Category Archives: Drug Side Effects

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon has the second-lowest rate of antibiotic use in the nation, behind Alaska. But inappropriate antibiotic use, which can lead to drug resistance and adverse side effects, remains a threat, public health officials said Tuesday. Ann Thomas, M.D., medical director for Oregon Health Authority's Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE) program, says the study showing Oregon's low rate is good news. But the state can't rest on its laurels. "Antibiotics are useful medications in treating certain infections, but it's important that they're used only when necessary," Thomas said. "Overuse of antibiotics leads to infections that are difficult to treat." The study was done in 2010 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. As part of its ongoing effort to urge consumers to help reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics, AWARE, funded by the CDC, is taking part in "Get Smart About Antibiotics Week" this week. AWARE is partnering with the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy in "AWARE on the Square," set for 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square. The free public event will offer educational information and activities promoting appropriate antibiotic … Continue reading →

Personal injury lawyer Hansen Diranioffering experienced legal representation to victims of dangerous drug injuries, Social Security Disability claim disputes and auto accident injuriesresponds to reports of severe side effects of the melanoma medication, Yervoy (ipilimumab). Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) November 11, 2012 Paralysis, hepatitis, thyroid problems and vital organ damage are just some of the Yervoy side effects that could injure melanoma patients, according to Yervoy manufacturer, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, which cites the side effects in their Risk Evaluation on the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations website. In 2011, the FDA approved Yervoy (ipilimumab), a medication for treating patients with metastatic, or late-stage, melanomathe most deadly type of skin cancer. The FDAs website includes a Risk Evaluation statement from Yervoy manufacturer, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, in which a long list of potential ipilimumab side-effects is cited. The most serious Yervoy health risks are a tear in the intestinal wall, also known as gastrointestinal perforation, hepatitis due to liver damage, paralysis from nerve damage and inflamed pancreas, kidneys, lungs and heart. The document lists other less severe but life-altering Yervoy risks, including thyroid, adrenal and pituitary gland problems, blurred vision, motor and sensory problems, and changes in mood, sex drive and mental performance. According to … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Nov. 9, 2012) The humanized antibody ipilimumab (trade name Yervoy) has been approved since August 2011 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced melanoma (black skin cancer) who have already been treated. The term "advanced" means that the melanoma can no longer be removed by an operation or that metastases have formed. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has examined the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG). According to the findings, the drug offers major advantages with respect to overall survival, but is accompanied by major potential harm in the form of side effects. The overall conclusion is that ipilimumab offers considerable added benefit. "Best supportive care" as appropriate comparator therapy As specified by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), ipilimumab was to be compared with so-called "best supportive care." This means the best possible supportive therapy, optimized for the individual patient, which guarantees alleviation of the symptoms and improvement in the quality of life. The only study relevant to this benefit assessment compared ipilimumab in combination with "best supportive care" with "best supportive care" alone. This study was informative (randomized … Continue reading →

Public release date: 9-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Dr. Anna-Sabine Ernst presse@iqwig.de 0049-022-135-6856 Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care The humanized antibody ipilimumab (trade name Yervoy) has been approved since August 2011 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced melanoma (black skin cancer) who have already been treated. The term "advanced" means that the melanoma can no longer be removed by an operation or that metastases have formed. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has examined the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG). According to the findings, the drug offers major advantages with respect to overall survival, but is accompanied by major potential harm in the form of side effects. The overall conclusion is that ipilimumab offers considerable added benefit. "Best supportive care" as appropriate comparator therapy As specified by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), ipilimumab was to be compared with so-called "best supportive care". This means the best possible supportive therapy, optimized for the individual patient, which guarantees alleviation of the symptoms and improvement in the quality of life. The only study relevant to this … Continue reading →

According to the US Drug Watchdog, We have a big problem-hardly anyone has heard about possible severe side effects associated with Yaz, Yasmin, or the generic version Ocella birth control pills. We even have a bigger problem--a very poorly publicized settlement might be near for users, who suffered a heart attack, a stroke, or a pulmonary embolism, blood clots, so we are urging victims to call the Johnson Law Group directly-before time runs out." As a background, in September of 2009, the US FDA released a warning letter sent to Bayer Pharmaceuticals over Yaz & Yasmin. The letter indicates that the drug maker hid out-of-specification test results for key ingredients in the birth control pills, and said that several batches of the drugs should have never been released to the public. The US Drug Watchdog says, "If you, or a friend were using birth control pills called Yaz, Yasmin, or their generic version Ocella, and severe side effects have occurred, such a pulmonary embolism, a heart attack, a stroke, or other severe medical conditions please contact the Johnson Law Group at 1-800-624-8899." http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com/ (PRWEB) November 09, 2012 Possible Side Effects Yaz/Yasmin The US Drug Watchdog says, "One of the biggest … Continue reading →

Amgen Inc. (AMGN), the worlds largest biotechnology company, said its experimental heart drug lowered cholesterol levels in patients unable to take standard medicines such as Pfizer Inc.s Lipitor because of side effects. The drug, AMG-145, which targets cholesterol-regulating gene PCSK9 in the liver, reduced LDL, or bad cholesterol, 51 percent in patients intolerant to medicines like Lipitor, called statins, after 12 weeks, and 63 percent among those taking it in combination with Merck & Co.s (MRK) cholesterol treatment Zetia, according to a study presented today at the American Heart Association meeting in Los Angeles. Amgen is focusing on the drugs potential to help offset declining sales of its anemia drugs Aranesp and Epogen, which together will generate $4 billion in estimated sales this year and face increased competition by 2015. The Thousand Oaks, California-based company is competing with some of the worlds biggest drugmakers, such as Pfizer, Roche Holding AG (ROG) and Sanofi (SAN), to be first to market with the new cholesterol medicine. Close to a million people in the U.S. alone who are treated with statins cannot tolerate them or the doses needed for effective cholesterol control, said Evan Stein, director of the Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center … Continue reading →

The Rottenstein Law Group, which represents clients with claims stemming from the severe side effects of the drug Fosamax, has learned that Merck & Co., Inc. believes it has in odanacatib a replacement for the embattled osteoporosis drug almost ready for release. New York, NY (PRWEB) November 06, 2012 The results show that odanacatib works much better than the placebo. In nearly every bone area measured (three places in the hip and femur and in the lumbar vertebrae) taking the drug corresponded to an increase in bone mineral density (BMD) while the placebo users registered declines in bone strength. Only the BMD in the forearm did not show statistical signs of improvement for those taking odanacatib. Because Fosamax causes several unusual and dangerous side effects, RLG notes that side effects forced nine percent of the odanacatib users to leave the trials, as opposed to three percent of those on the placebo. The side effects include urinary tract infection, back pain, arthralgia (joint pain), bronchitis, and upper respiratory tract infection. Merck is clearly optimistic that it can replace Fosamax with a new patented prescription drug, but for those who took Fosamax and suffered an unusual bone break, a new drug will … Continue reading →

Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) November 05, 2012 RxISK.org, the first free independent website for researching and reporting drug side effects, is now live. RxISK.org layers an easy-to-use interface over data from FDAs MedWatch system, allowing users to search the 4.1 million drug side effect reports from 2004 to June 30, 2012 and see information unavailable anywhere else, including warnings and interactions, tag clouds, heat maps, and interactive graphs. Users can search more than 35,000 prescription drug names from 103 countries. The website has a unique reporting feature that provides users with a personalized RxISK Report linking their side effects and their meds. This report can be taken to a doctor or pharmacist to facilitate a better treatment conversation. RxISK will also show whats happening with other people taking the same drug around the world and in the users community. As more reports are filed, the RxISK database will become the most comprehensive source of independent information on what drugs do. Many people think that if the FDA or their countrys drug regulator has approved a drug then its safe. Not always. All drugs have effects. Some good, some bad, and some deadly. But fewer than 5% of serious drug side effects … Continue reading →

Roche Holding AG (ROG)s abandoned heart drug dalcetrapib, designed to raise levels of good cholesterol, also boosted blood pressure and inflammation, researchers said. Dalcetrapib marks the second failure in what was expected to be a new blockbuster class of heart medicines known as CETP inhibitors. The Basel, Switzerland-based drugmaker halted development of the drug in May, saying an early look at study results found the medicine wasnt helping patients. Pfizer Inc. (PFE) dropped its pill torcetrapib in December 2006 after studies showed it raised blood pressure and boosted death rates. The findings presented today at the American Heart Association meeting in Los Angeles showed dalcetrapib had unexpected side effects that may have contributed to its downfall. While it didnt increase hypertension in the same manner or amount as torcetrapib and there werent more deaths, its possible the medicines could have damaged blood vessels, the researchers said. That may have implications for Merck & Co. (MRK) and Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY), who are developing similar compounds. It was a surprise that the blood pressure effect was evident, since earlier studies didnt find any increase, said Gregory Schwartz, chief of cardiology at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in … Continue reading →

Where to buy Xanax online UK US Canada Europe Australia http://www.medstore-online.com XANAX Tablets contain alprazolam which is a triazolo analog of the 1,4 benzodiazepine class of central nervous system-active compounds. What are the precautions when taking alprazolam (Xanax)? Before taking alprazolam, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other benzodiazepines (such as diazepam, lorazepam); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: severe lung/breathing problems (such as COPD, sleep apnea), liver disease, kidney disease, drug or alcohol abuse, glaucoma. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages PRESCRIBED FOR: Alprazolam is used for the treatment of anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Anxiety disorders are characterized by unrealistic worry and apprehension, causing symptoms of restlessness, aches, trembling, shortness of breath, smothering sensation, palpitations, sweating, cold clammy hands, lightheadedness, flushing, exaggerated startle responses, problems concentrating, and insomnia. … Continue reading →