The FDA is reporting that certain drugs used to treat tremors associated with Parkinson's disease actually increase the risk of pathological gambling. The latest results are consistent with earlier observations and add to evidence that Parkinson's drugs may lead to impulsive behavior as they make up for depleted dopamine, a brain chemical whose deficiency marks the disease. The researchers...
In a Wall St. Journal article published today, many patients are told to use drugs with black box warning in spite of these drugs being unsuitable for them. A new study of medicines prescribed in the U.S. has found that many patients are told to use drugs with "black box" warnings even though those drugs aren't suitable for their medical needs.In a study to be published in today's Archives of...
The following story ran in The Globe and Mail newspaper:Samantha Foldi faces life as a widow from her wheelchair. For nearly 10 years, since a car accident left her partially paralyzed, she relied on her husband Jim for so much. He quit his construction job to help with her rehab and to care for their four children. He once rescued them from a fire, lowering his wife to safety out a bedroom...
In an article reported this morning in the Arizona Republic, a study measuring electric shocks from a Taser stun gun found that it was 39 times more powerful than the manufacturer claimed, raising new questions about the weapon's safety.The study, published last month in the peer-reviewed Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, concluded that the shocks are powerful enough to...
It's been a little less than two months since a new, but little publicized seat belt law went into effect in Florida. The new law allows police officers to stop drivers and occupants of vehicles who are not using seat belts. The catch is that they have to be under 18 years old in order to be stopped. This law is aimed at preventing teenagers and children from dying in accidents because...
Merck could have immediately warned Vioxx patients that the drug might cause an increased risk of heart attacks rather than waiting two years before issuing a warning, according to a former FDA official. Richard Kapit said there was plenty of time to alert the public before Richard "Dickie" Irvin began taking Vioxx, which his widow claims caused his fatal heart attack after a month on the drug...
A former Escambia County deputy accused of illegally shocking a Pensacola woman with a Taser stun gun is expected to plead guilty next week, federal court documents show.The deputy shocked the Pensacola woman 4 times with the Taser after responding to a possible child abuse incident.
The chairman of an outside committee of medical experts that advises the Food and Drug Administration on drug-safety issues said Friday the agency's own drug-safety oversight board needed to be more open and transparent. The chairman of the committee recommended that the FDA add new members to its oversight board.
I've lived in Florida now for more than 25 years. One thing you notice quickly here besides the weather is the number of elderly drivers. According to 2002-03 statistics, there were almost 15 million drivers in the state of Florida. Out of that 15 million, over 2.2 million were between the ages of 65 and 74. Approximately 250,000 drivers were over the age of 85. At least 20% of this 250,000...
In a surprise move, a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted to recommend that stimulant drugs widely prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder carry strong "black box" warnings about potential cardiovascular risks.The warning proposed by a member of the committee would say that the drugs have been associated with increases in blood pressure and heart rate, which...