The FDA first identified a possible link between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in their report from January 2011. ALCL is a rare type of blood cancer that is classified as a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and one of the subtypes of T-cell lymphoma. It can initially appear either in the skin, in the lymph nodes, or in organs … [Read more...]
December 2016: FDA Requires Safety Warnings Label Change For Jardiance
After the December 2, 2016 decision by the FDA decision by U.S. regulators to expand the health benefits for the relatively new diabetes medicine Jardiance (empagliflozin) to include preventing fatal heart attacks and strokes in type 2 diabetes patients, we saw news reports about its expected effect on Jardiance sales in the U.S. From this … [Read more...]
Birth Control Pills Series: Are the Current FDA Label Warnings Enough?
In the previous article of my blog series on Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi, Safyral, and Beyaz, I discussed the devastating side effects that can result from using these DRSP-containing birth control pills. For my final article in this series, I will discuss the current drug label warnings for these drugs, and contemplate whether these warnings … [Read more...]
Birth Control Pills Series: The Devastating Side Effects
The first article of my blog series on Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi, Safyral, and Beyaz discussed how Yaz in particular was marketed to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)--before PMDD was even classified as a medical condition--so that the drug manufacturer, Bayer, could increase their profits. In this article, I will provide … [Read more...]
Bayer Fails to Warn About Serious Complications from Essure
In May of this year, Health Canada released a Health Product Risk Communication for Essure, a permanent and irreversible birth control system. Essure is a device implanted in the fallopian tubes that prevents pregnancy by causing tissue growth which prevents an egg from being released and fertilized. While many possible side effects of Essure … [Read more...]
What’s in a Name? Debate on What to Call Novel Oral Anticoagulants
Recently, controversy has arisen over what to call the novel oral anticoagulant class of drugs, which includes Pradaxa, Xarelto, Savaysa, and Eliquis. The article "NOAC, DOAC, or TSOAC: What Should We Call Novel Oral Anticoagulants?" provides some interesting information about the different sides of this debate. Here is a list of the possible … [Read more...]
Nexium / Prevacid / Prilosec Series: The Devastating Side Effects
In the first article of the Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec Series, I gave a brief overview of some of the possible side effects of these PPI drugs. I will now expand on this previous discussion to provide more detailed information about these conditions. Please know that I am not qualified to give medical advice, and am simply summarizing recent … [Read more...]
Nexium / Prevacid / Prilosec Series: Overview and Background
To start my series on Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec, I would like to provide some background information on these drugs, as well as a quick overview of their detrimental side-effects. For many years, popular heartburn and acid reflux drugs like Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid have been touted as safe by the drug manufacturers and doctors alike. … [Read more...]