DRUG RECALLS: JULY 2011
JULY 2011: SLIM FORTE SLIMMING CAPSULE AND SLIM FORTE DOUBLE POWER SLIMMING CAPSULES RECALLED DUE TO UNDECLARED DRUG INGREDIENT CALLED SIBUTRAMINE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE U.S MARKET IN OCTOBER 2010 FOR SAFETY REASONS. THESE PRODUCTS POSE A THREAT TO CONSUMERS BECAUSE SIBUTRAMINE IS KNOWN TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE BLOOD PRESSURE OR PULSE RATE IN SOME PATIENTS AND MAY PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, CONGESTION HEART FAILURE, ARRHYTHMIAS, OR STROKE. THESE PRODUCTS MAY ALSO INTERACT IN LIFE THREATENING WAYS WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS A CONSUMER MAY BE TAKING.
JULY 2011: TAMIFLU (OSELTAMIVIR PHOSPHATE) FOR ORAL SUSPENSION LABEL HAS BEEN CHANGED TO A NEW CONCENTRATION OF 6MG/ML. IT USE TO BE A CONCENTRATION OF 12MG/ML BUT IT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF PRESCRIBING AND DOSING CONFUSION THAT CAN LEAD TO MEDICATION ERRORS. THE LOWER CONCENTRATION OF TAMIFLU IS LESS LIKELY TO BECOME FROTHY WHEN SHAKEN, WHICH HELPS TO ENSURE AN ACCURATE MEASUREMENT.
JULY 2011: ORAL OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS (BISPHOSPHONATES)MAY HAVE A POTENTIAL RISK OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER.
JULY 2011: ANTI-ARRHYTHMIC DRUG MULTAQ (DRONEDARONE)HAS AN INCREASED RISK OF DEATH OR SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN PATIENTS AFTER UNDERGOING STUDIES SUCH AS STROKE AND HOSPITALIZATION FOR HEART FAILURE IN PATIENTS.
JULY 2011: CHANTIX (VARENICLINE)HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR AN UPDATED LABEL BY THE FDA STATING NEW EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF THE DRUG IN TWO PATIENT POPULATIONS WHO MAY BENEFIT GREATLY FROM GIVING UP SMOKING--THOSE WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND THOSE WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD). THE LABEL ALSO INCLUDES ALTERNATIVE DIRECTIONS FOR PATIENTS TO SELECT A QUIT SMOKING DATA.
JULY 2011: ANTIBACTERIAL MEDICATION ZYVOX (LINEZOLID)HAS REPORTS STATING THAT PATIENTS TAKING THIS DRUG CAN CAUSE SERIOUS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) REACTIONS WHEN TAKEN WITH PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS THAT WORK THROUGH THE SEROTONIN SYSTEM OF THE BRAIN.
JULY 2011: METHYLENE BLUE HAS REPORTS STATING THAT PATIENTS TAKING THIS DRUG CAN CAUSE SERIOUS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) REACTIONS WHEN TAKEN WITH CERTAIN PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS THAT WORK THROUGH THE SEROTONIN SYSTEM OF THE BRAIN.
