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Influenza: safety information on Tamiflu and Relenza

Tamiflu ( Oseltamivir ) and Relenza ( Zanamivir ) are both neuraminidase enzyme inhibitors. They act by inhibiting entry of influenza virus into uninfected cells and preventing the release of recently formed virus particles from infected cells. Tamiflu is given orally ( capsules and solution ) and ...
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Montelukast linked to suicidality and other psychiatric adverse reactions

Montelukast sodium ( Singulair ), a leukotriene-receptor antagonist, is indicated for the prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in patients 2 years of age and older. It is also indicated for the relief of symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in patients 15 years of age and older when other t...
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Neuropsychiatric events with leukotriene inhibitors: Montelukast, Zafirlukast and Zileuton

Neuropsychiatric events have been reported in some patients taking Montelukast ( Singulair ), Zafirlukast ( Accolate ), and Zileuton ( Zyflo and Zyflo CR ). The FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) has requested that manufacturers include a precaution in the drug prescribing information. Monte...
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Asthma: possible link between Singulair and suicide

The FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) is investigating a possible association between the use of Singulair ( Montelukast ) and behavior/mood changes, suicidality ( suicidal thinking and behavior ) and suicide. Singulair is a medicine in the drug class known as leukotriene receptor antagonists...
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Asthma: possible association between Singulair and behavior/mood changes, suicidality and suicide

The FDA ( Food and Drug Adminsitration ) is investigating a possible association between the use of Singulair ( Montelukast ) and behavior/mood changes, suicidality ( suicidal thinking and behavior ) and suicide. Singulair is a medicine in the drug class known as leukotriene receptor antagonist...
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Voltaren Gel for treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis

Voltaren Gel ( Diclofenac sodium topical gel ) 1% has received FDA approval as the first topical prescription treatment that patients can apply directly to sites of pain associated with osteoarthritis. Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ( NSAID ) medication, for use in treating pain ...
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Safety and side effects of Gardasil

In a commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal ( CMAJ ), Abby Lippman, an epidemiologist at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and colleagues wrote that there is no urgent need for wide-scale cervical cancer vaccinations because deaths from the disease have been declining....
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Human papillomavirus vaccine safety: VAERS reports 6 months after approval of Gardasil

On June 8th 2006, the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) announced the approval of Gardasil, and on June 29th the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices ( ACIP ) voted to recommend adding Gardasil human papillomavirus vaccine to the Centers for Disease Control's national childhood recommend...
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Neutrophils in lung produce histamine seen in allergies

Researchers have discovered that histamine, the inflammatory compound released during allergic reactions that causes runny nose, watery eyes, and wheezing, can be produced in large amounts in the lung by neutrophils, the white blood cells that are the major component of pus. Pus, a fluid found in...
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Nrf2 gene critical for protection against septic-shock-induced death

Disruption of a single gene, Nrf2, plays a critical role in regulating the body's innate immune response to sepsis and septic shock. A research team, led by Shyam Biswal, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found that the absence of Nrf2 caused a dramatic increase in mortalit...
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