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MedicationSafety

What’s a ‘black box’ warning? A pharmacologist explains how these labels protect patients

What’s a ‘black box’ warning? A pharmacologist explains how these labels protect patients A “black box” warning on a health product is a tool for alerting pharmacists and clinicians that the medication may have serious risks, which they must communicate to consumers. Black box warnings are required by law and appear on product package inserts, […]

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Pregnant women face tough choices about medication use due to lack of safety data − here’s why medical research cuts will make it worse

Pregnant women face tough choices about medication use due to lack of safety data − here’s why medical research cuts will make it worse Pregnant women face difficult choices about medication use due to limited safety data, which can lead to inadequate treatment for chronic diseases and increased risk of birth defects or pregnancy loss. […]

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Are the medications you take safe?

Are the medications you take safe? A Harvard University physician-researcher, Jerry Avorn, argues that the FDA’s approval process for prescription drugs needs to be strengthened. The Accelerated Approval Program, introduced in the 1990s, has allowed over half of new drugs onto the market without rigorous proof of effectiveness. Avorn cites numerous examples of ineffective or […]

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Animal tranquilizers found in illegal opioids may suppress the lifesaving medication naloxone − and cause more overdose deaths

Animal tranquilizers found in illegal opioids may suppress the lifesaving medication naloxone − and cause more overdose deaths Animal tranquilizers like xylazine and medetomidine are being found in increasing amounts in illicit opioids, which can suppress the lifesaving medication naloxone and lead to more overdose deaths. The addition of animal tranquilizers to opioids can block […]

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