Unfortunately, in this 21st-century world of ours, it has become a familiar headline: “Major Drug Maker Finds Toxin in Popular Medication.” This time, the drugmaker is Pfizer, and the toxin is N-nitroso-quinapril, a nitrosamine linked to several cancers, including lung, brain, liver, kidney, bladder, stomach…
Recent research has linked Elmiron, the only FDA-approved medication to treat a bladder condition called interstitial cystitis, to potentially serious vision problems. Interstitial cystitis is commonly known as painful bladder syndrome. Patients experience painful and frequent trips to the bathroom, sometimes up to 60 times…
Zantac, a heartburn medication that became a household name after its release in 1983, was discontinued in 2020 after a small pharmacy startup called Valisure tested its active ingredient, ranitidine. They discovered alarmingly high amounts of a chemical called N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. NDMA is a…
Recent research has shown that using Injectafer, a prescription medication for patients with insufficient iron levels could cause a severe case of hypophosphatemia (HPP). This disorder can lead to coma, seizures and death if not treated. And although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
Last September, thousands of families across the country who have been devastated by opioid addiction breathed a sigh of relief when Purdue Pharma, the manufacturers of OxyContin, agreed to a $4.5 billion bankruptcy settlement. Purdue’s owners, the Sackler family, also found relief in the possible…
Elmiron is a prescription medication used to treat interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as painful bladder syndrome. It is the only oral treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Recent studies have found a connection between Elmiron and severe vision problems, particularly…
Injectafer, the world’s most popular treatment for iron deficiency anemia (IDA), is now available for children one year old and up. People with iron deficiency anemia don’t have enough iron to create hemoglobin, a protein molecule found in red blood cells that transports oxygen from…
Zantac (ranitidine), released in 1983, was a popular heartburn medication available in both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription forms. There were nearly 14 million prescriptions issued for it in 2019. Ranitidine, a type of drug called an H2 blocker, treats heartburn by reducing stomach acid. Eating…
Nearly 10 million Americans abused prescription opioids in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Between 1999-2019, about 500,000 Americans overdosed on addictive pain relief drugs like methadone, Oxycontin and Vicodin. Cities and communities across the country continue to cope with…
In the last three months, several drugs have faced recalls due to unacceptable levels of nitrosamines, human carcinogens. The tainted drugs have included medicine for stomach issues, drugs for high blood pressure and diabetes, and a treatment to help people stop smoking cigarettes. Nitrosamines have…