Adverse Effects

Methadone and sudden cardiac death

January 9, 2008, from the
Oregon Health & Science University

Drug implicated in controlled doses to manage chronic pain and addiction

An OHSU study of sudden cardiac deaths in the Portland metro area implicates the drug as a possible cause in a high proportion of cases where it's used in controlled doses to manage chronic pain and drug addiction

Methadone deadly for some patients

The New York Times reports today that a new use for the drug dependency medication, methadone, brought about new dosage recommendations as a result of its popularity as a pain medication.

According to the newspaper, "A synthetic form of opium, it is cheap and long lasting, a powerful pain reliever that has helped millions. But because it is also abused by thrill seekers and badly prescribed by doctors unfamiliar with its risks, methadone is now the fastest growing cause of narcotic deaths. It is implicated in more than twice as many deaths as heroin, and is rivaling or surpassing the tolls of painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin."

Read the New York Times article.

Woman loses arm after Phenergan injection but government says she can't claim damages

If a drug has a dangerous side effect, but nobody knew of the drug's problem beforehand, could a patient blame the drug company? Probably not.

What if the drug company knew about the adverse reaction, but the FDA did not think it important enough to tell consumers? That might be a different case, according to lawyers representing a Vermont woman who went into a hospital with a migraine headache and ended up with gangrene and an amputation of her arm where the drug was injected.

The case will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court soon following a multi-million dollar award against a drug company in a Vermont state court.

Advair, Symbicort, Naprosyn, Vicoprofen and others receive new prescribing info

Five drugs received changes in their boxed warnings. Seven drugs had changes in their medication guides.

Alcohol dependence drug, Naltrexone, can cause abscess, tissue necrosis

FDA ALERT [08/12/2008]: FDA is notifying healthcare professionals of the risk of adverse injection site reactions in patients receiving naltrexone (Vivitrol). Physicians should instruct patients to monitor the injection site and contact them if they develop pain, swelling, tenderness, induration, bruising, pruritus, or redness at the injection site that does not improve or worsens within two weeks. Physicians should promptly refer patients with worsening injection site reactions to a surgeon.

Allergic reactions to antibiotics highest among young children

From the
Infectious Diseases Society of America

Adverse reactions to antibiotics send thousands of patients to the ER

Adverse events from antibiotics cause an estimated 142,000 emergency department visits per year in the United States, according to a study published in the September 15, 2008 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium could increase osteoporosis

August 11, 2008:  from the
Canadian Medical Association Journal

Proton pump inhibitors increase risk of bone fractures

Patients who use proton pump inhibitors for 7 or more years to treat reflux, peptic ulcers and other conditions are at greater risk of osteoporosis-related fractures, according to a large observational study,  of 15,792 patients published in CMAJ.

One medication class that may affect bone mineral metabolism is proton pump inhibitors, according to the study. This class of drugs inhibits the production and intragastric secretion of hydrochloric acid, which is believed to be an important mediator of calcium absorption in the small intestine.

Warnings on Zocor, Vytorin, Simcor, Cordarone, Pacerone

search database

FDA ALERT [08/08/2008]: The FDA is notifying the public of the risk of a rare condition of muscle injury called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure or death, when simvastatin is used with amiodarone.

X-Rays, CT scans may affect implanted medical devices

Letter sent by FDA to physicians:

FDA Preliminary¹ Public Health Notification: Possible Malfunction of Electronic Medical Devices Caused by Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning

Date July 14, 2008

Dear Healthcare Professional:

This is to alert you to the possibility that the x-rays used during CT examinations may cause some implanted and external electronic medical devices to malfunction, and to provide recommendations to reduce the potential risk.

FDA adds warnings to 56 drugs in May, including Ambien, Chantix, and Valium

Risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture with large class of antibiotics

FDA ALERT [7/8/2008]: FDA is notifying the makers of fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs for systemic use of the need to add a boxed warning to the prescribing information about the increased risk of developing tendinitis and tendon rupture...

Potentially harmful ingredient found in dietary supplement

Jack Distribution, LLC. Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Select Lots of Rize 2 The Occasion Capsules and Rose 4 Her Capsules, Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements, Containing an Undeclared Ingredient

Standard oxygen therapy may cause brain damage in Resuscitation

from the
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Resuscitation technique after brain injury may do more harm than good

Can anesthesia increase post-surgical pain?

Researchers discover paradox about general anesthesia: It can increase post-surgical pain

FDA warns on antipsychotics for the elderly

FDA ALERT [6/16/2008]:  FDA is notifying healthcare professionals that both conventional and atypical antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of mortality in elderly patients treated for dementia-related psychosis.