A certain inherited trait could prove fatal for some children treated with codeine for post-operative pain, according to a new warning from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). At least three children died, while one other suffered an episode of non-fatal but life-threatening respiratory depression, after taking codeine to treat pain following a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. It is believed that all of the children, who were between the ages of 2 and 5, shared a genetic trait which made them ultra-rapid metabolizers of the drug. When codeine is ingested, it is converted to morphine in the liver by an enzyme called cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). Some people have DNA variations that make this enzyme more active, causing codeine to be converted to morphine faster and more completely than in other people, the FDA said. This results in higher than normal amounts of morphine in their blood after taking codeine. All of the children received normal doses of codeine, and suffered the reactions within a day or two of taking the drug. According to the FDA, one to seven in every 100 people are ultra-rapid metabolizers, but they are more common among some ethnic groups, … Continue reading →

In spite of serious concerns that Actos (pioglitazone) can cause bladder cancer and other serious side effects, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of the type 2 diabetes drug for sale in the U.S. According to a statement from the agency, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, based in Morgantown, West Virginia, has been granted approval to market 15, 30, and 45 milligram pioglitazone tablets. Actos is one of the top selling type 2 diabetes medications in the world. According to the FDA, generic versions of Actos will offer affordable treatment options for patients who must manage this chronic and potentially serious condition. However, critics of the FDA will surely raise concerns that widely available generic versions of Actos will put more patients at risk for its serious side effects, including bladder cancer. Last June, the FDA issued a safety communication stating that use of Actos for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. That same month, the French and German governments decided to suspend sales of Actos in those countries after a separate study commissioned by French regulators demonstrated an increased risk of bladder cancer associated with Actos in people … Continue reading →

Dancers enjoy the Ultra Music Festival in March in Miami. STORY HIGHLIGHTS Editor's note: Pseudonyms are used for the names of young people. (CNN) -- "Have you heard of molly?" the girl next to me asked. She was swaying from side to side, bobbing her head to the bass vibrating throughout the sold-out venue. The room around us was buzzing with anticipation. Music was blasting. People were dancing and laughing and taking pictures. There was less than an hour until showtime, and I was about to see one of my favorite artists, so I was feeling pretty good. The girl next to me, Jessica, was obviously feeling better. I turned to my fellow concertgoers, watching as they met Jessica's eyes, nodding their heads knowingly. Of course they had heard of molly. Turns out, molly is a pretty popular lady these days. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, molly is the powder or crystal form of MDMA -- or 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a chemical drug most commonly known for its use in the pressed pill Ecstasy. Unlike Ecstasy, which has a reputation for being laced with everything from caffeine to methamphetamine, molly -- a name shortened from "molecule" -- is thought of … Continue reading →