The FDA’s recent decision to approve the drug Zohydro™ Extended Release, a drug that has no abuse-deterrent features, suggests that the administration has been hypocritical of their goal to lessen the likelihood that people will abuse new painkillers. According to the FDA, making painkillers less likely to be abused is a public health priority, but […]
Clinical Data Vastly Underreported
A British physician is hoping to change the future of medical research by asking pharmaceutical companies to document every clinical trial study they conduct. Ben Goldacre believes doctors are only “imagining that we’re practicing evidence-based medicine” because less than half of all clinical studies ever get published. Goldacre says that there are many reasons why […]
FDA Makes Controversial Decision to Restrict Prescription Vicodin
Last Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to increase restrictions on prescription drugs that contain hydrocodone (such as Vicodin). Such drugs are now listed as schedule II controlled substances. The purpose of the decision is to decrease drug abuse by making the drug more difficult for addicts to attain. If a drug becomes […]
Federal Appeals Court Says Off-Label Drug Marketing is Free Speech
This week a federal appeals court ruled that off-label drug marketing is protected free speech. The ruling is somewhat controversial, with supports and detractors. Some claim the ruling is a triumph for free speech. Others argue that the ruling will allow the prescription drug industry to promote drugs without restrictions. The pharmaceutical industry is a […]
Beware of Fake Online Pharmacies, FDA Warns
The FDA recently issued a warning about the emerging threat of phony online pharmacies. Central to their warning was a study compiled by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The study investigated more than 10,000 online pharmacies and found that 97% violated laws and/or safety standards. With such a vast majority of online pharmacies […]
