A diabetes drug that was once highly successful has its future in doubt. In an unusually candid FDA meeting, agency officials showed that they are not in agreement about the safety of Avandia. Some have called for it to... (Read More)
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Hot topics: “FDA”
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The Food and Drug Administration has been a lightning rod for consumer complaints. The agency has taken these seriously. We talk with Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Principal Deputy Commissioner, about transparency, food safety, and foreign drug imports. The photo is of... (Read More)
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Several weeks ago there were a number of reports in the Archives of Internal Medicine about the potential dangers of acid-suppressing drugs. Now the FDA has issued a caution to doctors and patients about an increased risk of fractures associated... (Read More)
People who spend a lot of time out in the sun frequently develop age spots as they grow older. Some people find these brown liver spots are unsightly and want to get rid of them. Products like Porcelana or Esoterica... (Read More)
Billions are spent each year on medical equipment such as pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and cardiac stents. How thorough is the FDA's review process for such devices? Two major medical journals, the American Journal of Therapeutics and the Journal of the... (Read More)
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)
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)
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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)