McNeil Expands Recalls

The FDA has announced that McNeil Consumer Healthcare has expanded its voluntary over-the-counter drug recalls to include additional types of Tylenol, as well as certain formulations of Motrin, Rolaids, Benedryl, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph’s aspirin.  The recall includes Children’s Tylenol Meltaways and Children’s Motrin caplets and chewables.

A full list of recalled products and the lots has been posted on the FDA site.

Consumers have noticed a moldy, musty, or mildew-like smell when opening the medicines that has sometimes been associated with nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhea.  Effects have been temporary and not serious. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on January 19th, 2010
Posted in: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags: FDA recalls, McNeil, Tylenol

Blood Test Detects Colorectal Cancer

A blood test that helps to detect colorectal cancer is now available.

The ColoVantage™ test detects changes in DNA shed into the blood stream from colon and rectal tumors.  It will be offered in the United States by Quest Diagnostics.

In preliminary results from a clinical trial of nearly 8,000 people, the blood test found colorectal cancer in about 50 percent.  Previous studies have identified cancer at all stages in 70 percent of those who had it.  The test is over 90 percent specific with few false positives. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on January 15th, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News, Uncategorized | No Comments »

FDA Sets Limits on Darvon and Darvocet but Doesn’t Recommend Market Withdrawal

Despite recommendations from two of its advisory committees for a phased withdrawal of propoxyphene-containing products, the Food and Drug Administration won’t be taking them off the market.  Instead they’ll require a black box warning on the label and a medication guide for patients letting them know of the serious risks of death from effects on the heart or overdose.

Best known by brand names Darvon® and Darvocet®, the pain medicines have a high risk for fatal overdose when not used as prescribed.  Opiates, they are prescribed for mild to moderate pain.  However, the FDA says that benefits of the medicines when taken at recommended doses outweigh risks at this time. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 7th, 2009
Posted in: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags: Darvon, FDA, propoxyphene

Army of Women Joins Forces with caBIG

Sharing data over the caBIG network will help the Avon/Love Army of Women move  ”Beyond the Cure” towards research to prevent breast cancer.

Dr. Susan Love from the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, joined caBIG director Dr. Ken Buetow to announce the partnership at the caBIG Annual Meeting on July 20, 2009 in Washington.

caBIG is the National Cancer Institute’s cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid, an open source, collaborative computer information network designed to link cancer research data across a broad range of needs and projects. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 24th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Tags: Army of Women, caBIG, Dr. Susan Love

Capsule Colonoscopy Has Low Sensitivity

A swallowed capsule equipped with a video camera didn’t find as many polyps as conventional colonoscopy and missed 5 of 19 cancers. Sensitivity improved with a well-cleaned colon.

Doctors in Europe examined 328 patients who either had colon disease or were suspected of having it with both a capsule colonoscopy and traditional optical colonoscopy.  The capsule contained  tiny video cameras at both ends that transmitted images wirelessly from the upper GI tract and the colon. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 16th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags: capsule colonoscopy, PillCam, screening