03.31.08
Posted in dietary supplements at 12:41 am by Suthin Liptawat
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to purchase or use “Blue Steel” or “Hero” products, marketed nationally as dietary supplements, because these products contain undeclared ingredients, which may dangerously affect a person’s blood pressure level. They are considered unapproved drugs and have not been proven to be safe or effective. These products are promoted and sold over the Internet for the treatment of erectile dysfunction [ED] and for sexual enhancement. They contain undeclared and unapproved substances similar in chemical structure to sildenafil, the active ingredient in an FDA-approved prescription drug for ED. The undeclared ingredients in these products may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin), and can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.
Presented by Suthin Liptawat, M.D.
Popularity: 60% [?]
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03.14.08
Posted in life threatening at 7:35 am by Suthin Liptawat
FDA informed healthcare professionals of life-threatening adverse events and death in patients, including children, who have received Tussionex Pennkinetic Extended-Release Suspension (Tussionex). The reports indicate that healthcare professionals have prescribed Tussionex for patients younger than the approved age group of 6 years old and older, and more frequently than the labeled dosing interval of every 12 hours. Tussionex is contraindicated for use in patients less than 6 years of age because of their susceptibility to life-threatening and fatal respiratory depression.
Patients have administered the incorrect dose due to misinterpretation of the dosing directions, and have used inappropriate devices to measure the suspension. Overdose of Tussionex in older children, adolescents, and adults has also been associated with life-threatening and fatal respiratory depression. Prescribers should be familiar with the dosing recommendations of Tussionex before prescribing. In addition, patients and caregivers should use a properly marked measuring device to measure Tussionex to prevent overdose.
Read the complete 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including links to the Public Health Advisory, Information for Healthcare Professionals, and the Prescribing Information at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Tussionex
Presented by Suthin Liptawat,M.D.
Popularity: 29% [?]
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02.20.08
Posted in anxiety depression at 1:25 am by Suthin Liptawat
Are you anxious or are you depressed? In the world of mental health care, where exact diagnosis dictates treatment, anxiety and depression are regarded as two distinct disorders. But in the world of real people, many suffer from both conditions. In fact, most mood disorders present as a combination of anxiety and depression. Surveys show that 60-70% of those with depression also have anxiety. And half of those with chronic anxiety also have clinically significant symptoms of depression.
The coexistence of anxiety and depression carries some serious repercussions. It makes the course of disorder more chronic, it impairs functioning at work and in relationships more, and it substantially raises suicide risk.
Over the past couple of years, clinicians and researchers alike have been moving towards a new conclusion: Depression and anxiety are not two disorders that coexist. They are two faces of one disorder. We will call it Anxiety Depression
A lot of people who are exerting too much of their brain power usually exhaust not only their physical strength when engaging in various multi-tasking activities, they also tend to over extend their brains up to the point when it plainly needs some good old time for relaxation.
Busy people who cannot relax and take time of from work, tend to actually starting to have nervous breakdowns, anxiety depression and all sorts of mental illnesses that can cause a person’s sanity to go haywire. Fortunately, if you’re one of those unfortunate ones, there are actually available treatments for anxiety depression.
Anxiety depression is actually characterized by some sorts of irregularities and erratic behaviors due to stress. Also, a lot of people who tend to get easily nervous over stressful activities are actually prone to having anxiety depression, its just a matter of being strong-willed when it comes to facing difficult and stress-prone activities. It may be pretty hard to overcome at first, but trying to be calm and cool in times of extreme pressure is that’ll actually save your mental health from going totally downward spiral.
When it comes to effectively treating one’s self from a mental illness, one must keep in mind that you have to be actually honest with yourself and assess what kind of depression or mental illness you actually have.
Here are the various types of depression:
Manic or Bipolar depression - characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one’s mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling to be in a personal hell.
Postpartum depression - characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother whose physical stress during child birth and an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible causative factors.
Dysthymia or Dysthymic disorder (abbreviated as DD) is chronic low-grade depression. To qualify for the diagnosis of dysthymic disorder, a person must have been feeling depressed for at least two years. In practice, people often after have suffered from dysthymic symptoms for twenty or thirty years or more before seeking treatment! Dysthymic disorder can be thought of as a paradoxical disorder. Though its symptoms are fairly mild on a day-to-day basis, over a lifetime DD is actually a severe disorder—leading to high rates of suicide, work impairment, and social isolation. In fact, the risk of suicide is higher with dysthymia than major depression! Another aspect of the paradox is that because people think of dysthymia as mild they often do not seek treatment. Or if they do seek treatment, it is with types of medicine or therapy that are unlikely to help them feel better.
Cyclothymia disorder, is a chronic mood disorder that results in short periods of mild emotional and behavioral “highs” alternating with short periods of mild to moderate depression. People with cyclothymia also experience intermittent periods of emotional and behavioral stability. It is a less severe form of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But there is good news: bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, is a mood disorder. Most SAD sufferers experience normal mental health throughout most of the year, but experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer. The condition in the summer is often referred to as reverse seasonal affective disorder, and can also include heightened anxiety.
But the type of depression that has actually been proven to be quite common among people is anxiety depression, which is actually characterized by the state of being overly anxious about things. Anxiety, a supposedly normal behavior that’ll actually help a person adjust more to a certain stressful activity like first date jitters or a grueling exam the following day.
Anxiety actually helps you get psyched up towards facing certain “difficult situations”; anxiety therefore is actually a good thing. Anxiety depression however, is simply the opposite, not to be easily dismissed as a “case of the nerves”; Anxiety depression is in actuality an illness that can be caused from the biological makeup of an individual, or in other words, a hereditary illness.
Also, there are actually various types of Anxiety depression, each having its own unique characteristics.
For example Generalized Anxiety depression(GAD). Individuals with Gad are more paranoid, their anxiety attacks are more frequent and sometimes absurd. They can be anxious even when there’s no apparent reason.
People suffering from Generalized GAD actually shows a lot of symptoms, from lack of sleep, to being unable to relax, getting tired easily, cannot concentrate on what they’re doing and even suffering from depression. This kind of Anxiety depression is still curable; just a little work will actually do the trick.
Consult a primary care physician who in turn can refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist according to the severity of your illness.
Suthin Liptawat,M.D.
Popularity: 100% [?]
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02.19.08
Posted in recalls, therapy products at 8:47 am by Suthin Liptawat
This is another FDA Alert presented by Suthin Liptawat, M.D.
Chattem, Inc. and FDA informed consumers and healthcare professionals of a voluntary nationwide recall of its Icy Hot Heat Therapy products, including consumer “samples” that were included on a limited promotional basis in cartons of its 3 oz Aspercreme product. The products were recalled because of consumer reports of first, second and third degree burns as well as skin irritation. All lots and sizes of the following Icy Hot Heat Therapy products were recalled:
Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat - Back
Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat - Arm, Neck, and Leg
Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heal - Arm, Neck, and Leg single consumer use “samples” on a limited promotional basis in cartons of 3 oz. Aspercreme Pain Relieving Cream.
Consumers who have the Icy Hot Heat Therapy products under this recall should immediately stop using the products, discard them, and /or return them to the manufacturer.
[February 08, 2008 - Press Release - Chattem, Inc.]
Popularity: 22% [?]
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02.18.08
Posted in recalls at 12:47 am by Suthin Liptawat
PriCara and Sandoz Inc. announced a nationwide recall of all lots of 25 mcg/hr Duragesic Patches sold in the United States. The product is being recalled because the patches may have a cut along one side of the drug reservoir within the patch which may result in the possible release of fentanyl gel that may expose patients or caregivers directly to fentanyl gel on the skin. Fentanyl is a potent Schedule II opioid medication and exposure to the gel may lead to serious adverse events, including respiratory depression and possible overdose, that may be fatal. Patches with a cut edge should not be used. These recalled patches have expiration dates on or before December 2009 and are all manufactured by ALZA Corporation.
Read the complete 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including a link to the FDA Firm Press Release regarding this issue at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Duragesic
Popularity: 21% [?]
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02.11.08
Posted in eyes / ears wash products, recalls at 5:14 am by Suthin Liptawat
Recall — Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Nationwide Recall of NuCel Labs Eye Drops and Eye/Ear Wash Products
Contact:
Kevin Lundquist
208-542-0325
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — January 29, 2008 — NuCel Labs of Idaho Falls, Idaho announced today that it is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall of all Eye Drops and Eye/Ear Wash. This recall follows an FDA inspection in which product testing indicated that there was bacteria and particulate matter in the product deeming these products non-sterile. Non-sterile eye drops pose an unacceptable risk of causing eye infections, which in rare cases could lead to blindness.
Products are packaged in 1/4 oz plastic bottles. Eye drops are labeled: Eye Drops Caution: Do Not Use With Implants. Wash is labeled Eye/Ear Wash. All products labeled “Eye Drops Caution: Do Not Use With Implants” or “Eye/Ear Wash” are subject to the recall action. There are no lot numbers or expiration dates on the product. Approximately 500 units of these products have been distributed nationwide through retail outlets and the internet.
No illnesses or injuries have been reported to date.
The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product. Consumers who may have any of these products on hand are advised not to use them. Consumers are asked to return them to NuCel Lab, 1380 Curtis Ave, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402 or discard them and send NuCel Lab a purchase receipt for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call NuCel Lab at 208-542-0325.
As a subscriber to FDA Alerts newsletter, I am spreading this warning.
Suthin Liptawat,M.D.
Popularity: 34% [?]
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