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  View the entire February 2010 issue in PDF format

• Quetiapine (SEROQUEL) Interactions With Other Drugs
  (February 2010)
  Quetiapine (SEROQUEL) can interact with 26 different drugs, increasing its blood levels and causing dangerous side effects such as slowed breathing, dizziness and fainting. The article also lists 10 other interacting drugs that can result in lower blood levels, rendering the drug less effective.
• A Review of Drugs for Overactive Bladder
  (February 2010)
  The newest FDA-approved drug for treating overactive bladder, TOVIAX (fesoterodine) is no more effective than the older five drugs, reducing the number of urinations a day by only one. In addition, since it is a new drug, we recommend not using it now because more will be known about its dangers after it has been on the market for a longer time.
• Black Box Warnings Updated on Tumor Necrosis Factor Blockers
  (February 2010)
  New warnings are being required on CIMZIA, ENBREL, HUMIRA, EMICADE and SIMPONI because of evidence that lymphoma (tumor of lymph tissue) and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children and adolescents treated with TNF blockers.
• Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Fail to Improve the Most Serious Long-Term Complications
  (February 2010)
  The article discusses why all of these 16 diabetes drugs carry a label stating: "There have been no clinical studies establishing conclusive evidence of macrovascular risk reduction [heart attacks, strokes, etc] with oral antidiabetic drug[s]." The article also explains why lifestlyle changes such as diet and exercise to prevent or even treat type II diabetes are not heavily promoted or usually reimbursed.

  View the entire January 2010 issue in PDF format

• New Black Box Touts Old Warning: Drug-Induced Movement Disorders with Metoclopramide (REGLAN)
  (January 2010)
  The FDA has belatedly required a black box warning that treatment with metoclopramide (a drug for heartburn unresponsive to conventional therapy and for the symptoms of gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents) can cause tardive dyskinesia, a serious movement disorder that is often irreversible. The risk of developing tardive dyskinesia increases with duration of treatment and total cumulative dose. We have warned Worst Pills readers about this for 21 years.
• A Review of ADHD Drug Lisdexamfetamine (VYVANSE)
  (January 2010)
  We list this amphetamine-like drug as DO NOT USE because it is more expensive than (and does not treat ADHD better than) older, safer alternatives (such as methylphenidate [RITALIN]).
• Lithium Toxicity Due to Drug Interactions
  (January 2010)
  This article lists a large number of drugs, used to treat high blood pressure and other carediovascular disease, that can interact harmfully with lithium (ESKALITH; LITHOBID; LITHONATE;generic lithium carbonate), drugs used to treat bipolar (manic/depressive) disorder. This may result in a dangerous condition known as lithium toxicity because these drugs stop the body from getting rid of lithium and lithium blood levels are increased; in severe cases, this can cause seizures, coma and even death. The article also lists other symptoms of lithium toxicity.

  View the entire December 2009 issue in PDF format

• Think Twice About Third-Generation Oral Contraceptives and YASMIN
  (December 2009)
  Two large new studies shed light on the increased risks of so-called "third generation" oral contraceptives containing desogestrel as well as oral contraceptives containing drospirenone (such as YASMIN and YAZ) compared to older, "second-generation" oral contraceptives. This study also discusses newly discovered risks associated with YASMIN and YAZ.
• The Myth Is False: Caffeine Will Not Sober You Up After Drinking Alcoholic Beverages
  (December 2009)
  Many people believe that drinking caffeine with or after drinking alcohol will sober them up, but there is no evidence to support this.
• An Update on H1N1 Influenza
  (December 2009)
  As the H1N1 influenza continues to spread, we review the best ways to prevent the flu. We also discuss over 100 products that the Food and Drug Administration reprimanded for selling unapproved flu treatments online.
• Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg’s Drug Interaction Is a Reminder to Pay Attention to Meds
  (December 2009)
  In mid-October, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was kept at a hospital overnight after she became drowsy, fell from her airplane seat and had to be taken off the plane before it departed. What common drug interaction was to blame?

   View back issues January 2004 - present

• The Case of Neurontin: Skewed Research in the Service of Selling
  (December 2009)
  Enter Abstract Here

• Petition to Ban Fibromyalgia Drug Milnacipran (Savella) (HRG Publication #1900) (January 19, 2010)
  Milnacipran (Savella) has highly questionable clinical efficacy and has been associated with a large number of potentially serious adverse reactions including hypertension, increased heart rate and an increased incidence of suicidal ideation.
• Petition to Ban Sibutramine (Meridia) (HRG Publication #1898) (December 2, 2009)
  This purpose of this letter is to re-petition the FDA to immediately ban the weight loss drug, sibutramine (Meridia – Abbott – in the U.S.).
• Petition Asking FDA to Reconsider Banning Propoxyphene (Darvon) (HRG Publication #1896) (November 23, 2009)
  This petition asks the FDA to reconsider granting our petition to ban Propoxyphene (Darvon)