Having a colonoscopy is a weird sort of rite of passage. Once you’ve had one, you can give your colon-checking compatriots that knowing nod when they mention the procedure. Guaranteed after that nod, someone will bring up “prep”—it’s the point of convergence for all colonoscopy conversation. And for good reason: it’s the worst part of the procedure and it’s the only part for which you’re entirely too conscious.
So weren’t we all filled with glee when we learned there was an oral sodium phosphate pill—a pill!—we could take rather then slugging back a 4-liter jug of Golytely? Well, with recent reports, maybe not.
There are 3 basic options for colonoscopy prep: Golytely (also Colyte, Nulytely), Fleet Phospho-soda EZ Prep, and Oral Sodium Phosphate (Osmo-Prep and Visicol). The problem with them (aside from the fact that you have to take one of them) is that there’s an inverse relationship between their palatability and their associated risks. Here, an overview of the options—not to be construed as medical advice; for that, see your doctor. Read the rest of this entry »
Depression during pregnancy is a health risk not only for the mother, but also for her baby, yet it’s not widely publicized. According to information on the March of Dimes website—the March of Dimes being a leading non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby health—two of every 10 women experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy. That’s considerable.
So where’s the health risk to the baby? You get a prescription for an antidepressant and hope for the best, right? Wrong. The fallback treatment for depression has become antidepressant drugs, the most common type being selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. SSRIs, such as Paxil (paroxetine) which are associated with serious cardiovascular malformations, primarily ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and atrial septal defects (ASDs). The risk for these birth defects is so serious that GlaxoSmithKline’s (the maker of Paxil) own publicly available literature states:
For women who intend to become pregnant or are in their first trimester of pregnancy, paroxetine should only be used after consideration of the other available treatment options. Read the rest of this entry »
Back in March 2006, the VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management Strategic Healthcare Group and the Medical Advisory Panel conducted a review of the Efficacy and Safety of Propoxyphene (aka, Darvon). The study concluded that the group…
found no substantive evidence to alter our previous conclusions about the efficacy and safety of propoxyphene relative to other opioids. Our recommendations on the use of propoxyphene in the Veterans Health Administration remain essentially the same as in the previous review.
In the majority of VA patients with mild to moderate acute pain and who do not have certain characteristics associated with intentional or unintentional overdose, single-dose or short-term therapy with DPP+/-APAP probably provides adequate analgesia with an acceptable safety profile. The efficacy and safety of long-term therapy with DPP+/-APAP for treatment of chronic pain has not been adequately studied. Read the rest of this entry »
Pleading Ignorance takes a look at Moneygram scams—what are they, what do you need to look out for?
First and foremost, it’s the misfortune of Moneygram—a reputable company—that its name rhymes with “scam”. Moneygram is probably best known for its money transfer and money order services. Western Union is perhaps a more well-known competitor to Moneygram, offering similar services. Regardless, any money order/transfer service can find itself in the middle of a scam operation—so the point here is not to point the finger at Moneygram. It’s to make you aware of those who try to put Moneygram’s services to illegal use—the scammers.
So Moneygram’s got the rhyming mishap, but…
It’s a coined phrase that refers to a Consumer Fraud Scam. In all instances it involves a hapless victim sending money to a would-be relative, lover or bearer of good news (“have you claimed your sweepstakes prize?”). Read the rest of this entry »
Have you thought of contaminated heparin lately? It’s kind of drifted off people’s radar, but it’s still a current topic on YouTube. Deep in the bowels of YouTube you will find an FDA video, which YouTube shows as being 3 months old, that recaps the reasons why heparin was recalled and precautions you should take, in case there’s more contaminated blood thinner still “at large.”
The video itself is dated July, 2008. It’s interesting that it followed a heavily viewed video from Reuters on heparin contamination titled, “FDA feels the heat over heparin”. So it would appear that the FDA, in a belated abundance of caution, chose to finally advise consumers to keep their eyes and ears open for any possible future heparin recalls. That someone chose to post the video only 3 months ago hints at reports that the FDA is apparently still receiving word of adverse events, which may or may not be due to contaminated product. Read the rest of this entry »