Category Archives: Drug Side Effects

(CBS News) A male birth control pill advanced one step closer to reality, a team of cancer and fertility researchers announced Thursday after their latest discovery. Prescription drugs that lead double lives Sperm gene discovery may lead to male birth control, scientists say Scientists had been researching a small molecular compound called JQ1, which was meant to block a cancer-causing gene called "BRD4." The compound had previously been shown effective in staving off lung cancer and blood cancers, like leukemia and multiple myeloma, in earlier studies. Part of the problem with finding a male birth control pill is the challenge of getting a drug across the blood-testis barrier. Just like the blood-brain barrier regulates what cells and compounds come in and out of the brain, the blood-testis barrier physically separates blood vessels and the sperm-producing seminiferous tubules that are found in the testes. That's when Dr. James Bradner, an oncology researcher at the Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston who had been researching JQ1, wanted to see if the molecule was small enough to cross the blood-testis barrier. He was curious if the compound would affect the BRDT sperm-producing gene associated with that family of proteins he'd been researching for … Continue reading →

A new, retrospective, study reveals that Propecia, the popular hair loss medication, puts men at risk for depression. Propecia (finasteride 1 mg) belongs to a class of drugs known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, or 5-ARIs. Propecia is approved to treat male pattern baldness and works by preventing the conversion of androgen testosterone to DHT, a hormone critical to male sexual performance. In April, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ordered new warnings for the Propecia label detailing possible long-lasting male sexual side effects associated with the drugs. We recently wrote that another new study reported that sexual side effects that sometimes accompany Propecia use could be long lasting. Propecia sexual side effects often include erectile dysfunction, low libido, trouble having an orgasm, and shrinking and painful genitals. As we reported previously, Merck changed the Propecia label in Europe several years ago to warn that the drug could lead to permanent erectile dysfunction. Until the FDA ordered the April label change, warnings provided to U.S. users of the drug suggested that these problems typically resolve. Now, it seems, that younger men who had taken Propecia and experienced its sexual side effects were also diagnosed with high rates of depressive symptoms; … Continue reading →

Woods joins Sophiris as BPH drug candidate moves into pivotal Phase 3 trials SAN DIEGO , CA and VANCOUVER , Aug. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Sophiris Bio Inc. (SHS.TO) today announced the appointment ofRandall E. Woodsas Chief Executive Officer effective August 16 , 2012.Mr. Woods brings almost 40 years of relevant industry experience to Sophiris, including past roles as CEO at Sequel Pharmaceuticals, NovaCardia Inc., and Corvas International. Mr. Woodstakes the helm as Sophiris prepares to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 trial for its lead compound, PRX302, a highly targeted treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate). Mr. Woods ' appointment is the final step of an operational realignment that began in 2011, led by Executive Chairman and President Lars Ekman , M.D., Ph.D., to focus on the development of PRX302 for BPH. Since relocating to San Diego , Sophiris has recruited a management team that has achieved more than twenty drug approvals, including blockbuster pharmaceuticals. "Randy's blend of executive experience in biotech research and development, pharmaceutical sales and marketing, coupled with successful fundraising and value creation makes him an ideal fit for leading Sophiris into the next phase of growth, beginning with advancing PRX302 into pivotal trials … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration warned physicians and caregivers on Wednesday about the risks of giving the pain reliever codeine to children who have just had surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The FDA cited three cases where children died after being given codeine after their tonsils or adenoids were removed. A fourth child suffered nonfatal respiratory depression. The agency said the children were given doses of codeine that were in the typical dose range. It advised health care professionals and parents to be aware of the risks of codeine, and said children should be given the drug at the lowest effective dose possible and for the shortest possible time on as-needed basis. The FDA noted some people metabolize codeine much faster and more completely than others, leading to greater risks of overdose and side effects, which can include death. It said the children who died exhibited evidence of being in that group. If children given codeine suffer side effects like unusual sleepiness, difficulty in waking, confusion, or difficulty breathing, the FDA said parents and caregivers should stop giving them the drug and seek medical attention. The agency said it is investigating whether there have been other … Continue reading →

FRIDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Some patients will feel better after taking a medication even if the drug doesn't actually do anything to treat their condition. It's called the "placebo effect." But there's another side to the power of suggestion: Patients may develop symptoms and side effects purely because they've been told about them. A new report analyzes the so-called "nocebo effect" and suggests that doctors learn how to better "exploit the power of words" for the benefit of patients. Patients themselves are crucial players, too, said study lead author Dr. Winfried Hauser, an associate professor of psychosomatic medicine at the Klinikum Saarbrucken in Germany. "It is not only the power of the mostly unintentionally negative words of physicians and nurses, but also the power of negative expectations, negative experiences and fears of the patients," Hauser said. The report, which recently appeared in the journal Deutsches Arzteblatt International, examines existing research about the nocebo effect and finds that scientists and doctors have spent very little time trying to understand it. About 2,200 studies have examined the placebo effect, but only a few dozen explored the nocebo effect. In one study, researchers randomly divided 50 patients with chronic back pain … Continue reading →

/enn_original_news/article/44778 There are always claims over fruit or fruit drinks and their health benefits. A daily glass of grapefruit juice lets patients derive the same benefits from an anti-cancer drug as they would get from more than three times as much of the drug by itself, according to a new clinical trial. The combination could help patients avoid side effects associated with high doses of the drug and reduce the cost of the medication. Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine study the effects that foods can have on the uptake and elimination of drugs used for cancer treatment. In a study published in August in Clinical Cancer Research, they show that eight ounces a day of grapefruit juice can slow the bodys metabolism of a drug called sirolimus, which has been approved for transplant patients but may also help many people with cancer. Grapefruit is an excellent source of many nutrients and phytochemicals that contribute to a healthy diet. Grapefruit is a good source of vitamin C, contains the fiber pectin, and the pink and red hues contain the beneficial antioxidant lycopene. Studies have shown grapefruit helps lower cholesterol, and there is evidence that the seeds have antioxidant properties. … Continue reading →

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) -- A new oral medication may be available soon for people with rheumatoid arthritis who have not gained relief from other medicines. As rheumatoid arthritis progresses, people often struggle with everyday tasks and find walking difficult. To help combat those issues, patients with severe forms of the disease often need drugs that must be injected, typically twice a month. The new drug, tofacitinib, was approved by an advisory panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May and could be green-lighted by the FDA this month. However, the drug carries the risk of serious side effects, as do injectable treatments. The risks include blood and lymphatic system disorders, infections, and cancer. "This is an advance, but it's not a cure-all," said Dr. Roy Fleischmann, study author and clinical professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. "We have not cured rheumatoid arthritis." Rheumatoid arthritis, which differs from age-related osteoarthritis, is a debilitating autoimmune disorder, meaning the body attacks its own tissues. It is characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. The new drug, called a JAK inhibitor, blocks signals that activate inflammatory immune responses involved … Continue reading →

The structure of tunicamycin. (Phys.org) -- A new project is investigating whether altering the production of an antibiotic will remove side effects preventing it being used clinically to battle drug-resistant superbugs. Tunicamycin is an antibiotic produced by the soil bacterium Streptomyces that was discovered 40 years ago. It works by blocking cell wall production in bacteria in a clinically novel way, making it potentially a very attractive candidate for treating antibiotic-resistant pathogens. However, it hasnt been developed for use as a drug as it also affects crucial enzymes in our own bodies, making it toxic. In 2010 Professor Mervyn Bibb of the John Innes Centre, in collaboration with the group of Professor Ben Davis at the University of Oxford, discovered the cluster of genes Streptomyces uses to make tunicamycin. Now, with 460,000 of funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, a new project will work out the steps Streptomyces uses to synthesise tunicamycin. The ultimate aim is rationally alter the synthesis in such a way that the antibiotic is still active against bacteria but lacks the serious side effects. Knowledge of the genes is vital to understanding the biosynthesis of tunicamycin, as it allows the enzymes and components … Continue reading →

(CBS News) Researchers have found that a significant proportion of men who developed persistent sexual side effects from using finasteride - known by its brand name Propecia - also suffer from depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. "The potential life-threatening side-effects associated with finasteride should prompt clinicians to have serious discussions with their patients," Dr. Michael S. Irwig, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said in the press release. Finasteride is used to treat male pattern hair loss - the thinning of the hair on the scalp leading to a receding hairline or balding on the top of the head - according to the National Institutes of Health. It can also be used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy or enlargement of the prostate gland - under the brand name Proscar -which can cause problems such as frequent and difficult urination and the sudden inability to urinate. The type looked at in the study was finasteride as found in Propecia. Both Propecia and Proscar are manufactured by Merck. Previous research has tied the drug to sexual side effects, and in April 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Main Category: Cancer / Oncology Article Date: 08 Aug 2012 - 12:00 PDT Current ratings for: Grapefruit Juice Helps Anti-Cancer Drug Work Better 5 (1 votes) Scientists from Chicago's University of Medicine have researched the potential impact of foods on the uptake and elimination of drugs used for cancer treatment and discovered that eight ounces a day of grapefruit juice can slow the body's metabolism of a drug called sirolimus, an approved drug for transplant patients, which may also be of benefit to many suffering from cancer. They observed that sirolimus levels were raised by 350% in patients who drank eight ounces of grapefruit juice per day, and by 500% in those taking ketoconazole, a drug that slows down the metabolism. Director of the study Ezra Cohen, MD, a cancer specialist at the University of Chicago Medicine said: Grapefruit juice can inhibit enzymes in the intestine, which break down sirolimus and several other drugs. The effect starts within a few hours of what the researchers refer to as "grapefruit juice administration," and gradually subsides over a few days. Cohen and his team conducted three simultaneous phase-1 trials of sirolimus in which 138 patients with incurable cancer and no … Continue reading →