Five Drugs Cited as Potential Health Risks

The Washington Post ^ | November 18, 2004 | Diedtra Henderson

[neverdem]

FDA 'Incapable' of Protecting Public, Federal Reviewer Says

The Associated Press

The American public is "virtually defenseless" if another medication such as Vioxx proves to be unsafe after it is approved for sale, a government drug safety reviewer told a congressional committee Thursday.

"I would argue that the FDA as currently configured is incapable of protecting America against another Vioxx," said David Graham, who warned that the arthritis drug had been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

He told the Senate Finance Committee that there were at least five other drugs on the market today that should be looked at seriously to see whether they should remain there. He cited the acne drug Accutane, the weight loss drug Meridia, the anti-cholesterol drug Crestor, the pain reliever Bextra, and the asthma drug Serevent.

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, maker of Crestor, said it was confident that the drug was safe. "To date, the FDA has not given us any indication of a major concern regarding Crestor," said spokeswoman Emily Denney.

Tim Lindberg, a spokesman for Abbott Laboratories, said "science continues to support the safe use of Meridia to treat obesity, the leading health epidemic in the U.S."

Carolyn Glynn, spokeswoman for Roche Pharmaceuticals, maker of Accutane, said that "it's important to point out that this drug is reserved for a very very serious indication, that it does carry risks and that its very important for physicians, patients, pharmacists to monitor, to conform to all of the risk programs because this drug is extremely beneficial as long as its used safely and appropriately."

GlaxoSmithKline, maker of Serevent, issued a statement saying that it "stands firmly behind" the product, "which is safe and effective when used appropriately and in accordance with labeling and treatment guidelines."

Representatives of Pfizer, the manufacturer of Bextra...

[FITZ]

Some scare me --- but you can still find some who aren't that into drugs. A friend of mine's mother was gulping down handfuls of pills several times a day and her blood pressure was still out of control. When they moved, she found a new doctor who took her off all medications, prescribed one hour of walking every day --- rain or shine and a balanced diet but mostly fruit and vegetables. Her blood pressure soon fell. Maybe the pharmacuetical companies weren't too fond of him. Health care is big business and it's best to remember that.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I know and the sad part is that sometimes the effects of these medical mistakes are not reversible. We have a friend in a wheelchair, supposedly the victim of a statin drug. There are safe natural alternatives.

My mom is hopelessly addicted to Serax plus other drugs doctors have prescribed for her for anxiety, depression, etc.

This is the start of the horror stories I know. The horror stories are not the exception, they're the rule. That's the scary part.

[Osage Orange]

Serevent isn't supposed to be used as a "rescue" bronchodilator....It's generally used as a long-term, twice-daily maintenance treatment for asthma. More is not better, in the case of Serevent.

IMO, many times MDI's get a "bad rap" because they are misused. I've had pt's take 40-50 puffs of their MDI's ( Proventil, Combivent..) without checking their PF's, without calling their PCP.....before they eventually call for help, or it get's called for them.

I suspect many of these "warnings" are flawed in sampling.....but with just about any drug, there can be problems/abuses......

I guess for me...and other poster's here....most of these drugs, Advair, Spiriva, Foradil, Serevent, etc..etc...have made many people's life's much more livable than not.

All...FWIW-

[stands2reason]

What if your hand is hurting and there's nothing that is hurting it?
You could have a nerve disorder.

With brain disorders, there is no reason for the pain, because the brain isn't working right. Or do you believe the brain is the one organ that never fails?

BTW, drugs for depression aren't mood enhancers. They aren't at all like uppers and downers, and if working right, shouldn't interfere with normal emotions, which means, if bad things happen, you still experience emotional distress. Like NORMAL PEOPLE.

For most people taking drugs for mental illness, that's all they want-- to be normal.