Big Pharma Watchdog

In a recent press release by the Food and Drug Administration, Bayer recalled the Alka-Seltzer product out of fear that the ingredients listed on the package might not match the ingredients of the actual product. However, Bayer didn’t voluntarily list the recalled product on its official website and social media account. Therefore, the big question that you should be asking yourself is whether Alka-Seltzer product is safe for your health. FDA noted that the ingredients that were listed on the front of the packaging carton might be different from the ingredients listed at the back of the packaging carton. Although no injuries were reported, the manufacturer was concerned that the labeling errors might lead to a scenario whereby people take substances that they are allergic to causing harm to their health. Most people use Alka-Seltzer products as an over-the-counter drug that temporarily alleviates common symptoms that are associated with cold and flu such as a cough, fever, congestion...

Silicone injections have become a common cosmetic treatment in the modern world. However, these injections result in a wide range of complications that will make you seek further treatment from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Maybe you or your loved one may have opted to use silicone injection in the hope of achieving fuller buttocks or augment your body. These complications will occur as a result of the incorrect placement of the product in your body, use of non-medical silicone, massive injections or a combination of the above. You may end up developing a wide variety of life-threating complications if a significant amount of silicone is injected into your body. Is Silicone Injectable Safe? Liquid silicone has been banned by the Food and Drug Administration, and medical experts say that it is one of the most controversial substances used in cosmetic surgery. Some doctors are also using it as off-label to fill acne scars, wrinkles, and furrows and also add volume to cheeks an...

The US Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary field action on the Infant/Child Reduced Energy Defibrillation Electrodes, citing possible defects in the product. The voluntary field action for the product was carried out by Physio-Control, one of the leading defibrillator manufacturers in the country, although the product in question was manufactured by Cardinal Health. The FDA has since classified the voluntary field action as a Class 1 recall based on the artwork depiction of incorrect placement of defibrillation electrodes. The FDA went further to state that these defibrillation electrodes, manufactured by Cardinal Health, don’t have any functional or performance defects. The only problem with these defibrillation electrodes is in their packaging, where the manufacturer displays the incorrect electrode placement on the infant’s body. These defibrillation electrodes are part of the components of Cardinal Health’s Lifepak automated external defibrillators. The ...

Have you suffered from back pain, injury, or infection? If you have, you may have undergone spinal fusion surgery. This is a procedure that helps to keep the spine stable by connecting two or more vertebrae in the lower back. The purpose is similar to that of taping two fingers together to stabilize a broken bone. The surgery is achieved either by grafting a bone to the spine to create a bridge between two or more vertebrae or by using a metal implant to hold vertebrae together until new bone tissue develops between them . If you’ve undergone spinal fusion surgery, your doctor may have used one of Zimmer Biomet’s SpF PLUS-Mini or SpF XL IIb Implantable Spinal Fusion Stimulators to aid in your recovery process. Spinal fusion simulator are supplemental devices that attempt to assist and heighten the body’s natural bone healing process by emitting low level electrical signals to stimulate bone growth. Are SpF PLUS-Mini and SpF XL IIb Implantable Spinal Fusion Stimulators Safe? ...

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration warned parents against giving their young ones prescription drugs with codeine and tramadol. The agency said that the drugs could lead to severe breathing problems among the children and even death. Codeine is indicated as a suitable drug for pain and cough while Tramadol heals pain. Codeine is also used as a cough syrup for toddlers and cold remedies. Manufactured by Par Pharmaceuticals, codeine is a generic medicine which is associated with various brands. It is usually marketed as a single ingredient drug or in combination preparations with paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen.  The various combinations also pose a greater risk to children aged 12 years and below and among adolescents aged 18 years and below.  The drug is also marketed in products containing muscle relaxers. Healthcare providers are discouraged from prescribing the drug to adolescents aged between 12  and 18 years who are obese or show any other cond...

Do you own a bottle of Phenobarbital Tablets by C.O. Truxton, Inc.?   Maybe you, or someone you know, has been prescribed phenobarbital tablets for sleep, or to control convulsions or seizures. C.O. Truxton, Inc., has recalled Phenobarbital Tablets, 15mg, because someone who bought a bottle of this medication discovered the label had been placed in error on a bottle of this medication with a different dosage strength. The bottle labeled 15mg tablets was actually 30mg tablets. This mistake on the label could potentially cause someone to accidentally take an overdose of phenobarbital. If you take an overdose of phenobarbital, it can cause: your heart to beat too fast  your breathing to be too rapid   you to become pale, weak, and sweat heavily   you to become unconscious   your kidneys to fail, leading to reduced urine, swelling of legs and feet, possibly confusion, shortness of breath  you to fall into a coma  you t...