much as we can." A 2005 Partnership for a Drug-Free America survey found that 10 percent of teenagers admitted to using cough syrup to get high. The drugs will remain on shelves, but a prompt will pop up as a cashier scans the items.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 06:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hospital Offers Guarantee on Surgical Procedure

Geisinger Health System, a hospital group in central Pennsylvania, plans to offer heart bypass surgery patients a "guarantee of its worksmanship;" the group plans to give 90 days of follow-up treatment after the procedure for no additional cost. The program will be called ProvenCare and will use a 40-step system that is based on the recognized best practices for pre- and post-operative surgical treatment. Geisinger doctors also have created procedures that will "ensure the steps would always be followed, regardless of which surgeon or which one of its three hospitals was involved."

Hospital System Offers 90-Day Guarantee on Heart Surgery

The New York Times says that Geisinger's approach is "noteworthy as a distinct departure from the typical medical reimbursement system,... under which doctors and hospitals are paid mainly for delivering more care- not necessarily better care." The guarantee currently only is available for those under the hospital's own insurance unit.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Vitamins Linked to Deaths from Prostate Cancer

Taking too many vitamins has been linked to an increased risk in death from prostate cancer. While the study that makes the correlation was published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute, it has not yet been definitely established. However, this is the largest study yet that suggests high-dose multivitamins may harm the prostate.

href="http://www.canada.com/topics/bodyandhealth/story.html?id=7cded44d-34d1-4613-866e-b40c33b985f8&k=18569">Vitamins Linked to Prostate Cancer Deaths

Government scientists tracked the diet and the health of almost 300,000 men. About a third of the men took daily multivitamins and five percent took multivitamins more than seven times a week. Five years after the study's start, 10,241 men had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. 1,476 of these men had advanced cancer and 179 died. Men who took vitamins more than seven times a week were almost twice as likely to contract fatal prostate cancer as men who never took the vitamins. Despite this evidence, the researchers did not find a link between multivitamin use and early stage prostate cancer. Researchers concluded that high-dose vitamins had little effect on prostate cancer risk until a tumor appeared; they then could spur its growth. The National Cancer Institute says that more research is needed.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Proposal to Give FDA More Power Gets Mixed Reviews

A U.S. Senate bill that gives the Food and Drug Administration more power in dealing with the pharmaceutical industry is getting mixed reviews from health experts. The bill was approved by a 93-1 vote and hopefully would restore consumer confidence in the FDA. Over the last year, the FDA has been criticized for numerous drug recalls and foodbourne pathogen outbreaks.

Proposal to Give FDA More Muscle Gets Mixed Reviews

Under the changes in the bill, the FDA would be allowed to affect changes in drug labels, remove dangerous drugs from the market, and order studies of drugs already on the market. The bill also would allow the FDA to fine companies up to $2 million if they do not comply with the new regulations. However, critics of the bill say that the FDA still does not have enough power. Dr. Steven Nissen, the chairman of the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, says that the bill is a step in the right direction but it still isn't strong enough: My concern is that I'm beginning to believe that we need to separate post-marketing surveillance from the Office of New Drugs and the bill doesn't do that. I've read that the maximum fine was $2 million," he said. "That is not even pocket change. When you have a drug, say, like Vioxx that's bringing in $4 billion to $5 billion a year, a $2 million fine is not even a rounding error."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

OxyContin Manufacturers Admit Deception

The Purdue Frederick Co. and its chief executive, top lawyer, and former medical chief have agreed to pay $635 million to resolve charges filed by the United States attorney. The charges say that the manufacturers falsely marketed the drug in order to downplay its addictive nature.

OxyContin Makers Admit Deception

U.S. Attorney John L. Brownlee said that Purdue was guilty of "even in the face of warnings from health-care professionals, the media and members of its own sales force.. Purdue continued to push a fraudulent marketing campaign." OxyContin is an opium derivative, which was recognized for its potentially addictive qualities as early as 1995. Purdue said that OxyContin was a "miracle drug" and was safer than other medications, even though studies suggested that those who took the drug had serious problems withdrawing from the drug.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Drug Disorders Have Affected 10 Percent of Americans

Approximately one in ten Americans has had a problem with legal or illegal drug use. About one in 50 Americans has been dependent upon drugs at some point in time. These data were collected by face-to-face interviews with 43,093 people in the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. This is the first survey in more than 16 years to try to discover the scope of drug use in American adults.

A Variety of Drug Disorders Has Affect Ten Percent of Americans

Dr. Wilson Compton, M.D., of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, headed the study. "Although extensive data on drug use in the U.S. population have been available on an ongoing basis for adults and adolescents," they reported, "epidemiologic data on the prevalence, correlates, disability, treatment and comorbidity of drug use disorders among adults are seldom collected," Compton said. Rates of abuse and dependency were significantly higher in men, Native Americans, those between the ages of 18 and 44, those who were of lower socioeconomic status, and those who had never married, or were widowed, separated, or divorced.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Cocaine Energy Drink Removed From Shelves

The energy drink "Cocaine" has been removed from stores nationwide over concerns about its name. Redux Beverages LLC of Las Vegas, Nevada manufacturers the drink and plans to sell the drink under another name for now. The Food and Drug Administration said in a warning letter last month that Redux was illegally marketing the drink as alternative to the drug cocaine. The FDA cited evidence such as the drink's labeling and its website, which described the drink as being "speed in a can," "liquid cocaine," and "cocaine- instant rush." The drink contains no drugs.

Cocaine Energy Drink Pulled From Shelves

Clegg Ivey, a partner in Redux Beverages, says "Of course, we intended for Cocaine energy drink to be a legal alternative the same way that celibacy is an alternative to premarital sex. It's not the same thing and no one thinks it is. Our product doesn't have any cocaine in it. No one thinks that it does. We think it is most likely legal in the United States to ship our product." Redux hopes to have the product back on store shelves in several weeks.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Popular Epilepsy Drug Damages Fetuses

Pregnant women who take the drug valproate, sold under the name Epilim in the United Kingdom, to treat epilepsy have a higher risk of giving birth to children with a lower IQ or mental retardation. Nearly 140 British families already have filed a lawsuit against Sanofi-Synthelabo, the manufacturer of the drug, saying that the drug damaged their children. Several of the children of the plaintiffs suffer from fetal anti-convulsant syndrome, and have neural, behavioral and physical disorders, such as cleft palate and spina bifida, learning difficulties, and abnormalities in movement, speech, vision, and hearing.

Recent research out of the University of Florida provides further evidence that valproate damages fetuses. Dr. Kimford Meador, the leader of the study, found that nearly 24 percent of the children born to mothers who had taken valproate had an IQ low enough to classify as mental retardation. In comparison, children whose mothers had taken other types of epilepsy drugs, including carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and phenytoin, had mental retardation rates between nine and 12 percent. Meador says her research supports earlier research establishing a link between valproate and epilepsy.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Osteoposis Drug Found To Cause Heart Problems

The new drug Reclast, which is being promoted as an excellent alternative to oral drugs taken to treat abnormal bone growth of Paget's disease, has been found to cause an abnormal heart rhythm in some patients. Dr. Dennis Black, from the University of California San Fransisco, says that Reclast still is a good alternative for those who do not want to take oral drugs, but that serious atrial fibrillation is about three times more common in women who are taking Reclast. Atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke.

Reclast found to cause abnormal heart rhythms

Reclast is under review for the treatment of osteoporosis in the United States. Reclast produces other side effects, including fever, joint and muscle pain, headache, and flu-like symptoms. A once yearly treatment for osteoporosis has been championed by doctors, who say that patients often do not take other medications regularly. Similar side effects have been found in women taking Merck's osteoporosis drug Fosamax.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

FDA Requests Recall of Shelhigh Medical Devices

U.S. Marshals, at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's request, seized all medical devices from Shelhigh's Union's New Jersey facility on April 17, 2007. The FDA had discovered significant problems in the company's manufacturing processes. Shelhigh was asked to voluntarily recall its products, but the company declined. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has again asked that Shelhigh recall all of its medical devices still in the market because of the concerns over sterility.

FDA Requests Recall Of All Shelhigh Medical Devices

The FDA recommends that doctors and hospital use alternative products. Daniel Schultz, the director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, says "since these are critical devices implanted into seriously-ill patients, ensuring their sterility is absolutely essential to prevent infection. FDA will continue to provide up-to-date information to patients and physicians about this ongoing public health matter." Shelhigh devices include pediatric health valves, tube-like devices for blood flow, surgical patches, dural patches, annuloplasty rings, and arterial grafts.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

FDA Strengthens Antidepressant Warning Labels

The Food and Drug Administration is suggesting that drug makers add "black box" warnings advising that 18- to 24-year-olds have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior early in their treatment. However, the FDA stresses that patients who have been instructed by their doctors to take the drugs should continue to take them. Dr. Stanley R. Platman, a psychiatrist in Baltimore, said that doctors do talk about the risks of taking antidepressant medications with patients, but that the strengthened warning will further emphasize the need for young patients to be in frequent contact with their doctors. Platman agrees with the FDA's decision to strengthen warnings: "That may not be such a bad thing, because many drugs are already overused. It's always better when the patient knows the pluses and minuses of drugs."

FDA Strengthens Antidepressant Risk Labels

However, not everyone agrees with the changes in the warning labels. Dr. David A. Brent, a psychiatry professor at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, says that the warnings may deter some young adults who need the medications from taking them. "That is not the FDA's intent, but that could be the result," he said.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

FDA Cautions Against Buying Drugs Online

The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers about the possible dangers of purchasing prescription drugs online after 24 related websites were discovered to be selling fake medication. The FDA found two websites carrying what they said to be Xenical 120 mg capsules. However, the active ingredient, olistat, was missing from the weight loss drug.

FDA Issues Online Counterfeit Drug Warning

The FDA says that consumers should be hesitant to buy drugs from websites that offer drug deals too good to be true. "Consumers should be wary, if there is no way to contact the Web site pharmacy by phone, if prices are dramatically lower than the competition, or if no prescription from your doctor is required. As a result, FDA strongly cautions consumers about purchasing drugs from any of these Web sites which may be involved in the distribution of counterfeit drugs and reiterates previous public warnings about buying prescription drugs online."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Implantable Defibrillator Wires Prone to Failure

A German cardiovascular research team says that the wires used in implanted defibrillators are not as reliable as they should be. The reliability of the wires is vital because they deliver the electric jolts that keep the heart beating. The composition of the wires was changed in 1997 in order to improve reliability but both the newer and the older versions of the defibrillators show an annual defect rate of about 20 percent a decade of implantation. Because the devices are used in the treatment of arrhythmias, malfunction of the defibrillator can lead to cardiac arrest.

Implantable Defibrillator Wires Prone to Failure

Study author Dr. Thomas Kleeman, a clinical electrophysiologist at Herzzentrum Ludwigshafen, says that the study results of of concern. "It's a very serious problem, because if the leads [wires] have defects, they have to be changed or the device cannot terminate fibrillation. Surgery to change them is not so easy," he added. The cause of failure of defibrillators typically is insulation problems (56 percent); fractured wires (12 percent); loss of ability to detect the abnormal pulse in the heart chamber (11 percent); abnormal impedance (10 percent); or a sensing failure (10 percent.)

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Meth Use in Rural Areas Riskier

Methamphetamine users in rural areas appear to have more medical and psychiatric problems that may affect recovery more so than math users who live in urban areas. The researchers who conducted the study say that the results are cause for concern because those who live in rural areas do not have access to treatment facilities and psychiatrists. Lead researcher, Dr. Kathleen Grant, who works at the Omaha VA Medical Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, says "rural methamphetamine is worse in a lot of respects."

Study: Meth use in rural areas riskier

Meth is a stimulant that is made in household labs with over-the-counter cold tablets, common household chemicals, and fertilizers. About 11.7 million Americans over the age of 12 said that they have tried methamphetamine and 1.4 million said that they had used in the last month. The study showed that rural addicts began using the drug at an earlier age and were more likely to be dependent on alcohol or cigarettes.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Pneumococcal Strains Not Covered by Vaccine on Rise

Although the pneumococcal vaccine for children still is very effective, strains of the bacteria that are not affected by the vaccine are on the rise in some populations. Alaskan Native children who are already protected against seven of the strains of pneumococcal disease still show a 140% increase in development of other strains. Dr. Rosalyn Singelton, a visiting researcher for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, says that "the vaccine has been very effective and has done exactly what we hoped it would do. It's decreased the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (covered by the vaccine strains) by 95 percent in Alaskan Native children."

Pneumococcal Strains Not Covered by Vaccine on the Rise

The bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae causes many kinds of pneumococcal diseases. Some of the diseases are mild, while others are possibly life-threatening, including pneumonia, meningitis, and blood infections. The study says that Alaskan natives have traditionally had higher rates of pneumococcal disease. The new study looked at surveillance data from the beginning of 1995 to 2006.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Latest Vioxx Suit Filed by Widower

David Skittino says that his wife, Dominica, died from complications from having taken Vioxx. Skittino has filed for personal injury, death and economic damages that he says he and his wife suffered. Dominica Skittino died from a heart attack and cardiovascular injuries because of clotting or thrombosis.

New Vioxx Suit Filed in Madison County by Widower

Vioxx was introduced in the United States in 1999. Merck removed Vioxx from the market on September 30, 2004, after a study showed that those who took Vioxx had a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Skittino's lawsuit alleges that Merck did not create a safe product, was negligent in putting Vioxx on the market, and did not fund enough studies about the safety of Vioxx.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New Study Says Abortion Does Not Increase Breast Cancer Risk

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard School of Public Health say that breast cancer risk is not increased by induced abortion or by miscarriage. The researchers looked at data from the Nurses' Health Study II from 105, 716 women who were between the ages of 29 and 46 years old and did not have cancer at the beginning of the ten-year follow up. Data was collected for the study was self-reported by the women participating through questionnaires.

Abortion Does Not Increase Breast Cancer Risk, New Study Says

The results of the study showed no significant link between abortion, miscarriage, and breast cancer said the researchers. One subgroup of the study showed a ink between induced abortion and progesterone receptor-negative breast cancer. The other group of note showed a link between miscarriage before the age of 20 and a lower breast cancer risk. However, researchers note that in both cases the results cannot be taken too seriously; the sample size is too small. The overall conclusion of the study was that: "Among this predominantly premenopausal population, neither induced nor spontaneous abortion was associated with the incidence of breast cancer."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 08:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 31, 2007

Ohio Doctor Charged in Drug Deaths

May 30, 2007

Bladder Control May Be Less Effective Than Thought

May 29, 2007

Risks of Getting Drugs Without Proper Medical Supervision

May 28, 2007

Avandia Unsafe?

May 25, 2007

Controversy Surrounds Ephedra

May 24, 2007

Dozens with Erroneous Cancer Test Errors Died

May 23, 2007

ID Required to Buy Many Cough Medicines

May 22, 2007

Hospital Offers Guarantee on Surgical Procedure

May 21, 2007

Vitamins Linked to Deaths from Prostate Cancer

May 18, 2007

Proposal to Give FDA More Power Gets Mixed Reviews

May 17, 2007

OxyContin Manufacturers Admit Deception

May 16, 2007

Drug Disorders Have Affected 10 Percent of Americans

May 15, 2007

Cocaine Energy Drink Removed From Shelves

May 14, 2007

Popular Epilepsy Drug Damages Fetuses

May 11, 2007

Osteoposis Drug Found To Cause Heart Problems

May 10, 2007

FDA Requests Recall of Shelhigh Medical Devices

May 09, 2007

FDA Strengthens Antidepressant Warning Labels

May 08, 2007

FDA Cautions Against Buying Drugs Online

May 07, 2007

Implantable Defibrillator Wires Prone to Failure

May 04, 2007

Meth Use in Rural Areas Riskier

May 03, 2007

Pneumococcal Strains Not Covered by Vaccine on Rise

May 02, 2007

Latest Vioxx Suit Filed by Widower

May 01, 2007

New Study Says Abortion Does Not Increase Breast Cancer Risk