Category: News Archive

A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that cocoa lowers blood pressure more than tea, probably because the polyphenols in cocoa are more effective than those in tea. So cocoa-rich products may have a place in a diet to lower blood pressure. Taubert and colleagues reported that the effect of cocoa on blood […]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of the risk of death from dosing errors with hydrocodone plus chlorpheniramine extended-release suspension (Tussionex Pennkinetic, UCB). Deaths have been reported in children under six, who are particularly sensitive to hydrocodone's effect of slowing breathing; the medicine must not be given to children under six. Overdoses […]

According to a report at the 2008 annual conference of the American College of Preventive Medicine, primary school pupils, especially those at high risk of diabetes and obesity, can be taught a healthy lifestyle through a nine-month school programme. Dr Campfield, a nutrition researcher at Colorado State University, aimed to show the role of education […]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nexavar (sorafenib) to treat a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma when surgery isn't possible. The FDA had already approved it in 2005 for advanced kidney cancer. In a randomised clinical trial, patients who took Nexavar lived nearly three months longer on average than those […]

Chantix (varenicline), made by Pfizer, is used to help adult smokers quit. Since it went on sale, suicidal thoughts have been reported in some people taking it to stop smoking. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is gathering and analysing more data. Patients taking the drug are being asked about changes in mood, and […]

The Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded three laboratory grants to strengthen testing of food for radioactive materials, whether from accidental contamination or deliberate attack. The three laboratories are part of the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN). Each grant lasts three years and is worth $250,000 […]

A new medicine from Mylan and Forest Laboratories, nebivolol hydrochloride, a new beta-blocker, has been approved and will be sold as Bystolic. It can be used alone or with other medicines to treat high blood pressure. At doses of 10 mg or less, and in people who metabolise drugs quickly through the liver enzyme cytochrome […]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Voluven, a 6% hydroxyethyl starch colloid solution for injection, to prevent and treat dangerously low blood volume (hypovolaemia). It is made by Fresenius Kabi in Norway, and the starch has an average molecular weight of 130,000. Voluven expands the plasma in the circulation and draws fluid […]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Bayer has recalled some batches of its Contour TS blood glucose test strips, because they gave inaccurate blood sugar readings, 5–17% higher than the true value. The company said the faulty batches were made on new equipment, which it has since recalibrated, correcting the manufacturing fault. […]

Octapharma USA has recalled one batch of Octagam, an immunoglobulin for intravenous injection, after reports of allergic skin reactions. The reactions weren't life-threatening. According to the FDA, recalling one batch doesn't mean the medicine will disappear from the market; it means that batch didn't fully meet its specifications.

On 14 December 2007, two advisory committees of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted against allowing lovastatin 20 mg to be sold without a prescription (over the counter, OTC). At the joint meeting of the Nonprescription Drugs and Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs advisory committees, members discussed the need for more research on effectiveness […]

According to a new report from the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), bisphosphonates were no better than other osteoporosis medicines at treating osteoporosis or preventing fractures. Many medicines lower the risk of fractures in people with osteoporosis. The comparison included the bisphosphonates alendronate (Fosamax), etidronate (Didronel), ibandronate (Boniva), pamidronate (Aredia), risedronate (Actonel) […]