Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium, or PPS) was approved by the FDA way back in September 1996 for the treatment of painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis). Over the past several years, however, cases of Elmiron-related eye damage have been reported. Remarkably, according to a recent medical study, patients with high levels of Elmiron … [Read more...]
Lower Limb Amputations From All SGLT2 Inhibitors, or Just Invokana?
A “Black-Box Warning” about the increased risk of lower limb amputations was added to the drug labels for Invokana and Invokamet in July 2017. Since that time there has been a mix of opinions expressed in the medical literature about whether or not lower limb amputations are a side effect of all diabetes medicines in the sodium-glucose … [Read more...]
Settlements Reached for First Round of Abilify Gambling Lawsuits
Background In May 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a Drug Safety Communication concerning the antipsychotic drugs, Abilify, Abilify Maintena, and Aristada. This safety announcement provided the following warning: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that compulsive or uncontrollable urges to gamble, … [Read more...]
Diabetes Drugs Kombiglyze And Onglyza MDL: Focus Is On Heart Failure
A Kombiglyze and Onglyza MDL for federal court lawsuits filed against AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb will focus on heart failure cases among other side effects associated with these diabetes drugs. As background, in April 2016 the FDA took regulatory action by mandating label changes with new warnings about an increased risk of heart … [Read more...]
Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuits Reinstated for Incretin-Based Diabetes Drugs
Background Among the several different types of therapies indicated for treating type 2 diabetes are increatin mimetics. The medications approved by the FDA that fall into this class of drugs are: Byetta (exenatide) Bydureon (exenatide) Januvia (sitagliptin) Janumet (sitagliptin) Victoza (liraglutide) Previous scientific … [Read more...]
New Heartburn Drugs Study Shows 33% Increased Risk of Kidney Problems
Previous Research on PPIs & Kidney Damage Several studies have been published in the past several years concerning the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid. The table below identifies the year, title, and results of three recent studies on PPIs and kidney … [Read more...]
Study Suggests HCV Clearance with DAAs Lowers the Risk of Liver Cancer
Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment drugs--such as Harvoni, Sovaldi, Viekira Pak, and Technivie--are classified as Direct Acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs). The relationship between DAA treatment and liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a complex one that has been the subject of several studies in the past year. While … [Read more...]
FDA Makes Adverse Drug Reactions Easier to Find with New Search Tool
On September 28, 2017, the FDA released a new search tool that allows patients, doctors, and others to see the adverse events reported for a particular drug or medical device by searching the product name, patient age, adverse event type and date, or timeframe in which an event occurred. This tool is referred to as the FDA Adverse Events … [Read more...]
Could Invokana have been the cause of my lower-limb amputation?
The FDA is investigating a connection between diabetes drugs belonging to the Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors class of drugs and the following side effects: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Ketoacidosis Ketosis Acute Kidney Injury Kidney Failure / Renal Failure Kidney Damage Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) … [Read more...]
Association Between Heartburn Drugs & Chronic Kidney Disease Questioned
A recent article published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology titled The “dangers” of chronic proton pump inhibitor use provides commentary on the relationship between use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)--such as Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid--and various side effects. The authors of this study acknowledge the growing number of … [Read more...]