Health Alert 238
Dear Subscriber:
Looks like the Vioxx disaster was only the first tremor in a major quake rumbling through the FDA. Now five more drugs are under fire over safety issues.
Dr. David Graham, an FDA researcher, recently testified against the FDA in a Senate Finance Committee hearing. He said that we face what may be the single greatest drug safety catastrophe in history. And he condemned the agency as feckless and far too likely to surrender to the desires of drug makers.
Today we’ll take a look at five drugs currently on the market that have serious safety issues causing this new controversy over the FDA.
1. Accutane. Dr. Graham says the FDA needs to do a better job of restricting sales of this acne medication. It can cause birth defects, and it’s linked to depression and suicidal behavior.
2. Crestor. This is the only cholesterol-lowering drug on the market that was linked to deaths by acute kidney failure in its pre-market testing. Death by rhabdomyolysis (a muscle bursting disease) only occurred in the aftermarket with the other similar drugs. But incredibly, the FDA approved it anyway.
3. Bextra. Studies of this painkiller show it increases the risk of heart attack. In fact, an analysis of 6,000 patients showed the risks of Bextra to be WORSE than Vioxx. Bextra can also cause a deadly skin rash.
4. Meridia. This weight-loss drug increases blood pressure to dangerous levels. Italy already banned it. And a public service group wants it banned in the U.S. after being associated with 124 serious cardiac problems, including 49 deaths.
5. Serevent. Studies of this asthma inhaler were halted last year after an interim check revealed that it can make asthma worse! It caused life-threatening episodes. But, again the FDA has not initiated a specific study into the risk and continues to allow Serevent to be sold to asthma sufferers.
They continue to claim that Serevent is “safe”, after studies show that this asthma drug can make asthma worse. But it’s “safe” to peddle to the public? Meanwhile Serevent rakes in close to a billion dollars a year.
Incidents like these continue to undermine public trust in drug safety and the FDA. Now the natural alternatives I recommend look better than ever. Stay tuned and stay informed about your health.
Join me here again next week when we’ll look at the emerging connection between high cholesterol and hormones.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears MD