One Death Linked to New Antibiotic

The Washington Post ^ | January 21, 2006 | From News Services

[neverdem]

FINDINGS

Researchers reported three cases of severe liver problems yesterday, including one death, in patients at a North Carolina hospital after they began taking a novel antibiotic.

The Food and Drug Administration said it was reviewing an unknown number of cases involving the drug, telithromycin, marketed as Ketek, and consulting with counterparts overseas. The FDA approved the drug in 2004.

One patient at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte died after taking telithromycin. Another required and received a liver transplant, while the third recovered from drug-induced hepatitis after treatment with Ketek was stopped.

--snip--

Oral Cancer Study False, Journal Says

The New England Journal of Medicine became the second medical journal to report it had published false information from a Norwegian scientist who has done research on oral cancer.

Last weekend, Norwegian officials said the researcher admitted falsifying data for a study published in the Lancet.

The American journal said a paper it published on April 26, 2001, contained two photographs claiming to represent two patients with different stages of oral cancer but actually showed the same patient. A second article, published April 1, 2004, was believed to involve the same set of "patients."

The journal has not retracted the studies but sent a "letter of concern" to the researcher's hospital. The researcher, Jon Sudbo of the...

--snip--

Diet Drug May Pose Safety Risks

A proposed over-the-counter version of the diet drug Xenical may pose safety problems for some patients, FDA staff said in documents released yesterday.

An FDA advisory panel of experts is due to meet on Monday to consider GlaxoSmithKline's petition to sell a half-dose version of Xenical without a prescription.

FDA reviewers said early data showed some diabetics and other patients who are not supposed to take the drug did not understand the risk after reading the label.

[bubbleb]

FDA reviewers said early data showed some diabetics and other patients who are not supposed to take the drug did not understand the risk after reading the label.

O good grief. They think like Democrat victims. Can't take personal responsibility for reading.

[flashbunny]

release the trial lawyers...

[Smokin' Joe]

Can't take personal responsibility for reading.

Wif a goot publick skule edumafication you kin reed reel goot to.

[LittleBoPeep]

I can just hear the lawyers saying, "Oh boy! Someone else to sue for B-I-G bucks!!"

[drlevy88]

It would be useful to get "the rest of the story." A number of drugs pose a danger of liver toxicity and if taken together the danger is worse. If it was the telithromycin alone that k.o.'d a healthy liver, that would be different than if the patient was also maxing out on Tylenol and had a bad drinking habit.

[Paul C. Jesup]

FDA reviewers said early data showed some diabetics and other patients who are not supposed to take the drug did not understand the risk after reading the label.

There is a darwin award somewhere in this.

[RedCell]

Wonderful! After about 2 months, I'm almost back on my feet after a bout with what I was told was "lingular pneumonia" (pretty good name, I guess, as this sucker sure has lingered long enough!). I was on Ketek as one of the 3 anti-biotics I've been on during this battle. Well, at least I'm still alive but I'd better go get my liver checked out, eh?

[neverdem]

O good grief. They think like Democrat victims. Can't take personal responsibility for reading.

Reading proficiency down among college grads, tests show

College students lack critical intellectual skills

Trial lawyer heaven!

[neverdem]

I got swamped. One not read yet.

Sweet solution to fighting cavities

Mutation found that cures heart disease

Technology tracks goods, now people This could be good for demented folks.

Woman Becomes Quadruple Amputee After Giving Birth {Not a Joke} This sounds awful, but the hospital has probably been told by its lawyers to say nothing.

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[lizma]

Yeah, I agree patients need to take a roll in their health care but the primary gate keeper has to be the docs. If the doc hasn't taken the time to read the label, why do we think the patient will?

Drugs unfortunately aren't benign fixer uppers. They're very idiosyncratic. Years ago I took a non-narcotic pain reliever for a badly sprained knee. It was fabulous. 10 minutes later after taking the med there was no pain and no narcotic induced fog. But some people had a reaction and died and it was taken off the market.

One of the most deadly drugs out there is aspirin and that is still over the counter. Whats interesting is that our ancestors realized that some tree barks had this quality and went for it.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the post/ping. Interesting information.

[Caipirabob]

I was on Ketek as one of the 3 anti-biotics I've been on during this battle.

I've been on it, too. I don't think you're in the high risk group unless you're a Diabetic. That group tends to be high risk with many, many medications.

Yet even so, modern medicine has made this a bearable condition in which one can live a relatively normal, comfortable life.

Here's to hoping the victims are few and far between.

[bubbleb]

We just have a slight disagreement over who has the ultimate responsibility for one's health.
Yes the physician must be competent and keep abreast of medical treatments.
How medicines will react is tested on the general and side effects may only be adverse in few individuals.
The individual only has about 10-15minutes of the doctor's time during an appointment. How much information is going to be exchanged?
I believe with all the evidence based medical information available to us individually, that it is our responsibility to search information, discern quality and take it to discuss with our doctors.
It is not a perfect system, but it is far better that socialized medicine where we have very little control.

[La Enchiladita]

I was prescribed Ketek about a year ago for an asthmatic bronchitis infection. I took one dose and soon after had the worst hand cramps -- seizures really -- I had ever had. Prior to that, I had read the circular in the package which stated to notify your doctor if you're on a beta blocker. I did and she stated my dosage was so small, it didn't matter (she prescribed the Ketek knowing I was taking the bb). I was sure I had a contraindication reaction, and did not continue the Ketek.

I recovered from the upper respiratory ailment and I am alive today. Really ... I am. I know I would never go near Ketek again. Something ain't right with that stuff.