Benicar is a prescription drug used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). When it first hit the markets in 2002, Benicar was touted as superior to other similar drugs for lack of side effects and effectiveness. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning that the…
For decades, thousands of women used – and many continue to use – talcum powder as a feminine-hygiene product. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of those women may have developed ovarian cancer as a result. One of the deadliest forms of cancer, ovarian cancer is linked to the use of talc-based…
Talc, also known as talcum powder, is a naturally occurring mineral made up of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen that is highly stable, chemically inert and odorless. Talcum powder is generally accepted as safe for cosmetic and personal use, as it is known to absorb moisture and prevent friction, thereby functioning…
As with any anticoagulants (blood thinners) on the market today, Xarelto increases the risk of hemorrhaging, also known as excessive bleeding. However, patients on Xarelto have more than double the risk of stomach bleeding than those on another type of blood thinner. Furthermore, there is currently no antidote to reverse…
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often prescribed as treatment for acid-related conditions because of their ability to block the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that makes acid, thereby decreasing the production of acid in the body. Examples of some protein pump inhibitors that are often prescribed are omeprazole…
We are fortunate to live in a time when medical technology and pharmaceuticals can save us from injuries and illnesses that would have killed us a half century ago. Medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes were death sentences in the not-so-distant past. Today, with prescription drugs, and certain…
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are blood-filtering devices that are often implanted in people recovering from accidents and surgeries by preventing blood clots from traveling to the lungs. These devices can be temporary or permanent and are inserted into the largest vein in the body where they trap clots. …
Testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone produced in the human body. This hormone is mainly produced in the testicles of men and is responsible for sperm production, a man’s sex drive, and building muscle and bone mass. Testosterone production tends to naturally decrease as men age. As a result, men…
Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The drug is used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, among other conditions. Risperdal is also used to treat aggression in some patients with autism. Although it is FDA approved, Risperdal is linked to some…
Having a baby is supposed to be a joyous time for new parents. Unfortunately, when a baby has birth defects, that joy is often replaced with sadness, fear, and anger. In some situations, birth defects are hereditary, but birth defects related to prescription drugs and physician error are increasingly common.…