Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March 27, 2013

CIHI report on adverse drug reactions in Seniors Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Drug reactions send 26,000 seniors to hospital

Reference:

Downlaod CIHI report here

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March , 2013

MS drug study: Beware drug company press releases that are used to report drug trial results, and of course it has favourable results Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Excellent Results For MS Drug “Plegridy”

Reference:

The results were presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 65th Annual Meeting. It is not published.

Further it compares the drug to placebo, a useless marker for clinicians. We want to know how it fares against other medication of a similar class at least and how it compares to other medication in use today.  It also refers to relative and not absolute risk reduction.

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March 11, 2013

British chief medical officer warns of increasing antibiotic-resistant bacteria Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

New wave of ‘superbugs’ poses dire threat, says chief medical officer

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for February , 2013

Bad Pharma with Dr. Ben Goldacre coming up on this week's Sunday House Call Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for January 29, 2013

No new antibiotics on the horizon to combat increasing bacterial resistance from indiscriminate use in humans and farm animals Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

New antibiotics are a matter of life or death

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for January 10, 2013

Government digging into Tamiflu stockpile to combat flu; unfortunately evidence that the drug works as purported by drug company is being questioned Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Scandal of the poison pen-pushers: How doctors and patients are kept in the dark about potentially dangerous everyday drugs

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for December 18, 2012

No evidence that stimulant use in healthy people increases level of concentration Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Dangers Of Prescribing ADD Medication To Healthy Patients

Reference:

Cynthia Forlini, Serge Gauthier, and Eric Racine
Should physicians prescribe cognitive enhancers to healthy individuals?
CMAJ cmaj.121508; published ahead of print December 17, 2012

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for November 28, 2012

Food-drug interactions can catch you unaware Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

4 foods to avoid while taking medication

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for November 7, 2012

Osteoporosis treatment study in men shows reduction in vertebral fractures Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Men May Benefit From Osteoporosis Drug, Too: Study

Reference:

Fracture Risk and Zoledronic Acid Therapy in Men with Osteoporosis

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for November 5, 2012

Prescription drugs and herbal remedies follow the same science of drug interactions and can negatively affect health outcomes Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Mixing drugs and herbal remedies may pose a major health risk, researchers warn

Reference:

Evaluation of documented drug interactions and contraindications associated with herbs and dietary supplements: a systematic literature review

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for October 22, 2012

Drug shortages in Canada continue Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

More than 250 drugs remain in short supply

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for October 16, 2012

Unpublished pharma data states it has Hep C treatment cure rate of 99 percent Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Abbott Labs rises on hepatitis C drug data

Reference:

This press release does not cite published studies. Nor do we know if there were negative outcomes in other clinical trials. THere is no obligation on the part of pharma to release details of stiudies that cast a negative outcome for their product.

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for October 3, 2012

Targeted chemotherapy for HER2 breast cancer patients shows good results in phase 3 study Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Breast cancer treatment targets tumours with few side effects

Reference:

Trastuzumab Emtansine for HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for September 10, 2012

Hormone replacement therapy revisited after review of data supports use for certain women Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Risk averted — hormone therapy regains support

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for August 1, 2012

Science succeeding in turning HIV into a chronic disease: People living normal and long lives Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Science takes tiny steps toward a cure for AIDS

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for July 26, 2012

Wait times for cancer drug approval in Canada double that of the US and Europe Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

The Fraser Institute: Canadians Wait Almost Twice as Long as Americans for New, Life-Saving Cancer Drugs

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for July 18, 2012

FDA approves weight-loss drug: A band-aid solution that will not address our obesogenic society Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Second Diet Drug Wins FDA Approval

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for July 12, 2012

Law of unintended but predictable consequences with abuse-reducing Oxycontin formulation change Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

OxyContin Remake Sends Abusers to Other Opioids

Reference:

Cicero TJ, et al “Effect of abuse-deterrent formulation of OxyContin” N Engl J Med 2012; 367(2): 187-189.

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March 9, 2012

Study indicates drug used for early Alzheimer Disease is helpful in later stages Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Donepezil For Treatment Of Moderate To Severe Alzheimer’s

Reference:

“Donepezil and Memantine for Moderate-to-Severe Alzheimer’s Disease”
Robert Howard, M.D., Rupert McShane, F.R.C.Psych., James Lindesay, D.M.et.al.,
New England Journal Of Medicine, March 2012, dpi:366:893-903

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March 1, 2012

Medications seem to work as well as stents for people with stable heart disease Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Pills as good as stents for some patients: study

Reference:

Initial Coronary Stent Implantation With Medical Therapy vs Medical Therapy Alone for Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for February 29, 2012

FDA issues advisory of rare side effects of statin use. As always, you need to consider risk vs benefit Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

FDA Warns on Statin Drugs

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for February 28, 2012

Do sleeping pills cause cancer? Show me how this happens and I might accept it otherwise it is another correlation/causation misperception Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Sleeping Pill Death Toll May Top 500,000

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for January 25, 2012

Clinical relevance of drug to slow low grade prostate cancer unclear Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Drug may help slow prostate tumour growth

Reference:

The Lancet: Dutasteride in localised prostate cancer management

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for November 29, 2011

Hospital parking fees are user fees/Health Canada removes Avastin's indication to treat HER2 negative breast cancer Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Ottawa doc calls for end to rich hospital parking fees

Avastin no longer OK for metastatic breast cancer

Blood clot risk higher with some types of pill

Small absolute increase in venous blood clot risk noted with birth control pills containing drospirenone Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for September 14, 2011

FDA approval Xarelto for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients questioned Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

FDA Panel Backs Xarelto for Stroke Prevention

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for July 28, 2011

Why certain generic drugs do not work as assumed Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Ten Top-Selling Drugs Coming Off Patent

FDA Panel Endorses Novel Drug for Lymphoma

New medication for Hodgkin's patients who have failed to respond to all other treatments may soon be approved Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for April 27, 2011

Preliminary evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory medications may interfere with antidepressant efficacy Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Painkillers and antidepressants might make a bad mix

Reference:

Antidepressant effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are attenuated by antiinflammatory drugs in mice and humans

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for April 25, 2011

Fourth generation birth control pills cause slight absolute risk increase of blood clots Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

New birth-control pills can triple the risk of blood clots

Reference:

Risk of venous thromboembolism in users of oral contraceptives containing drospirenone or levonorgestrel: nested case-control study based on UK General Practice Research Database

New generation of blood thinners offers patients easier-to-use options

New blood thinners add value to stroke prevention and quality of life Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for April 1, 2011

The grey zone of medication use during pregnancy Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Can Mom’s Medicine Hurt the Baby?: Few Studies Detail Prescription Drugs’ Risk to Pregnant, Breast-Feeding Women

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March 9, 2011

More information needed about woman's breast cancer before slamming Ontario Government for not covering breast-cancer drug Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Ontario Health Minister won’t help mom get breast-cancer drug

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for February 21, 2011

Progestin-only birth control pill does not increase heart disease risk Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Common birth control pill not tied to heart attacks

Reference:

Progestogen-Only Contraceptives and the Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-Analysis

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for February 2, 2011

Avastin side effects known: risk/benefit considerations are what is important for advanced cancer treatment Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Avastin Linked to Fatal Side Effects

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for January 20, 2011

Roche reports progress for melanoma treatment Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Drug to Fight Melanoma Prolonged Life in Trial

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for January 14, 2011

FDA restricts amount of acetaminophen in prescription combination meds Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:
FDA Restricts Acetaminophen in Some Products

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for December 20, 2010

Drug shortages in Canada affecting patient care Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for November 18, 2010

Breast cancer risk from hormone replacement needs perspective when compared to other contributing factors Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:
Breast cancer risk of hormone therapy overblown, group says

Reference:

Misinformation. Misinterpretation. Missed opportunity

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for November 12, 2010

Accutane not found to increase suicide risk: study Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Acne drug not found to increase suicide risk

Reference:

Association of suicide attempts with acne and treatment with isotretinoin: retrospective Swedish cohort study

Dabigatran compared with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation and previous transient ischaemic attack or stroke: a subgroup analysis of the RE-LY trial

New stroke-prevention drug may replace warfarin for people with atrial fibrillation Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for October 15 , 2010

New MS medication reported and MS Society members trying "liberation treatment" Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Sanofi Says MS Drug Reduces Relapses

MS Society members ‘break ranks’ and try treatment

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for June 16, 2010

No link established between blood pressure medications (ARBs) and cancer Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Some blood pressure drugs may increase cancer risk, study suggests

Reference:

Blood pressure pills ‘cancer link’

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for June 9, 2010

New MS drug to be evaluated by FDA Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

FDA: MS Drug Effective, But Has ‘Safety Issues’

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March 24, 2010

Study adds evidence that bone drugs for osteoporosis work, are safe Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:Study adds evidence that bone drugs work, are safe

Reference:

Evolving Data about Subtrochanteric Fractures and Bisphosphonates

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March 19, 2010

Seniors' prescription drug use rises: CIHI report Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Seniors’ prescription drug use rises

Reference:

Nearly two-thirds of seniors using five or more types of prescription drugs

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for March 12, 2010

BMJ reports birth control pill use not associated with increased long-term risk of death Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:
Birth-Control Pills Cut Cancer, Lengthen Women’s Lives in Study

Reference:
Mortality among contraceptive pill users: cohort evidence from Royal College of General Practitioners’ Oral Contraception Study

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for February 10, 2010

Paxil and tamoxifen- Sunday House Call returns Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Paxil, Tamoxifen May Be a Risky Combo

Reference:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and breast cancer mortality in women receiving tamoxifen: a population based cohort study

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for February 2, 2010

Study reviews the drug interactions between cardiac medications and herbal products Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Hidden Dangers of Herbal Meds Reviewed

Reference:

Use of Herbal Products and Potential Interactions in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases

Comment:

There is excellent web site that reviews the scientific evidence for the efficacy of herbal remedies from an independent assessment perspective. It also evaluates the quality and ingredients of many products in stores with respect to labelling accuracy and ingredient composition. The web site is consumerlab.com.

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for January 25, 2010

Safety Considerations and Potential Interactions of Vitamins: Should Vitamins Be Considered Drugs? Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Source:

Many parents unaware of the risks of vitamins

Reference:

Safety Considerations and Potential Interactions of Vitamins: Should Vitamins Be Considered Drugs?