Category Archives: Drug Side Effects

Regulators in Europe have again asked Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of the blood thinner Pradaxa, to update the drugs label with additional information regarding Pradaxa bleeding side effects. According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the new guidance should include more specific information on when Pradaxa must not be used, as well as advice on managing patients and reversing the anticoagulant effect if Pradaxa bleeding occurs. Pradaxa was approved in Europe in March 2008 for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events following hip or knee replacement surgery. The blood thinner recently had its European approval expanded to cover patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke and systemic embolism. According to a report from Pharma Times, the number of fatal bleeding events among Pradaxa users spiked following that expansion. The EMAs Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) had concluded an earlier review of Pradaxa in November 2011, after it had been linked to 250 patient deaths. At the time, CHMP asked that label information on bleeding risks be strengthened. The Committee also advised caution when using Pradaxa, and said it should be prescribed at lower doses to older patients and those with kidney problems. On Friday, CHMP pointed … Continue reading →

May 25, 2012 Connie K. Ho for RedOrbit.com A group of researchers from McMaster University have found a new drug that can kill cancer stem cells in humans while avoiding the toxic side effects of other traditional cancer treatments. Over the past 15 years, researchers have thought that stem cells were the cause of many cancers. Canadian researchers first discovered cancer stem cells in particular types of leukemia in 1997. Since then, cancer stem cells have been found in blood, breast, brain, gastrointestinal, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancer. The unusual aspect of our finding is the way this human-ready drug actually kills cancer stem cells; by changing them into cells that are non-cancerous, explained Mick Bhatia, the principal investigator for the study and scientific director of McMasters Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, in a prepared statement. The anti-psychotic drug, thioridazine, showed to have no effect on normal stem cells in the study. In the past, thioridazine had been used to treat schizophrenia. The research, published in a recent edition of the science journal CELL, describes the new method and alludes to possible development of anticancer drugs to treat different cancers. Thioridazine … Continue reading →

Released: 5/16/2012 2:15 PM EDT Embargo expired: 5/24/2012 12:00 PM EDT Source: McMaster University Newswise Hamilton, ON (May 24, 2012) -- A team of scientists at McMaster University has discovered a drug, thioridazine, successfully kills cancer stem cells in the human while avoiding the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments. The unusual aspect of our finding is the way this human-ready drug actually kills cancer stem cells; by changing them into cells that are non-cancerous, said Mick Bhatia, the principal investigator for the study and scientific director of McMasters Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation, thioridazine appears to have no effect on normal stem cells. The research, published today in the science journal CELL, holds the promise of a new strategy and discovery pipeline for the development of anticancer drugs in the treatment of various cancers. The research team has identified another dozen drugs that have good potential for the same response. For 15 years, some researchers have believed stem cells are the source of many cancers. In 1997, Canadian researchers first identified cancer stem cells in certain types of leukemia. Cancer stem cells have since been identified … Continue reading →

Public release date: 24-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Veronica McGuire vmcguir@mcmaster.ca 90-552-591-402-2169 McMaster University Hamilton, ON (May 24, 2012) -- A team of scientists at McMaster University has discovered a drug, thioridazine, successfully kills cancer stem cells in the human while avoiding the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments. "The unusual aspect of our finding is the way this human-ready drug actually kills cancer stem cells; by changing them into cells that are non-cancerous," said Mick Bhatia, the principal investigator for the study and scientific director of McMaster's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation, thioridazine appears to have no effect on normal stem cells. The research, published today in the science journal CELL, holds the promise of a new strategy and discovery pipeline for the development of anticancer drugs in the treatment of various cancers. The research team has identified another dozen drugs that have good potential for the same response. For 15 years, some researchers have believed stem cells are the source of many cancers. In 1997, Canadian researchers first identified cancer stem cells in certain types of leukemia. Cancer stem cells have since … Continue reading →

McMaster researchers have discovered an anti-psychotic drug kills cancer stem cells without the toxic side-effects of other treatments. Patients taking thioridazine for Parkinsons Disease and schizophrenia have 10 times fewer instances of cancer after being on the drug for a few years. Were connecting dots that we werent connecting before, said Dr. Mick Bhatia, principal investigator of the study and scientific director of McMasters Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute. Were excited we have something interesting, but were always nervous because we want to make sure it helps people. The impact of this will be determined if we can put some patients in remission and certainly thats my romantic goal. He expects a small number of Hamilton leukemia patients with no other treatment options will have access to the drug through a clinical trial within a year. Hes also hoping to set up a second trial at another Ontario cancer centre. Its not everyday you find a drug you can move into the clinic, said Bhatia. The only thing we can hope for is that what weve seen in the laboratory, were hoping will work in a patient. If it works, it could dramatically change cancer treatment. Thioridazine on its … Continue reading →

An antipsychotic drug found by McMaster University researchers to kill cancer stem cells was pulled from the shelves by Health Canada years ago because of safety concerns. Thioridazine could dramatically change cancer treatment. The researchers recently discovered it reduced leukemia stem cells by 50 per cent in 24 hours in mice injected with primary human samples. We have certainly not seen any drug weve ever tested have that kind of potency, said Dr. Mick Bhatia, scientific director of McMasters Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute and principal investigator of the study published Thursday in the science journal CELL. Thioridazine is also remarkable because its a smart drug that kills only cancer stem cells and appears to have no effect on normal cells. As a result, it avoids the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments. Were excited we have something interesting, but were always nervous because we want to make sure it helps people, said Bhatia. The impact of this will be determined if we can put some patients in remission and certainly thats my romantic goal. But there are questions about the safety of the drug. Health Canada halted sales of Thioridazine in September 2005. It was pulled because it … Continue reading →

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has recently decided to strengthen warning labels on the oral contraceptive YAZ and its sister drug Yasmin regarding increased risks of blood clots from using the medications. Baron and Budd, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers, is warning women about the new labels and the adverse health effects of YAZ, Yasmin, Beyaz and Ocella. YAZ, Yasmin, Beyaz and Ocella belong to a newer family of birth control pills that contain drospirenone (DRSP). Studies have found that women who use birth control pills that contain DRSP are at an increased risk of developing blood clots when compared to traditional birth control pills. The new FDA warnings follow the recommendations of an FDA advisory committee that evaluated the potential health risks of YAZ and other DRSP-containing birth control pills. After reviewing studies of the health risks, the committee recommended stronger warning labels for the DRSP family of drugs. Women need to be aware of things that could threaten their health, said Laura Baughman, attorney at Baron and Budd. Even though YAZ has been aggressively marketed to treat a variety of issues, that does not mean that it can deliver on … Continue reading →

MEMPHIS, TN - (WMC-TV) - Since it hit the market under the brand name Zithromax in 1991, the antibiotic became a popular fix for bacterial infections. But researchers at Vanderbilt University found the commonly prescribed Z-Pak could have deadly side effects. If the Mid-South climate wreaks havoc on your sinuses, you have probably taken it. For more than two decades, doctors have prescribed Zithromax to fight infections. Memphis cardiologist Dr. Frank McGrew never leaves home with a Z-Pak. "I carry one in my brief case when I travel," said Dr. McGrew. But a 14 year study of medical records in Tennessee suggests a rare, yet deadly risk associated with the antibiotic. Researchers at Vanderbilt University discovered a 2.5 percent increase in heart related deaths among patients within the first five days of taking Zithromax. Dr. McGraw says several antibiotics in the same class can interact with certain heart conditions. But he was surprised the Zithromax seemed to have more of an effect than the others. "I think the take-home message from that, if people with heart disease or on heart medications probably need to think about what antibiotics they're on. The world of drug interactions is growing all the time," … Continue reading →

14-05-2012 03:54 The effects of ADHD on a person's life, career and relationships can be disastrous especially if it is diagnosed very late. This is quite common because very often ADHD goes undiagnosed. Then there is the whole question about the effects of ADHD meds such as Ritain on a person's life as they can be very disturbing and upsetting. They are very much a two-edged sword as they can help to relieve the symptoms of restlessness and help the person or child to focus and that is really a blessing in many cases. But there are many side effects as well and that can also be problematic. But apart form the meds, the effects of ADHD are very far reaching because they prevent a person from performing according to the norms and demands of our modern society. We insist on deadlines on results and on focus. The child will more likely have problems at school and at college and that is why it is so important to teach them life coping skills and behaviour therapy to deal with behavior problems and social issues. This is the best way of lessening the effects of ADHD http See the rest here: … Continue reading →

Pharmaceutical companies are rushing to produce new weight loss drugs. But some of them come along with alarming side effects. FBellon/Flickr I was riveted by an article in today's New York Times about the latest decision of an FDA drug advisory panel. The panel voted to approve a new weight-loss drug, lorcaserin. The vote was mixed: 18 for approval, four against, and one abstention. The majority felt that the benefits outweighed the risks and that even if there were risks, "new tools are needed to treat a major health problem." The benefits are worth a look. What about the risks? The drug: Also in the Times is a piece by Dr. Danielle Ofri on her experience with patients who want weight-loss drugs. She quotes from an essay called "Lemons for Obesity" by Dr. Michael S. Lauer, who was a minority voter on the FDA panel that approved the weight-loss drug Qnexa earlier this year. The weight-loss field is strewn with lemons, more so than other areas of medicine, Dr. Lauer argues. Because of the enormous potential market for these drugs -- two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese -- pharmaceutical companies rush new drugs to market after conducting only … Continue reading →