Media Influences Cancer Care

Cancer patients who research their disease on the Internet and in other media are more likely to get the latest treatments from their doctors, a new study suggests. Although studies have found that about 40 percent of cancer patients look to the Internet for medical information, it hasn’t been clear just how that information influences their choice of treatments, the researchers noted. “We... Read more

Hallucinations Are Rare Side Effects of ADHD Medications

Children who take medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may rarely experience some disturbing side effects, such as hallucinations. U.S. government experts reviewed clinical trials and post-marketing reports of side effects from the commonly prescribed ADHD stimulant medications, such as Concerta, Ritalin and Strattera. They found that out of every 100 “person-years”... Read more

New anti-psychotic medications as risky as older ones: study

Newer anti-psychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia, dementia and other psychiatric disorders appear to double a patient’s risk of sudden heart failure, research published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine found. The major study is the latest in recent months to show that these newer drugs, dubbed “atypical medications,” are not much safer than the older generation... Read more

Drug from genetically engineered goats a first

You’ve heard of making cheese from goats’ milk, but prescription drugs? In what would be a scientific first, an anti-clotting drug made from the milk of genetically engineered goats moved closer to government approval Wednesday after experts at the Food and Drug Administration reported that the medication works and its safety is acceptable. Called ATryn, the drug is intended to help people... Read more

Gleevec Approved for Use After Cancer Surgery

Gleevec, a “miracle drug” in curing certain types of adult leukemia, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to stop cancer growth after gastrointestinal cancer surgery. According to an FDA news release, Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) can be used after removal of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). While this is a fairly rare form of cancer (5,000 – 6,000 new cases... Read more

FDA Panel Mulls Safety of Asthma Meds

The safety of four asthma medications will be weighed by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel as two days of hearings end Thursday. The controversy over these drugs has been going on for several years, with two FDA officials recently calling for banning the use of these drugs for anyone under 17. One expert thinks the problem is not with the drugs, but with their misuse. “This is... Read more

FDA advisers weigh risks of asthma drugs

Government health officials Wednesday publicly aired deep differences over the safety of long-acting asthma drugs and called on outside medical and scientific advisers to help settle the issue. Experts from the Food and Drug Administration’s safety office are recommending that medications like Advair and Symbicort no longer be used to treat children with asthma because of the risk of serious... Read more

FDA rule change boosts access to morning-after pill

Women have easier and quicker access to the morning after pill since the Food and Drug Administration ruled that the medication could be sold to adults without a prescription, a survey of pharmacies in three large US cities shows. In 2006, the FDA approved “behind the counter” status for Plan B — meaning that people aged 18 and older can buy the emergency contraceptive over the counter,... Read more

FDA to detain food shipments from China

Federal health officials Thursday slapped a sweeping detention order on dozens of imported foods from China, from snacks and drinks to chocolates and candies. It’s unusual for the Food and Drug Administration to put such a broad hold on goods from an entire country, not just a few rogue manufacturers. The agency said the action was needed as a precaution to keep out foods contaminated with the... Read more

FDA staff cite abuse concern with Alpharma drug

Alpharma Inc’s powerful painkiller Embeda may not thwart drug abusers despite design features aimed at curbing misuse, U.S. regulatory staff said in documents released on Wednesday. The drugmaker tested the effects of the design features only when the pill was misused orally, but addicts tend to crush such morphine-based drugs and then inject them, U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff said. “It... Read more