Acne drug raises depression risk

Canadian scientists believe that taking Accutane, the most commonly used acne drug, is associated with a higher risk of depression.

According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, isotretinoin, the active ingredient of Accutane, doubles the risk of depression.CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre scientists say while depression is a rare side effect of isotretinoin therapy, close monitoring of isotretinoin users is necessary due to the serious consequences of depression.

They concluded that psychiatric assessments of patients prior to and during isotretinoin therapy are crucial.

Accutane, a form of vitamin A (isotretinoin), reduces the amount of oil released by the skin and helps the skin renew itself more quickly. The drug is an effective choice in treating severe nodular acne.

Press TV – Acne drug raises depression risk

Tags: defectivedrugs, accutane, depression

Chantix Banned by FAA Over Side Effects

Pfizer Inc.’s once promising anti-smoking drug Chantix received another blow Wednesday after a nonprofit group’s report about serious physical side effects prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to ban the drug’s use by pilots and air traffic controllers.The report, from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, points out hundreds of serious problems reported since the popular drug was approved in May 2006, including dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizures, and abnormal spasms and movements.

“We have immediate safety concerns about the use of varenicline (Chantix) among persons operating aircraft, trains, buses and other vehicles, or in other settings where a lapse in alertness or motor control could lead to massive, serious injury,” the researchers said in the report.

FAA spokesman Les Dorr said the Chantix ban is effective immediately and that the agency was notifying unions representing pilots and controllers. He said the FAA is unaware of any aviation accident caused or contributed to by Chantix. Pfizer, in a statement, reaffirmed its stand on the drug’s safety and said the label already contains safety warnings about driving or operating machinery.

San Diego University Drug Bust

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP) — An undercover drug probe focused on San Diego State University and some of its fraternities has led to arrests of 96 people, including 75 students, authorities said Tuesday.Eighteen of the students were arrested Tuesday when nine search warrants were executed at various locations including fraternities, said Jesse Rodriguez, San Diego County assistant district attorney.

During the probe investigators discovered that in some fraternities most members were aware of “organized drug dealing occurring from the fraternity houses by its members,” the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement.

“Undercover agents purchased cocaine from fraternity members and confirmed that a hierarchy existed for the purpose of selling drugs for money,” the DEA said.

Authorities said they found drugs being moved in resale quantities.

“We’re talking about trafficking,” Stephen Weber, SDSU president, told a news conference.

The district attorney’s office said search warrants were served in San Diego and suburban La Mesa, including the Theta Chi fraternity house and several apartments.

A member of Theta Chi sent out a mass text message to his “faithful customers” stating that he and his “associates” would be unable to sell cocaine while they were in Las Vegas over one weekend, according to the DEA. The text promoted a cocaine “sale” and listed the reduced prices.

Dale Taylor, national executive director of Theta Chi, said he was “obviously shocked and saddened” by the allegations.

Theta Chi has prohibited the San Diego chapter from group activities like parties or sports activities and will investigate additional disciplinary measures, up to expulsion of members or the entire chapter.

The San Diego chapter was founded 61 years ago and has 65 members. It recently purchased two small pieces of land where raided Tuesday and planned to build a new house there.

“There were on the upswing,” Taylor said. “They had improved their recruitment. They were trying to raise money for a new house.”

Kerry Steigerwalt, senior managing partner of Kerry Steigerwalt’s Pacific Law Center in La Jolla, a large firm of criminal defense attorneys, said the fraternity members arrested Tuesday could face prosecution for gang crimes both because of their association with the fraternities and because one of the non-students arrested in the sting is a documented Los Angeles gang member.

Steigerwalt said if prosecutors can show that some of the individuals arrested were associated with that gang member, Omar Castaneda, those individuals could find themselves charged with gang crimes.

“Under the gang statute, they don’t have to be members of the gang. All they have to do is be in close association with a gang member who is participating in activity to ultimately benefit the gang,” Steigerwalt said. “I gotta tell you, it would not surprise me if gang enhancements are charged.”

Digitek Recall by FDA

Several Brands of Heart Medication Recalled

Heart problems and heart failure are two of the leading causes of death in the United States every year. As a result, pharmaceutical companies everywhere are placing a high priority on the research and development of medications that will provide relief and the ability to manage these conditions for patients.

Unfortunately, every new drug hits the market with at least some degree of risk, and that appears to have been the case with a drug that’s been known under several names, including Digitek, which was formulated by Actavis Totowa LLC, Bertek, distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and UDL, which is put out by UDL Laboratories, Inc. All of these drugs have been recalled, effective immediately, according to an announcement by the companies in conjunction with the FDA on its Web site.

The problem with these drugs is that many of the pills that were manufactured were released with twice the normal thickness in other pills, which means by result that these faulty pills can contain twice the amount of medication necessary to treat these heart conditions. When a patient inadvertently doubles the dose of this drug, he or she can suffer from digitalis toxicity, particularly in this situation when the patients have experienced renal failure. This condition can lead to vomiting, nausea, low blood pressure, dizziness and a dangerously low resting heart rate, known as bradycardia.

If you are taking any form of this medication, you need to contact your doctor immediately to find out how you should proceed. If you’ve been injured by any of these medications, contact a defective drugs attorney as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation.