Background Limbrel (flavocoxid) is an anti-inflammatory agent comprised mostly of flavonoids such as baicalin and catechin that is prescribed to manage the metabolic processes associated with osteoarthritis. This supplement has traditionally been classified and marketed as a "medical food," which is defined by the Orphan Drug Act as: "a food … [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...]
Risk of Lower Limb Amputations Doubled with Invokana and Invokamet Use
As of yesterday, May 16, 2017, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication regarding an increased risk of leg and foot amputations due to use of popular diabetes drugs Invokana, Invokamet, and Invokamet XR, which contain canagliflozin. These drugs belong to the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor class, and are the subjects of … [Read more...]
Could Beta-Blocker Use in Pregnant Women Cause Fetal Heart Defects?
On April 3, 2017, updated results from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) were released and published in the article "Maternal Antihypertensive Medication Use and Congenital Heart Defects" (Abstract only). This study found that there was a statistically significant association between β-blocker use in pregnant women and fetal … [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...]