RESEARCH - Reports of serious drug reactions hit record

[Guest guest]

Reports of serious drug reactions hit record

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

22 Oct 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of serious drug reactions and deaths

reported to the government shot up in the first three months of this

year to set a new record, a health industry watchdog group said

Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration received nearly 21,000 reports of

serious drug reactions, including more than 4,800 deaths, said an

analysis of federal data by the Institute for Safe Medication

Practices.

Two drugs accounted for a large share of the latest reports. One was

the blood thinner heparin. Most of the drug's problems were prompted

by tainted heparin imported from China. The other was Chantix, a new

kind of anti-smoking drug from Pfizer.

Chantix, which had the most reports of any medication, works directly

in a smoker's brain to ease withdrawal symptoms. It also blocks the

pleasurable effects of nicotine if the patient is tempted to light up

again. Earlier this year, the FDA warned that Chantix may be linked to

psychiatric problems, including suicidal behavior and vivid dreams.

Pfizer said Wednesday it stands by Chantix, and that the volume of

reports might be linked to publicity about the side effects.

" The FDA is aware of the increasing number of reports, and we take

them seriously, " said spokesman DiFrancesco. But officials

are not sure whether reports are up because problems are getting

worse, or simply due to greater awareness about drug safety issues.

***********************************************************

Read the full article here:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gidrRA0sOpZ1bo09VtWxz2yt95oQD93VRR7G1

Not an MD

[Guest guest]

Another good article, . I've heard about the serious side-effects

of Chantix before - of course Pfizer is going to stand by its product

- it could be financial suicide to admit anything else - grrrrr!!

Thank God I was able to quit smoking cold-turkey Two Years, Six

Months, Six Days, 6 Hours and 50 Minutes ago.

I think the reports of serious side effects are up because people are

communicating about these much better than years before. So many

people would either just stop the medication and say nothing or just

think they needed to " tough it out " . Personally, I ALWAYS think its a

good idea to run a potential side effect by the doctor or pharmacist

to make sure it is nothing serious.....Doreen

>

> Reports of serious drug reactions hit record

>

>

> By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

> 22 Oct 2008

>

>

> WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of serious drug reactions and deaths

> reported to the government shot up in the first three months of this

> year to set a new record, a health industry watchdog group said

> Wednesday.

>

> The Food and Drug Administration received nearly 21,000 reports of

> serious drug reactions, including more than 4,800 deaths, said an

> analysis of federal data by the Institute for Safe Medication

> Practices.

>

> Two drugs accounted for a large share of the latest reports. One was

> the blood thinner heparin. Most of the drug's problems were prompted

> by tainted heparin imported from China. The other was Chantix, a new

> kind of anti-smoking drug from Pfizer.

>

> Chantix, which had the most reports of any medication, works

> directly in a smoker's brain to ease withdrawal symptoms. It also

> blocks the pleasurable effects of nicotine if the patient is

> tempted to light up again. Earlier this year, the FDA warned that

> Chantix may be linked to psychiatric problems, including suicidal

> behavior and vivid dreams. Pfizer said Wednesday it stands by

> Chantix, and that the volume of reports might be linked to

> publicity about the side effects.

>

> " The FDA is aware of the increasing number of reports, and we take

> them seriously, " said spokesman DiFrancesco. But

> officials are not sure whether reports are up because problems are

> getting worse, or simply due to greater awareness about drug safety

> issues.

>

>

> ***********************************************************

> Read the full article here:

>

> http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gidrRA0sOpZ1bo09VtWxz2yt95oQD93VRR7G1

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>