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By LocalHealthGuide on February 25th, 2010
Washington prescribers to switch to tamper-proof prescription pads
Goal is to help reduce copying, altering, and other forms of counterfeiting,
Category: Drugs & Medicines
By U.S. FDA on February 17th, 2010
Avoid Maalox mix-ups, warns FDA
“Maalox Total Relief and Maalox are not interchangeable and shouldn’t be used in place of each other.”
By Michael McCarthy on January 21st, 2010
Higher-dose pain prescriptions linked to higher overdose risk
Patients on highest doses were nine times more likely to overdose than those on lowest doses
By LocalHealthGuide on January 16th, 2010
Just what does the FDA do, anyway?
“FDA Basics” Webpage aims to explain agency’s purpose and activities.
By LocalHealthGuide on December 29th, 2009
Drug maker recalls Tylenol arthritis product
Reports of musty odor associated with nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
By KaiserHealthNews on December 29th, 2009
The high price of FDA approval
How companies use FDA rules to force long-used, inexpensive drugs off the market.
By Kyung Song on December 14th, 2009
Seattle Times: Carry a list of medications you take, says patient-safety group
Goal is to prevent deaths and injuries from drug interactions, dosage errors and mixed-up prescriptions.
By Michael McCarthy on December 01st, 2009
Drug Websites play up benefits, play down risks–study
And the discounts they offer may not be such a deal.
By KaiserHealthNews on December 01st, 2009
Seniors can often save hundreds of dollars a year by switching Medicare drug plans
Medicare’s easy-to-use “plan finder” allows seniors to plug in their medications and find the lowest cost plan.
By Michael McCarthy on September 15th, 2009
FDA approves vaccine for H1N1 “swine” flu
Distribution of the vaccines should begin within the next four weeks, the FDA says.
By U.S. FDA on September 05th, 2009
A parent’s guide to kids’ vaccines – from the FDA
In its “Parent’s Guide to Kids’ Vaccines” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration addresses many questions parents have about the vaccines that are recommended for their children and provides a list of these vaccines, their purpose and common side effects.
By admin on August 26th, 2009
FDA warns potentially dangerous stolen insulin is still on the market
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned today that potenially dangerous stolen vials of insulin are still on the market.
Last June, 129,000 vials of the long-acting insulin Levemir made by Novo Nordisk, Inc. were stolen in North Carolina.
Only 2 percent of the stolen vials have been recovered.
The FDA said it has received multiple reports [...]
By admin on August 24th, 2009
Supplement recalled after it is found to contain the drug tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis
A dietary supplement sold under the name STEAM is being recalled after a batch was found to contain the erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil, the active ingredient in the prescription drug Cialis.
This is the second recall the maker of STEAM, Nutracoastal Trading LLC, has had to announce recently.
Last month, another batch of STEAM was found to [...]
By admin on August 24th, 2009
FDA investigates reports of liver damage due to orlistat, the active ingredient in Xenical and Alli
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that it was reviewing the safety of the weight-loss drug orlistat after receiving reports that 32 people using the drug developed severe liver damage, including reports of six cases of liver failure.
Orlistat is the active ingredient in the prescription weight-loss drug Xenical and the over-the-counter product [...]
By admin on August 20th, 2009
FDA orders halt of topical ibuprofen product sales
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered eight companies to stop selling topical ibuprofen products because the salves have not been shown to be safe or effective.
The names of the products and manufacturers that received warning letters are:
Emuprofen (Progressive Emu, Inc.)
BioEntopic 15% Ibuprofen Crème (BioCentric Laboratories, Inc.)
Ibunex Topical Ibuprofen (Core Products International, Inc.)
LoPain [...]
By admin on August 14th, 2009
Two in King County found to have been infected with Swine flu virus resistant to flu drug Tamiflu
Two patients in King County with H1N1 “Swine” flu have been found to have been infected with a strain of the virus that is resistant to the flu drug Tamiflu.
Tamiflu, whose chemical name is oseltamivir, is one of the two drugs recommended for the treatment of H1N1 infections.
The other drug, zanamivir, is marketed under the [...]
By admin on August 13th, 2009
Find drug and alcohol treatment programs online
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has posted an updated version of its guide for finding drug and alcohol treatment programs near you.
Search brings up a map and description of programs near you.
The guide provides a directory that you can search by city, state or zip code to find local programs and [...]
By admin on August 11th, 2009
For Major Health Industry Players, Reform’s Positives Outweigh Negatives
By Phil Galewitz
August 11, 2009
When Congress and the White House began talking about a health care overhaul, the industries that profit from the $2.5 trillion system were understandably nervous.
But as the legislation takes shape, it appears much of the anxiety was misplaced. Most of the major health care players, including hospitals, health insurers and pharmaceutical [...]
By Dr. Carolyn Clancy on August 04th, 2009
An Aspirin a Day? The Answer is Different for Men and Women
An Aspirin a Day? The Answer is Different for Men and Women
By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.
August 4, 2009
Throughout the ages, the differences between men and women have been the subject of plays, movies, and books. Shakespeare poked fun at the topic.
And, more recently, books with titles like Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus explored [...]
By admin on July 30th, 2009
Treating head lice – FDA Consumer Update
Head lice is a common problem among children. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are an estimated 6 to 12 million cases of head lice infestation each year in the U.S.
There are a number of treatments available for head lice, including a new drug recently approved by the U.S. Food [...]
By admin on July 29th, 2009
Dietary supplement found to contain unapproved Viagra-like drug
A dietary supplement marketed under the name STEAM is being recalled after it was found to contain a chemical similar to the drug found in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today.
The chemical, sulfoaildenafil, is an analog of sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, the FDA said, making [...]
By Michael McCarthy on July 28th, 2009
Some body-building “supplements” contain dangerous, unapproved drugs, FDA warns
Consumers should stop using any body building products that are sold with claims they contain steroids or steroid-like substances, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said today.
Many of these products are marketed as dietary supplements but, in fact, contain synthetic substances that can cause serious liver injury, kidney failure, blood clots in the lung [...]
By admin on July 22nd, 2009
Pharmaceutical opiate drugs top cause of drug deaths in Seattle area
More than half of drug-related deaths in King County last year involved the use of prescription opiate drugs that are most often prescribed for pain control, according to a new report.
Often the drugs are obtained without a prescription.
The annual report was put together by the Community Epidemiology Work Group. a collaboration of public health, drug [...]
By admin on July 21st, 2009
Health stories in the news – July 21
Continuous chemotherapy for some cancers?
New York Times reporter Andrew Pollack writes that some doctors and pharmaceutical companies are advocating treating patients with cancer continuously.
“That would be a departure from the common practice of stopping treatment when the cancer is under control and resuming it only if the cancer worsens,” Pollack writes.
Some doctors say such ”maintenance [...]
By admin on July 14th, 2009
FDA urges caution with use of Darvon, Darvocet and other propoxyphene-containing drugs pain
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging doctors and consumers to use Darvon, Darvocet and other pain medicines containing the drug propoxyphene with caution because of the danger of overdose.
The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen had called on the FDA to ban the propoxyphene, citing evidence that the drug had been responsible for [...]
By admin on July 13th, 2009
Medtronic recalls some Quick-set infusion sets used with its MiniMed Paradigm insulin pumps
Medtronic, Inc. is recalling some of its Paradigm Quick-set infusion sets used with its MiniMed Paradigm insulin pumps.
In a press release announcing the recall, the company said it recently discovered that approximately 2 percent of “Lot 8” Quick-set infusion sets may not work properly.
“The affected infusion sets may not allow the insulin pump to vent air [...]
By admin on July 02nd, 2009
FDA: Acetaminophen Q & A for Consumers
Earlier this week an advisory panel for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called on the agency to impose tighter restrictions on the widely use reliever acetaminophen, used in both prescription and non-prescription medications. Below is a Q & A produced by the FDA, which LocalHealthGuide published earlier this month.
Acetaminophen is the generic name [...]
By admin on June 25th, 2009
FDA approves generic “morning after pill” for women ages 17 and under
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of the “morning after” emergency contraceptive pill.
Previously the only version of the pill on the market was Plan B, which was available without a prescription for women 18 and older and with a prescription for those 17 and under.
The new generic will, [...]
By admin on June 16th, 2009
Stop using three Zicam intranasal zinc products, FDA warns.
Consumers should stop using and discard three zinc-containing cold remedies marketed by Zicam, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned today.
The agency issued the warning after receiving more than 130 reports of people losing their sense of smell after using the products.
Zicam intranasal zinc products are widely sold in pharmacies, other retail stores, and [...]
By admin on June 13th, 2009
FDA issues warning on Levemir insulin
Stolen vials of the long-acting insulin Levemir made by Novo Nordisk have reappeared and are now being sold in the U.S.. the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has learned.
The insulin may be dangerous because the vials may not have been stored and handled properly, the FDA warns.
Three lots or a total of 129,000 vials of [...]
By admin on June 10th, 2009
Skin sanitizers found to be contaminated, FDA warns
Do not use any skin products made by Clarcon, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns.
Some skin sanitizers and skin protectants produced by Clarcon Biologial Chemistry Laboratory, Inc. of Roy, Utah have been found to contain “high levels of disease-causing bacteria”, the FDA said.
“Some of these bacteria can cause opportunistic infections of the skin [...]
By admin on June 09th, 2009
Giving medications to children – Q & A with FDA’s Dr. Diane Murphy
How can you find out if a medication has been tested for safety in children?
What’s the right dose? Are over-the-counter medicines safe?
In this Q & A, Dr. Dianne Murphy, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, answers those and other questions you might have about giving a medication to a child.
Q [...]
By admin on May 27th, 2009
FDA warns about Web sites illegally selling unapproved H1N1 “swine” flu treatments
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has listed 40 Web sites that the FDA says are illegally selling unapproved products that claim to treat or prevent H1N1 “swine flu”.
Under U.S. law, a company cannot market a product with the claim it can diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure a disease unless it has obtained FDA [...]
By admin on May 13th, 2009
H1N1 swine flu cases top 3,300 in U.S., CDC recommends antiviral drug treatment for pregnant patients
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 3,352 cases of H1N1 “swine” flu have now been confirmed in the U.S. in 45 states, including the District of Columbia.
Washington has 176 confirmed cases as of today, the CDC reports. King County reports 120 confirmed cases and 10 probable as of Tuesday afternoon.
To date [...]
By admin on May 12th, 2009
Health Fraud 101: FDA provides tips on how to spot health fraud
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has an informative guide on how to protect yourself from health fraud.
The guide describes common types of fraud, ranging from fraudulent cancer and arthritis cures to bogus weight-loss and sexual enhancement products.
The guide lists common “red flags” that often are a tip off that the product is fraudulent:
claims [...]
By admin on May 04th, 2009
CDC: What drugs are there to treat influenza?
In this video, Dr. Tony Fiore, a medical epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), talks about the drugs that are available to treat the flu, who should take them, and when.
To learn more go to the CDC’s information page on Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 (Swine Flu)
By admin on May 04th, 2009
Health stories in the news
Donald McNeil, Jr. in the New York Times writes about new ways people are trying to predict the course outbreaks of diseases like swine flu by using computer simulations. One program tracks air and land travel information to predict the spread of disease. That program predicted correctly that New York, California and Texas would prove [...]
By admin on May 01st, 2009
FDA warns consumers to stop using Hydroxycut after weight-loss supplement linked to liver damage
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to stop using Hydroxycut products after reports have linked the popular weight-loss supplement to liver damage.
In an advisory the FDA said it have received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver [...]
By admin on April 22nd, 2009
More than 30 weight-loss supplements recalled after they are found to contain prescription drug
More than 30 dietary weight-loss supplements are being recalled after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found they contained Sibutramine, a prescription appetite suppressant
The products, with names like ProSlim Plus, 3 DAYS fit and EIGHT FACTOR DIET, are distributed nationwide by Universal ABC Beauty Supply International, Inc.
“Consumers should not consume the above products and should return the dietary supplements on [...]
By admin on April 21st, 2009
Off-Label Drugs: What you need to know
One out of every five prescriptions written today are to treat a condition for which the drug has not been approved.
Such “off-label” use of drugs is common because under the law doctors are given considerable freedom to use their clinical judgement when it comes to practicing medicine.
Still, taking a drug for a condition for which [...]
