A recent study in the Archives of General Psychiatry (Vol. 66, No. 8, August, 2009) reported that the use of antidepressant drugs in the United States nearly doubled between 1996 and 2005. The rate of antidepressant treatment increased from 5.84% in 1996 to 10.12% in 2005. This translates to 13.3 million persons taking antidepressant medications
The headline in the Wall Street Journal (8.5.09) reads, “FDA Warns on Cancer Risk in Immune-System Drugs”. The article stated that the FDA declared there is an increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers associated with the arthritis drugs Remicade and Humira in children and adolescents. These drugs work by neutralizing the biological activity of
Big Pharma is now making a push that cholesterol lowering medications should be used in anyone with signs of inflammation. The Jupitor study (NEJM. VOl 359; 2008) looked at the use of Crestor (a statin drug) in “healthy” individuals who had elevated laboratory tests showing inflammation (via a blood test known as the CRP test).
Unbelievable. The headline in today’s New York Times reads, “F.D.A. Deems Mercury Level in Fillings Safe”. The article states that F.D.A. believes that silver dental fillings containing mercury are safe for use by adults and children ages six and above. The F.D.A. claimed they reviewed more than 200 scientific studies to make the conclusion “…that
A report in the Detroit Free Press (10.22.08) reported on the rising prevalence of food allergies in American children. The article states that food allergies are estimated to affect 3 million children according to a federal study. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in26 children suffer from food allergies, which is increased from
Every few months, headlines in the newspapers will proclaim that vitamin supplements are a waste of time and money. For example, headlines in the Wall Street Journal proclaimed, “Vitamin Pills: A False Hope?”. The article asked the question, “Are vitamins worth it?” The article went on to describe a study showing the failure of vitamins
One of the most frequent questions I receive from my patients is, “Do my children need iodine?” Over the last 30 years, iodine levels have fallen over 50% in the U.S. population (NHANES at www.cdc.gov). My research has shown over 95% of my new patients are iodine deficient by the WHO criteria. As I have
The FDA releases a quarterly newsletter known as the FDA Drug Safety Newsletter. This newsletter gives information about problems with approved drugs. The latest newsletter (Vol. 2, N. 2, 2009) was recently released. This newsletter provided information about Zoledronic acid, marketed as Reclast and Zometa which are bisphosphonate drugs used to treat osteoporosis. These drugs
A recent article in JAMA reported that the commonly used drug, Flomax within 14 days of cataract surgery was significantly associated with postoperative adverse ophthalmic events. The authors of the study looked at all men (over the age of 65 years) who had cataract surgery in Ontario, Canada from 2002-2007. The total number studied was
I believe that adult onset diabetes is the illness that will bankrupt medicare and possibly the U.S. government. Over 50% of U.S. adults are obese and over two-thirds are overweight. What is the price we are paying for this obesity epidemic? Diabetes. Adult onset or Type II diabetes is a preventable illness. Nearly all of
