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Health News You Won’t Read About in the New York Times

By On October 19, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Here’s a forgotten chapter from pharmaceutical history. The acne drug, Accutane, manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals, has been associated with hundreds of birth defects. Since 2005 the iPLEDGE program has required that patients, doctors, and pharmacists register and that patients prove they are on birth control before they can be prescribed this potentially dangerous drug. But [...]

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Drug Companies Draw Up Doctor Hit List

By On March 31, 2009 · 10 Comments

Merck drew up a “hit list” of doctors in academia whose opinions about Vioxx were negative in order to “neutralise” or “discredit” them (their words, not mine).

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Dear Doctor, Cipro and Levaquin Might Make Your Tendons Snap Off

By On January 27, 2009 · 12 Comments

That’s a translation into person speak from a letter I got today from Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals that started out with “Dear Healthcare Professional” and went on to their new “black box warning” for their antibiotic drugs Avelox (moxifloxacin hydrochloride) and Cipro (ciprofloxacin). Here is their warning:

Fluoroquinolones, including Avelox/Cipro, are associated with an increased risk [...]

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