Category Archives: Drug Side Effects

Posted on Thursday, January 24th, 2013 by Angie Han As Steven Soderbergh hurtles toward retirement, hes dropping one last theatrical feature. (He also has the HBO movie Behind the Candelabra, but thats not hitting cinemas.) In Side Effects, Rooney Mara plays a woman dealing with her husbands (Channing Tatum) imminent release from prison. To help her cope with her anxiety, her psychiatrist (Jude Law) puts her on some new drugs. And then, somehow, everything goes terribly wrong. I say somehow because the last couple of trailers have purposely been vague about the plotline. Characters walked around saying dramatic things against an unsettling backdrop of growing tension, and because all of it looked pretty well done, that was enough to attract some curiosity. But the latest interntional trailer finally gives us a better idea of what, exactly, happens in this movie. Watch it after the jump. The Guardian(viaFirst Showing) posted the new UK trailer. I havent seen the movie itself so Im not sure how much this trailer gives away, but its definitely more spoiler-y than the American versions weve seen so far. Click away from this post if youd rather stay in the dark. The last two trailers had me … Continue reading →

Jan. 22, 2013 A drug developed at Linkping University in Sweden protects against the side effects of cancer treatments while strengthening the effects on the tumour. An international drug evaluation is now starting up on a larger group of patients. The results of the studies with the compound, known as calmangafodipir, were published in the latest issue of the cancer journal Translational Oncology with Professor Rolf G. G. Andersson as the main author. The research was initiated on a substance called mangafodipir, which was used as a contrast media in magnetic resonance scans. But pharmacologists at LiU discovered that it also protected healthy cells in connection with cancer treatments. "We found that the substance could affect the formation of oxygen radicals, which are a cause of side effects in chemotherapy," says Professor Andersson. For example, the number of white blood cells decreases drastically in almost all the patients, which opens the door to infections that could even be fatal. The researchers began with cell tests, and then went on to mice infected with cancer cells. The mice were treated with chemotherapy and were administered mangafodipir at the same time. Tumour formation decreased while white blood cells were protected. One problem … Continue reading →

The DrugRisk Resource Center is the Webs largest source for information on prescription drug warnings, side effects and legal news. Visit http://www.DrugRisk.com New York, NY (PRWEB) January 22, 2013 DrugRisk seeks to improve patient safety through education, with the latest updates of drug studies, recalls, and litigation news. While prior data has linked Yaz to blood clots, this study is the first to specifically addresses women suffering migraines, explains DrugRisk representative Ryan Mayer. The resource center recently added warnings from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that birth control pills containing drospirenone, like Yaz and Yasmin, may cause higher risks of blood clots.* Frances Health Ministry has also said they will stop reimbursements for the drugs over similar concerns.** Nevertheless, there has still been no official Yaz recall by the manufacturer. Now, a new study on DrugRisk from Bringham and Womens Faulkner Hospital in Boston found that, while combined hormone contraceptives like Yaz and Yasmin may raise blood clot risks for all women, the risks are significantly higher for those suffering migraines.*** DrugRisk has learned that thousands of patients have filed Yaz lawsuits over blood clots, which have been consolidated to a special Multi-District Litigation court in Illinois. The … Continue reading →

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 22, 2013 The prescription drug resource center DrugRisk.com is alerting patients taking the blood thinner Pradaxa that new information has been added to the site showing the judge presiding over Pradaxa internal bleeding lawsuits has ordered the drug maker to disclose information on prior lawsuits. The goal of DrugRisk is to improve patient safety through education of the latest drug warnings, recalls, studies and litigation news. Many follow litigation to learn how others may be affected with similar problems and whether they have options, explains DrugRisk representative Ryan Mayer. DrugRisk previously added a report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices showing anticoagulants like Pradaxa are among the highest risk outpatient drugs. Also, hemorrhage cases submitted to the FDA show bleeding from Pradaxa was nearly 5 times as likely to result in death than with warfarin.* The resource center has learned that, due to the number of Pradaxa lawsuits filed so far, cases are being consolidated in a special federal court in Illinois, formally known as MDL No. 2385, IN RE: Pradaxa Product Liability Litigation, Southern District of Illinois. Judge David Herndon, who is overseeing the litigation, recently reported that as many as 176 cases … Continue reading →

Free online tool to research and report prescription drug side effects on skin and nails Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) January 21, 2013 Crime TV fans know how easily drugs can be detected by skin and nail analysis, says Dr. Dee Mangin, Data Based Medicines Chief Medical Officer and McMaster Universitys David Braley Nancy Gordon Chair of Family Medicine. However, in real life we often dont make the connection between the prescription drugs we take and their effects on our bodies. Arsenic, the poison of choice for inheritance-minded spouses in the 19th century, was actually more commonly used in the cosmetic sense to lighten skin color and whiten eyes. Unfortunately, one could easily get the dosage wrong and pay the ultimate price for beauty. Today, skin-bleaching drugs are one of the biggest sellers in the world, and are linked to blood cancers such as leukemia and cancers of the liver and kidneys, as well as a severe skin condition called ochronosis, a form of hyper-pigmentation that causes the skin to turn a dark purple shade. Oral contraceptives are an even bigger seller. However, many of these are advertised and sold for their beneficial effects on skin rather than for contraception. They can … Continue reading →

Health Posted on 06:28 PM, January 17, 2013 Doctors relying on studies published in top journals for guidance on treating women with breast cancer may not be getting the most accurate information, with the side effects of various treatments downplayed, according to a North American study. Investigators want to go overboard to make their studies look positive, said Ian Tannock, senior author of the study that appeared in the Annals of Oncology. In two-thirds of the 164 studies that Tannock and his colleagues scrutinized, that meant not listing serious side effects, whether of chemotherapy, radiation or surgery, in the papers abstract. Such abstracts summarize the findings, and run a few hundred words. Thats important, said Tannock, at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, because doctors have little time to read. Most of us are so damn busy, we only read the abstract and skim the tables and figures, he added. In fact, a fifth of the studies didnt include serious side effects in results tables, and about a third failed to mention them in either the abstract or the discussion section. Most surprising, said Tannock, was that in a third of the studies, if the treatment didnt work as well as … Continue reading →

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) January 18, 2013 The prescription drug resource center DrugRisk.com is alerting women taking the birth control drugs Yaz or Yasmin of a new study added to the site showing blood clot risks may be higher with these contraceptives. Also, those suffering from migraines may have a heightened risk. The goal of DrugRisk is to improve patient safety through education. This includes the latest medication studies, recalls, and litigation news. Although recent studies have linked Yaz to blood clots, this is the first weve seen that specifically addresses women suffering from migraines, explains DrugRisk representative Ryan Mayer. DrugRisk recently added information from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, who became the latest group to warn that birth control pills containing drospirenone, like Yaz and Yasmin, may cause higher risks of blood clots.* Frances Health Ministry has also said they will stop reimbursements for the drugs over similar concerns.** Now, a new study from Brigham and Womens Faulkner Hospital in Boston added to the resource center found that, while combined hormone contraceptives like Yaz and Yasmin may raise blood clot risks for all women, the risks are significantly higher for those suffering migraines.*** DrugRisk has learned that thousands … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON, DC Bottles of Rugby Natural Iron Supplement could contain a completely different substance and cause serious side effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said this week. The supplement has been recalled by its maker, Advance Pharmaceutical Inc. The recall applies to one lot of supplements: 12G468. Instead of containing ferrous sulfate as described on the label, the bottles could contain meclizine, a drug used to treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. It is commonly used to prevent motion sickness. (See the difference between ferrous sulfate tablets and meclizine tablets.) Taking meclizine may cause serious side effects to those who consume alcohol or other sedatives, those with a pre-existing CNS disorder, those with imprinted kidney or liver function, the elderly, nursing infants of lactating mothers who received the drug and newborns of mothers who received the drug immediately before childbirth, said the recall notice. Advance can be contacted at 631-981-4600, Ext.300, on Monday through Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm ET. Originally posted here: Recalled Iron Supplement Could Cause Serious Side Effects … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/drrr5s/incivek) has announced the addition of the "Incivek - Clinical Trials - Efficacy and Side Effects by Reporting Groups - Reference Directory, Comparison Guide, Database & Handbook" report to their offering. Incivek - Clinical Trials - Efficacy and Side Effects by Reporting Groups - Reference Directory, Comparison Guide, Database & Handbook is a comprehensive compilation of all Incivek completed clinical trials by reporting group. The report offers comprehensive data set at the most atomic level of clinical trials & is the basis for FDA approvals & prescription choices. It also includes information and data relating to study details, phase, efficacy and safety comparison, sponsor, investigator, collaborator, and other key parameters. The report is built using data and information sourced from multiple data sources. Scope: - Data on the number of clinical trials conducted in the US - Completed clinical trials data by reporting group, phase, sponsor, number of patients recruited and investigator details - Efficacy and safety comparison by reporting groups Who should buy this type of report? - Pharmaceutical Companies - Hospitals See original here: Research and Markets: Incivek - Clinical Trials - Efficacy and Side Effects by Reporting Groups … Continue reading →

First Study of Online Conversation about Drug Side Effects Reveals Opportunity to Analyze Social Media to Capture Patient Perceptions of Therapies, Barriers to Adherence Newswise PHILADELPHIA -- In the first study to examine discussion of drug side effects on Internet message boards, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that breast cancer survivors taking the commonly prescribed adjuvant therapy known as aromatase inhibitors (AIs) often detailed in these forums troublesome symptoms resulting from the drugs, and they were apt to report discontinuing the treatment or switching to a different drug in the same class. The findings are published online this week in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. With 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States today the largest group of cancer survivors researchers say the findings have broad implications for physician communication with patients about these issues to help to promote proper adherence and inform patient-to-patient discussion online. Both the availability and anonymity provided by message boards and increasingly, other forms of social media such as Twitter and Facebook offer patients a place to voice concerns and connect with an audience of peers in similar situations. This type of social … Continue reading →