With over 1.2 million women in 32 countries currently using it, the NuvaRing, a plastic ring of hormones inserted vaginally once a month, has become a popular alternative to daily oral contraceptives. Despite its popularity, however, many users of the NuvaRing are reporting serious side effects, which include blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, and stroke.
Continue reading " Nuvaring Birth Control Side Effects " »
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration issued a new warning that high doses of Zocor, a popular cholesterol drug, and its generic forms, can cause serious and lethal muscle and kidney damage.
Continue reading " FDA Warns of Muscle Damage from Zocor " »
Last Friday, the Food and Drug Administration said that it will add a Black Box warning to the popular blood thinner, Plavix. The drug is marketed to physicians and patients on television as a drug that will prevent against a future heart attack or stroke. Notably, the Plavix website makes no mention of the recent black box warning.
Continue reading " Plavix Doesn't Work for Everyone " »
Two new studies recently indicate that certain osteoporosis drugs, which are supposed to strengthen bones and protect people from fractures, are actually increasing the risk of spine and hip fractures if taken for more than five years. These bisphosphonate drugsare some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world.
Continue reading " Long-Term Use of Actonel, Boniva, Fosamax and Reclast Linked to Hip-Fractures " »
According to The Wall Street Journal, the FDA is becoming increasingly concerned about the continuing and increasing number of hardware and software problems associated with insulin pumps, small devices worn by many diabetics to continuously deliver insulin, as an alternative to shots. Incredibly, over the last five years, there have been 18 recalls of insulin pumps, including recalls by manufacturers Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Inc., and Roche Holding AG. Tomorrow, the FDA is convening an advisory panel of experts to discuss what needs to be done to “minimize risks associated with the devices in these situations."
Continue reading " Insulin Pump Problems Continue to Plague Diabetics " »
