Texas Health & Safety Legal News

Chantix Linked to Depression, Suicidal Thoughts and Aggressive Behavior

The US Food and Drug Administraion is reviewing reports of suicidal thoughts and aggressive behavior in people who have taken Chantix, a prescription medication used to quit smoking. Chantix works on specific areas of the brain, helps people give up smoking by providing some satisfaction that nicoti

By The Legal Examiner

/ 21 Nov 2007

Accutane Linked to Lower Serotonin Levels and Depression

Accutane is prescribed to treat acne, but has been linked to depression and other psychiatric issues including over 250 suicides in the US. Accutane may cause decreased serotonin levels, which can lead to depression and aggressiveness.In the late ’80s, Accutane went under fire due to the risk of bir

By The Legal Examiner

/ 19 Nov 2007

Viagra, Levitra, Cialis, Revatio Patients Warned of Risk of Hearing Loss

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed healthcare professionals of reports of sudden decreases or loss of hearing following the use of PDE5 inhibitors, Viagra, Levitra, Cialis for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and Revatio for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. In some

By The Legal Examiner

/ 18 Oct 2007

Microwave Popcorn Could Cause Serious Lung Disease

Major popcorn manufacturers who use Diacetyl in their popcorn have started removing the “buttery smalling” chemical from their products. This comes more than a year (and consumption of more than 750 million pounds of popcorn) after the EPA produced a study warning Diacetyl poses potential health haz

By The Legal Examiner

/ 11 Sep 2007

MRI and MRA Contrast Dye containing Gadolinium can cause rare disease NSF/NSD

A contrast is sometimes used in MRI (“magnetic resonance imaging”) and always used in MRA (“magnetic resonance angiography”). These tests use powerful magnets and radio waves to make images of a patient’s internal issues or blood vessels. During these procedures, a contrast dye is injected into the

By The Legal Examiner

/ 10 Sep 2007

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Linked to Gadolinium

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a newly described systemic disorder that occurs in patients with renal insufficiency. The functional consequences of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis are often devastating and may be fatal. Since nephrogenic systemic fibrosis develops after exposure to gadolinium-contai

By The Legal Examiner

/ 10 Sep 2007

Diabetes Drugs Avandia and Actos Pose Risk of Heart Failure

Diabetes patients taking Avandia or Actos are two times as likely to develop heard problems, according to a report published in the August issue of Diabetes Care.An advisory panel hearing Monday will examine whether Avandia’s cardiovascular risks warrant a stronger warning label following a U.S. gov

By The Legal Examiner

/ 27 Jul 2007

FDA scrutinized by Lawmakers ofer Avandia Issues

In one of the latest developments in the Avandia diabetes drug issue, a group of lawmakers sent a letter to FDA asking Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach to explain the agency’s policy on conflicts of interest regarding hiring employees directly from drug companies regulated by the FDA.FDA spokesman

By The Legal Examiner

/ 11 Jun 2007

Avandia Heart Risks Known Years Ago

Accoring to a report by the New York Post, a leading diabetes doctor sent the Food and Drug Administration a letter to the FDA warning of the heart risks of the drug Avandia seven years ago. According to documents from 2000 and 2001 the FDA reprimanded the drug’s maker for playing down safety concer

By The Legal Examiner

/ 25 May 2007

Avandia Poses risk of Heart Attack and Other Heart Disease

FDA informed healthcare professionals of a potential safety issue related to Avandia (rosiglitazone). An on-going analysis of safety data for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus using Avandia showed differing rates of ischemic cardiovascular events including heart attack or heart-related adver

By The Legal Examiner

/ 21 May 2007

FDA Recommends Suicidal Warnings Added to Anti-Depressants

FDA notified healthcare professionals that the Agency proposed that makers of all antidepressant medications update the existing black box warning on the prescribing information for their products to include warnings about the increased risks of suicidal thinking and behavior in young adults ages 18

By The Legal Examiner

/ 17 May 2007

ED Products True Man and Energy Max Dangers

FDA informed consumers and healthcare professionals regarding the dangers associated with the purchase or use of True Man or Energy Max products promoted and sold as dietary supplements throughout the United States. Both products, promoted as sexual enhancement products and as treatment for erectile

By The Legal Examiner

/ 15 May 2007