Posted today in Pharma Industry News

FDA targets unlawful internet sales of illegal prescription medicines during International Operation Pangea IX

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, announced that it took action this week against 4,402 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers. This effort was part of Operation Pangea IX, the Ninth Annual International Internet...

Posted today in Medical

Middle-Age Fitness Helps Ward Off Stroke Later

Physical fitness in middle age may lower your risk of stroke after 65, a new study finds. "It is becoming increasingly clear that healthy mid-life behaviors pay off as we age, and lower our risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke," said Dr. Ralph Sacco, chairman of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He was not involved...

Posted today in Medical

Older Runners Can Maintain Their 'Fuel Efficiency'

Runners over age 65 could burn oxygen at nearly the same rate as much younger runners, a new study finds. The rate of oxygen consumption is what researchers call "running economy." They found that even though the gait of older runners may change, they still maintain youthful energy levels, or good running economy, while exercising. "There's good evidence...

Posted 2 days ago in New Drug Approvals

Allergan Announces FDA Approval of Byvalson (nebivolol and valsartan) for Hypertension

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company, today announced the approval of Byvalson (nebivolol and valsartan) 5 mg/ 80 mg tablets, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure. Byvalson is the first and only fixed-dose combination (FDC) of a beta blocker (BB) and angiotensin...

Posted 3 days ago in FDA Alerts

Loperamide (Imodium): Drug Safety Communication - Serious Heart Problems With High Doses From Abuse and Misuse

ISSUE: FDA is warning that taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription diarrhea medicine loperamide (Imodium), including through abuse or misuse of the product, can cause serious heart problems that can lead to death. The risk of these serious heart problems, including abnormal heart rhythms, may also be...

Posted today in Medical

MS Stem Cell Therapy Succeeds But Poses Risks

A treatment combining chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant could represent a major advance against aggressive multiple sclerosis, experts say. This new treatment destroys the immune system with chemo and rebuilds it with the patient's own stem cells. Researchers say it stopped MS relapses and progression in 23 of 24 patients. According to the results...

Posted today in Medical

Health Tip: Recognizing Toenail Fungus

-- Tiny fungi can creep under your toenails and cause an infection, leading to a number of unpleasant symptoms. The American Podiatric Medical Association says signs of toenail fungus include nails that: Are darker white or more yellow than usual. Have a strong odor. Accumulate debris below the surface, such as white flecks. Become thick and may be...

Posted today in Medical

Health Tip: Fight Inflammation With Diet and Exercise

-- Inflammation may behind everything from pain to heart disease. But there are ways to fight it. Here are suggestions from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Fill at least half of your meal plate with fruits and vegetables. Include plenty of leafy greens and berries. Choose plant-based proteins, such as nuts, beans and seeds. Eat whole grains,...

Posted today in Medical

Health Highlights: June 10, 2016

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: WHO Advises Delaying Pregnancy in Zika-Affected Areas In order to avoid having babies with Zika-caused birth defects, women living in areas where the virus is circulating should consider delaying pregnancy, the World Health Organization says. Zika...

Posted today in Medical

'Hidden' Brain Injury a Challenge for Military Doctors

Soldiers who survive explosive blasts may suffer from a distinctive pattern of "hidden" brain injury, a small study finds. "Blast-related brain injuries are the signature injury of modern military conflicts," said study senior author Dr. Daniel Perl, of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, in Bethesda, Md. "Although routine imaging...

Recently added consumer and prescribing information: Zinbryta, Probuphine, Tecentriq, Bevespi Aerosphere, Venclexta, Descovy, Cinqair, Taltz, Odefsey, Briviact

Posted in Blog

Off-Label or Off-Limits? Should You Use A Drug For An Unapproved Use?

Off-Label Drug Use: What Is It? You may be surprised to learn that you have probably been prescribed a medication “off-label” at one point or another by your doctor. Maybe you’ve heard of “off-label” drug use in the news, but what does this really mean? “Off-label” use of a drug refers to prescribing a medication […]

Posted in Blog

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Set For April 30th

On Saturday, April 30th, 2016 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm local time, communities will team up with law enforcement to host the 11th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The DEA’s “Take-Back” initiative is one of four strategies under the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion […]

Posted in Blog

Can the U.S. Win the War On Opioids?

Remember the “War on Drugs”? This may conjure images of Mexican drug lords, packages of smuggled cocaine, or clandestine DEA agents. But now we all know that the real bandit is found right in our own home — in our bathroom medicine cabinets. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 44 people in the […]