Generic Drugs From India and China May Not Be Safe

It’s worse than we imagined.

For the last five years or so we have been sounding an alarm about generic drugs. That’s because we’ve been hearing from readers and listeners that sometimes their generic medicine has not worked as expected. In other cases they have experienced unpleasant or even dangerous side effects.

For almost 30 years we championed generics as a wonderful way for consumers to save money. We believed that the FDA was protecting consumers from poor quality medications.

Within the last decade, however, there has been a tremendous shift in the source of medications. Both raw ingredients and finished generic drugs are increasingly coming from countries like India and China.

There is an article in the Washington Post (June 17, 2007) by Marc Kaufman titled “FDA Scrutiny Scant in India, China as Drugs Pour into the U.S.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061601295.html

It reveals that over the last seven years FDA has made 200 inspections of plants in both countries compared to 1222 quality insurance inspections in the U.S. last year. There is no possible way for FDA to inspect all the plants in China and India that are producing pharmaceuticals that land on American drugstore shelves.

The intense competition among generic drug makers and their search for the cheapest raw materials has driven the huge increase of imports. The same motivation drove pet food manufacturers to purchase wheat gluten contaminated with melamine from China. We worry that the FDA cannot guarantee the safety of these inexpensive pharmaceutical products any more than they could protect our pets.

If you have experienced a problem with a generic drug you can add your comment on the home page of this Web site: http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/generic_drug_problems/report_generic_drug_problem.asp

leave a comment

Laxative Licks Severe Acne Problem

Q. My son has suffered from horrible acne for two years, even after seeing two different dermatologists. We’ve tried everything, from prescriptions and Proactiv to laser treatments. There’s nothing left to try except Accutane, but we worry about side effects.

After using milk of magnesia (MoM) on his face for only two weeks, his skin has improved. It is so much better that instead of hiding behind shoulder-length hair, he got his hair cut so his face can actually be seen now!

Milk of magnesia definitely works on severe acne. Be sure to get the original MoM because the mint one contains mineral oil. It's wonderful to have my son smiling again!

A. Dermatologists are skeptical that milk of magnesia would be helpful against acne even though a letter in the Archives of Dermatology (Jan. 1975) stated that topical application of MoM might reduce redness and inflammation.

We have received a number of testimonials like yours. Certainly there is little harm in trying MoM on blemishes.

Under appropriate medical supervision, Accutane can be effective against severe acne, but it is expensive and has some potentially serious side effects.


Leave a comment

Blood Pressure Control with Fewer Side Effects

Q. I have just been diagnosed with high blood pressure (145/95). My doctor and I are trying to find a medicine that agrees with me.

I'm currently trying the third one. The first was an ACE inhibitor that made me cough. Then he prescribed Norvasc (amlodipine) and now Cardizem (diltiazem). They made me drowsy during the day even when I took them at night.

Isn't there a new drug that's better than the old standards?

A. You may want to ask your doctor about a thiazide diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide or chlorthalidone. Although such drugs have been around for more than 50 years, they are still considered a first line treatment for high blood pressure (New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 26, 2009). We are sending you our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment with non-drug suggestions and more details on the pros and cons of various medications.

Leave a comment

K-Y Jelly Lubricates Nose

Q. My nose gets terribly dry in the winter and I frequently get nosebleeds. I used to use Vicks VapoRub to moisturize it but read in your column this is a bad idea. My doctor told me to use K-Y Jelly, and it works great to prevent nosebleeds.

A. Pulmonologists have warned against using petroleum jelly in the nostrils since such products may be bad for the lungs. K-Y Jelly is a water-based sexual lubricant, so the risk is much lower. Saline nasal sprays may also help moisten dry nasal tissues.

Leave comment

DASH Diet Plus Exercise Lowers Blood Pressure

The DASH diet delivers once again. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This diet includes multiple daily servings of vegetables and fruits as well as low-fat dairy products and whole grains. Over the years, the DASH diet has been shown to lower blood pressure. A new study demonstrates that following a DASH diet together with exercising and losing weight is even better for improving blood pressure and cardiovascular health.

The volunteers were healthy overweight people. They were randomly assigned to follow very different regimens. Some continued with their usual diet. Others followed a standard DASH diet. A third group used a DASH diet plus exercise to lose weight. Those in the weight loss group lost an average of 19 pounds during the four-year study. They also became more fit, presumably because of the exercise. Blood pressure was lowered by 16 over 10 points, compared to 11 over 8 points on the standard DASH diet. Volunteers in the usual care group lowered their blood pressure by about 3 to 4 points. The investigators conclude that the DASH diet plus exercise and weight loss can have as profound an impact on blood pressure control as aggressive drug treatment.

Archives of Internal Medicine Jan, 25th 2010

Please Comment - Let me know what you think

H1N1 Virus Less Catching Than Expected

As the H1N1 flu pandemic begins to wind down, researchers are discovering how infectious this virus really is. A study in The New England Journal of Medicine analyzed data on 216 confirmed patients and their 600 household contacts. Only 78 of these family members and friends developed a flu-like illness over the next week. This amounts to 13 percent of those exposed. Children were twice as likely to develop the flu as adults between 19 and 50 years of age. People over 50 were even less susceptible to the H1N1 virus than younger adults. Most people who got sick came down with flu within two and a half days of exposure. The investigators conclude that 2009 H1N1 influenza virus is less catching than previous flu epidemics.

New England Journal of Medicine Dec, 31st 2009

Please Comment - Let me know what you think

Leafy Greens Save Eyesight

For decades grandmas have been telling their grandchildren to eat their vegetables. Now an analysis from the University of Georgia shows that a diet rich in green leafy vegetables may help prevent age-related eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Foods like kale, spinach and collard greens are rich in nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin. Such carotenoids seem to play a special role in visual performance.

Please Comment - Let me know what you think

Don't Measure Medicine in Kitchen Spoon

Administering liquid medicine is trickier than it looks, especially when the recipient is a squirming toddler. Many parents reach for a kitchen spoon when giving drugs like liquid antibiotics or pain medicine. That could be a serious mistake. The kitchen spoon is not an accurate measuring device.

Researchers at Cornell University recruited almost 200 college students to measure 5 ml of liquid cold medicine in different sized spoons. They also asked how confident they were in their measuring ability. The students poured too little medicine into a medium sized tablespoon by over 8 percent. They poured too much into a larger spoon by nearly 12 percent. Despite this, they were quite confident that they had poured the correct amount of medicine.

An older sicker person or a parent trying to administer medicine to an uncooperative child could easily make a much larger error that might accumulate over time. Important liquid medications such as antibiotics, epilepsy drugs and heart medicine should always be given using an accurate oral syringe or dosing spoon, available in most pharmacies.

Annuals of internal medicine Jan 5th 2010

Please Comment - Let me know what you think

Will Non-Stick Pots and Pans Raise Risk of Thyroid Disorder?

Epidemiologists have linked high exposure to a chemical used in non-stick cooking utensils to a greater risk for thyroid disease. The chemical is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and it is also used in treatments to make fabric waterproof or carpets stain-resistant. The researchers examined results from nearly 4,000 adults whose blood was tested between 1999 and 2006. Those with the highest levels of PFOA in their blood had twice the likelihood of thyroid disease compared to those with the lowest levels, although the correlation does not establish a cause-and-effect link.

For more Information Click Here

Please Comment - Let me know what you think

Is Appendicitis Caused by Infection?

Appendicitis remains a mystery despite the fact that it accounts for more than 300,000 operations every year. A new analysis in the Archives of Surgery suggests that this common condition may be precipitated by a viral infection. This epidemiological study notes that there have been many appendicitis outbreaks or clusters in the U.S. and other countries. This suggests an infectious disease trigger such as influenza virus, measles or cytomegalovirus. If the viral infection leads to swollen lymph tissue, it could obstruct the opening of the appendix and lead to bacterial infection or inflammation. If this hypothesis holds up, this kind of uncomplicated appendicitis might respond to antibiotic treatment. That could reduce the need for emergency appendectomy.

Archives Of Surgery Jan 2010

Please Comment - Let me know what you think

How To Cure The Common Cold

Comment on how helpful this was.

Quick Burn Treatment

Comment on how helpful this was.

How To Treat Nail Fungus

Comment on how helpful this was.

Waving Flag by K'naan with lyrics

I like this song because its sung by a refugee from somali and he has made Canada his homeland. His lyrics make lot of sense.Please follow the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMo9vNVkPOs

Bone Vitality

For years, women have been admonished to drink milk and eat yogurt so that they will have enough calcium to keep their bones strong. Calcium supplements have become big business, and foods like orange juice have been fortified with calcium.

How good is the science supporting all this calcium to fight bone loss? We talk with a medical writer and a top nutrition scientist about a different dietary approach to osteoporosis prevention.

Please click here and listen to the show and let me know what do think.

Vitamin D update

Early vitamin research identified vitamin D as the way to treat rickets, or malformed bones. More recent research confirms that vitamin D is indeed essential for strong healthy bones. But its effects go far beyond bone. Inadequate vitamin D has been linked to a higher risk for many different cancers, cardiovascular complications, arthritic joints, type 2 diabetes and muscle weakness.

Although referred to as vitamin D, it is not so much a vitamin as the precursor to a hormone. How does it work? Why are do so many Americans have low levels of vitamin D, and how should they be getting more? Please click here and listen the show. Thanks.

Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are both elusive and debilitating conditions. They are difficult to diagnose and even trickier to treat. Many physicians chalk them up to psychosomatic problems and don’t have much to offer patients.

The CDC counts these as real disorders: fibromyalgia affects up to 5 million Americans, and chronic fatigue syndrome affects between 1 and 4 million at any given time. Although these problems seem mysterious, they are treatable. This my interest you, please click here and listen to the whole
program. Please make comment.

SYNESTHESIA

This is very interesting, Synesthesia is a genetic disorder where touch, taste, smell and colour gets mixed up. Please watch this clip.



please make a comment.

`

Breast/ Prostate Cancer Diagnosis/Screening

All these years we thought that the screening methods was trust worthy, but now it reaveals to the contrary the misdiagnosis of the above. Please follow the links and listen to the program and let me know what you think about this topic.
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2009/11/07/747-health-news-update/

Life After Death

Hello there,
This is my first post on my blog. I would like to share certain facts of life that I learned in the past.

Couple of weeks ago I heard on BBC an interview with David Eagleman a neuro scientist about life after death. Which was very intriguing and stimulating truth about life after death. This opens up of our vast ignorance about our purpose of life on earth. Please follow the links and listen to the whole interview and let me know what do you think. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00551mb







c