FDA & Prescription Drugs

• Adderall, Ritalin, ADHD Drugs Linked to Heart Issues

  RLF Staff | December 12, 2007 8:13 AM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  Adderall, Ritalin and other ADHD treatments have been linked to hundreds of yearly ER visits with heart related symptoms, a new study says. This latest study of ADHD drugs was the first to look at potential heart problems linked to the medications since the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) updated their labels last year to include heart warnings.ADHD stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin...

• More Reports of Chantix Negative Effects

  RLF Staff | November 29, 2007 3:27 PM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  The Food and Drug Administration announced last they are finally looking into Chantix, a stop smoking medication, to find out how dangerous it might be.Since the report of Carter Albrecht's unusual behavior and death while taking Chantix, hundreds of other Chantix patients have spoken up about the effects they've experienced. Over the last two months, Ryann Rathbone said she has received...

• Chantix Linked to Depression, Suicidal Thoughts and Aggressive Behavior

  RLF Staff | November 21, 2007 6:30 AM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  The US Food and Drug Administraion is reviewing reports of suicidal thoughts and aggressive behavior in people who have taken Chantix, a prescription medication used to quit smoking. Chantix works on specific areas of the brain, helps people give up smoking by providing some satisfaction that nicotine gives intended to lessen withdrawal symptoms. It also blocks the nicotine from entering the...

• Accutane Linked to Lower Serotonin Levels and Depression

  RLF Staff | November 19, 2007 8:21 AM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  Accutane is prescribed to treat acne, but has been linked to depression and other psychiatric issues including over 250 suicides in the US. Accutane may cause decreased serotonin levels, which can lead to depression and aggressiveness.In the late '80s, Accutane went under fire due to the risk of birth defects, kidney, digestive tract, central nervous system, pancreas, cardiovascular, liver,...

• Viagra, Levitra, Cialis, Revatio Patients Warned of Risk of Hearing Loss

  RLF Staff | October 18, 2007 3:30 PM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed healthcare professionals of reports of sudden decreases or loss of hearing following the use of PDE5 inhibitors, Viagra, Levitra, Cialis for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and Revatio for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. In some cases, the sudden hearing loss was accompanied by tinnitus and dizziness. Medical follow-up on...

• Microwave Popcorn Could Cause Serious Lung Disease

  RLF Staff | September 11, 2007 12:12 PM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  Major popcorn manufacturers who use Diacetyl in their popcorn have started removing the "buttery smalling" chemical from their products. This comes more than a year (and consumption of more than 750 million pounds of popcorn) after the EPA produced a study warning Diacetyl poses potential health hazards. Diacetyl was identified at the CDC in 2002 as the cause of a debilitating and sometimes...

• MRI and MRA Contrast Dye containing Gadolinium can cause rare disease NSF/NSD

  RLF Staff | September 10, 2007 9:04 AM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  A contrast is sometimes used in MRI ("magnetic resonance imaging") and always used in MRA ("magnetic resonance angiography"). These tests use powerful magnets and radio waves to make images of a patient's internal issues or blood vessels. During these procedures, a contrast dye is injected into the body to help detect any abnormalities. Unfortunately, MRI and MRA contrast dye containing the...

• Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Linked to Gadolinium

  RLF Staff | September 10, 2007 7:45 AM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a newly described systemic disorder that occurs in patients with renal insufficiency. The functional consequences of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis are often devastating and may be fatal. Since nephrogenic systemic fibrosis develops after exposure to gadolinium-containing magnetic resonance contrast agents in some patients the FDA recommended avoiding such agents...

• Diabetes Drugs Avandia and Actos Pose Risk of Heart Failure

  RLF Staff | July 27, 2007 11:56 AM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  Diabetes patients taking Avandia or Actos are two times as likely to develop heard problems, according to a report published in the August issue of Diabetes Care.An advisory panel hearing Monday will examine whether Avandia's cardiovascular risks warrant a stronger warning label following a U.S. government review found Avandia's heart risks are far higher than Actos'..Avandia (rosiglitazone) and...

• FDA scrutinized by Lawmakers ofer Avandia Issues

  RLF Staff | June 11, 2007 1:27 PM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  In one of the latest developments in the Avandia diabetes drug issue, a group of lawmakers sent a letter to FDA asking Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach to explain the agency's policy on conflicts of interest regarding hiring employees directly from drug companies regulated by the FDA.FDA spokesman Douglas Arbesfeld, who has worked for several drug companies, is one of the focal members in the...