There is a powerful "Perspective" in the New England Journal of Medicine titled "Lost in Transmission--FDA Drug Information That Never Reaches Clinicians" (JAMA, Oct. 29, 2009). It is written by Lisa Schwartz, MD, and Steven Woloshin, MD, from the Dartmouth... (Read More)
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Results tagged “FDA”
We first heard about ZIcam on October 9, 2000. That's when the a PR firm touted a study in the ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Journal showing that a zinc nasal gel shortened the duration of the common cold.At that... (Read More)
The Food and Drug Administration recently seized substantial numbers of generic drugs that did not live up to good manufacturing practices. This is not the first time the feds have taken action on generic products that did not meet quality... (Read More)
The Food and Drug Administration is not renowned for its openness. Some critics have complained that the agency’s decisions are inscrutable and the logic behind them may be hard to understand. Now, however, the FDA is about to turn over... (Read More)
Can the FDA be fixed?Once upon a time the Food and Drug Administration was highly regarded by physicians, pharmacists and the public. People trusted the agency to protect them from contaminated food and dangerous drugs.Congress established the FDA in 1906... (Read More)
Before 2000, the FDA rarely highlighted suicide as a possible side effect. But in 2004, after years of controversy, the agency reversed course and issued warnings to doctors and patients that some popular antidepressants are linked to suicidal thoughts and... (Read More)
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Has the Food and Drug Administration painted itself into a corner when it comes to bisphenol A (BPA)? This chemical is found in hard, clear plastic. It also used to line metal cans (soda, beer and food). Dentists use BPA-containing... (Read More)
How good are generic drugs? The FDA tells everyone—patients, physicians, pharmacists, hospitals and insurance companies—that generic drugs are identical to their brand name counterparts.But the FDA has no police force. It relies mostly on the honor system to ensure the... (Read More)
Amiodarone (also prescribed under the brand names Cordarone and Pacerone) is a medication designed to control abnormal heart rhythms. It can be a lifesaving drug, but it is especially prone to interacting with other medicines, especially those metabolized by an... (Read More)
Q. My niece told me that drinking tonic water helped her restless legs syndrome. I tried sipping some before I went to bed, and it helps. After I read in your column that the FDA bars doctors from prescribing quinine,... (Read More)
For years, the FDA has reassured everyone who prescribes, dispenses or pays for prescription medicine that generic drugs are absolutely equivalent to brand-name drugs. Because brand name medications are so expensive, most people embrace the opportunity to save money. If... (Read More)
Melinda Beck of the Wall Street Journal has written about the generic drug controversy. You can read it at: Health Journal. Years ago, we loved generic drugs and encouraged patients to request that their doctors prescribe generically whenever possible. The... (Read More)
Most physicians and pharmacists have a secret they don’t share with patients. The FDA is in on it and so are drug companies. One out of five of the prescriptions written in this country are for unapproved uses. Some put... (Read More)
Generic Anti-Hypertensive Differs from Original and May Raise Blood Pressure An investigation by ConsumerLab.com of generic versions of the popular anti-hypertensive Toprol XL reveals that generics sold by two companies appear to differ from the original drug in how they... (Read More)
There was a time when most of the medicines we purchased in our neighborhood drug stores were made in America. These days, though, medicines come from all over the globe. Despite the high cost of prescription drugs, generic manufacturers compete... (Read More)
Taking medicine is often a gamble. You are betting that the benefits will outweigh the risks. But do you realize a payoff is far from certain? Drug companies rarely have to prove that their pills actually produce the desired outcome.... (Read More)
Q. I was taking phenytoin, an extended release generic form of the anti-seizure drug Dilantin. On September 19, 2007, I had a grand mal seizure and upon admission to a local ER, my lab results indicated my phenytoin level was... (Read More)
Listen to The People's Pharmacy extended interview with Dr. Janet Woodcock, chief medical officer of the FDA. They discuss criticism of the agency, statin side effects, problems with antidepressants, and questions about equivalence of generic drugs... (Read More)
The Food and Drug Administration is charged with ensuring the safety of our medications, but over the past several months it has endured mounting criticism. We discuss the criticism, morale at the agency, and what needs to be done with... (Read More)
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Listen to an extended interview with Dr. Joshua Sharfstein about cough and cold remedies for children. Dr. Sharfstein appeared on our December 15 program, 660 Health News Update.... (Read More)