Monthly Archives: November 2011

Prescription Drugs Deaths At An All Time High

According to a Fox news report, more people die in America every year from prescription drug abuse than die from heroin and cocaine combined.  This leads us to the questions: Are doctors over prescribing? Are doctors closely monitoring drug usage of patients? Are people illegally obtaining prescription drugs?   According to the Centers for Disease Control, most people who die from prescription drug overdose are taking someone else’s medicines, medicines that we left in the medicine cabinet, medicines that were given to a friend or a relative, maybe innocently, maybe maliciously.   In a study done by the CDC it was found that enough narcotics are prescribed every year to medicate each and every adult in America every day for a month.   Thomas Frieden, Director of the CDC, has said “It’s astonishing.  When I went to medical school, we were incorrectly assured, don’t worry, if patients have short-term pain,…
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Propecia Lawsuits Filed Against Merck

Several lawsuits have been filed against Merck Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of Propecia, Propecia is used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, enlargement of the prostate gland) and baldness.  The lawsuits accuse Merck of downplaying the risks associated with Propecia and failing to warn patients about the severity of sexual side effects. The side effects that have plagued men are:  decreased libido, decreased semen output, and depression.  Because so many men feel embarrassment about the side effects of Propecia, scores have chosen to remain anonymous or to not report their conditions. According to a study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine in March 2011, drugs in the same class as Propecia are linked to a variety of sexual side effects.  It is possible that they are also linked to an increased risk of the development of breast tissue. In a separate study in March 2011, the Journal of Sexual Medicine researches…
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Study Finds Steroid Given To Preemies After Birth May Harm Brain Growth

Preemies are sometimes given steroids known as glucocorticoids after birth to improve lung function and to stabilize low blood pressure. These are common complications of being born prematurely.  “Premature” is defined as being born under 32 weeks of gestation. A new study conducted at University of British Columbia and University of CA, San Francisco shows that preemies given the steroids hydrocortisone or dexamethasone had on average a 10 percent smaller cerebellum than premature babies who were not given the drugs. Lead study author Dr. Emily Tam said: “Their cerebellums were growing slower, and we know from other studies that a smaller cerebellum in preemies is associated with poorer outcomes.”  The cerebellum is the area of the brain that is associated with not only motor skills but also learning and behavior. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends avoiding high dose dexamethasone in babies after birth. The study did not involve…
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