Hundreds of Americans are thought to be at risk of permanent loss of smell after taking particular homeopathic remedies that contain zinc and are marketed under the brand name, Zicam.  Because anosmia, the medical term for loss of smell, can…

In a rare move, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has filed criminal charges against a manufacturer of medical devices and four of its top executives for improper promotion of a cement-like bone filler, including encouraging surgeons to use…

Margaret Hamburg, MD, chief of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has agreed to review data on bisphenol A (BPA), a common ingredient in the plastic bottles used for baby formulas, water and other popular beverages, as well as…

Pfizer, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of medicines, has just gained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Palladia, the first cancer drug developed for specific use in dogs.  Canine cancer cases in the US are estimated at 1.2…

Most Americans assume over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers are relatively safe and that dosage limits listed on their labels are mere recommendations, OK to ignore if the pain doesn’t immediately go away.  This, unfortunately, is not the case and the US Food…

Almost 2% of all prescriptions filled in the United States are for drugs that never got approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Fourteen of these unapproved drugs are for narcotic painkillers that the FDA says must go…

The American public relies on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure nothing but the safest drugs are prescribed but the FDA relies on medical research scientists to provide the background data in order to approve or deny…

It’s been 40 years since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug for treating gout but the new drug, Uloric (febuxostat), has just passed the test, according to Takeda Pharmaceuticals, maker of Uloric.  A daily dose…

The US Justice Department has ordered Eli Lilly and Company to pay penalties totaling $1.415 billion for off-label marketing of its drug, Zyprexa.  The company pleaded guilty on January 30 to a misdemeanor charge of marketing the drug for unapproved…

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a list of dozens of drugs for which it is conducting safety reviews after concerns over their side effects and potential complications have been raised.  Some of the drugs under scrutiny…

In a recent announcement, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there is no reason to require labels for foods made from animals that were genetically engineered and sold to American consumers.  The animals themselves will require labels designating…

A group of the nation’s top scientists sent a letter on Wednesday, January 7, to the transition team for President-elect Barack Obama in which they urge a restructure of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because it has become…

No doubt, 2008 has been a rough year just about everywhere, with slings and arrows targeting everybody from an ambitious plumber to the president.  Somewhere in the middle is the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), chartered by Congress to…

For many people, confronting a colonoscopy is a test of both will and modesty but there is no doubt it is a life-saving procedure.  Preparation for this procedure starts early and involves both the body and the mind.  Preparing the…