Tepezza, also known as teprotumumab-trbw, is a new biologic drug therapy used to treat adults with active thyroid eye disease (TED). TED is an autoimmune disorder that causes the muscles and fatty tissues around the eyes to become inflamed, resulting in bulging eyes, double vision, and other vision problems. Tepezza is administered intravenously (IV) by…
Zantac was voluntarily pulled from shelves as a “precautionary measure” after it was determined that more safety assessments are needed after 1,500 samples tested positive for a carcinogen impurity. Ranitidine (Zantac) is an H2 blocker used to treat heartburn. It has been on the market since 1981. Doctors write 15 million prescriptions of Zantac a…
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. There are many ways to get involved with the national movement if you or someone you love has suffered with ovarian cancer. You can join the conversation on social media using hashtags like: #KnowOvarian, #30DaysOfTeal, or #EndWomensCancer. You can donate or participate in a local event by searching Runwalk.ovarian.org.…
In 2009, Uloric (active ingredient febuxostat) became the first prescription gout medication to gain FDA approval in 40 years. Doctors were quick to prescribe the new blockbuster drug, which has generated $1.9 billion in sales for manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceuticals within the last five years alone. Then, in February 2019, the use of this medication…
The US Food and Drug Administration issued a December 2018 warning that taking FLQs (fluoroquinolones antibiotics) puts patients at a higher risk of ruptures or tears in the aorta. According to the FDA’s analysis of adverse events, the risk of aortic aneurysm in the general FLQ-using population is nine per 100,000. However, in high risk…
The Philadelphia Inquirer (8/3, McCullough, 1.07M) reported that scientists agree that breast implants with textured surfaces, rather than smooth ones, can cause “breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.” Back in 2011, the Food and Drug Administration estimated the risk as less than one in 500,000, but “the risk after a decade of wearing the devices could…