News Briefs for January 2015

Over-the-Counter Medications That Make Driving Dangerous

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Consumer Update[1] in October 2014 warning that some commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) medications can cause driving impairment due to drowsiness. At the top of the list of potential culprits were antihistamines to treat allergy and cold symptoms, antidiarrheals that control diarrhea, and anti-emetics to prevent and treat nausea and motion sickness. To avoid driving impairment due to drowsiness, the FDA recommends that patients always read through the “Drug Facts” label on the OTC product they are taking, including the active ingredients, warnings and “When using this product” sections of the label. Patients are also advised to look for statements on the label about what to expect when using the drug in combination with alcohol or other medications.

Green Coffee Beans Not a Weight Loss Miracle

Researchers who published a 2012 study touting purported health benefits of green coffee bean extract have retracted the study, saying they could not verify the data.[2] The study’s researchers had claimed that the product, when given to research subjects as a diet aid, caused weight and fat loss without diet or exercise. After the study was published, popular TV doctor Mehmet Oz had promoted the product on his show, leading to sales of half a million bottles of the Applied Food Sciences Inc. supplement. But regulators at the Federal Trade Commission found that key data in the study had been altered, and the agency filed a complaint against the supplement’s manufacturer for false advertising, which resulted in a $3.5 million settlement. Dr. Oz defended his role, saying his show was “about hope.” Senators at a hearing on diet scams fired back, saying Oz has a responsibility to ensure that the remedies he promotes on his show are backed up by scientific evidence.[3]

American Academy of Neurology: Risks of Opioids for Chronic Noncancer Pain Outweigh Benefits

In September 2014, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a strongly worded position statement cautioning physicians on the use of opioids for treatment of chronic noncancer pain.[4] In a special article published in the journal Neurology, the AAN concluded that “there is no substantial evidence for maintenance of pain relief or improved function over long periods of time without incurring serious risks of overdose, dependence, or addiction.” The organization also noted that for many common chronic pain conditions — including chronic headaches, chronic low back pain and fibromyalgia — long-term use of opioids likely “will not prove to be worth the risk.” The AAN warning on opioid overuse comes against the backdrop of an epidemic of deaths caused by opioid overdoses since the late 1990s.[5]

References

[1] Food and Drug Administration. Caution: Some over-the-counter medicines may affect your driving. October 7, 2014. https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm417426.htm. Accessed October 29, 2014.

[2] CBS News. Dr.Oz-endorsed diet pill study was bogus, researchers admit. October 20, 2014. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dr-oz-endorsed-green-coffee-bean-diet-study-retracted/. Accessed October 29, 2014.

[3] Firger J. Dr. Oz defends weight-loss advice at Senate hearing on diet scams. CBS News. June 17, 2014. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dr-oz-defends-weight-loss-advice-at-senate-hearing-on-diet-scams/. Accessed October 29, 2014.

[4] Franklin GM. Opioids for chronic cancer pain: A position paper of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2014;83:1277-1284.

[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NCHS Data Brief. Drug-poisoning Deaths Involving Opioid Analgesics: United States, 1999–2011. Number 166, September 2014. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db166.htm#findings. Accessed November 14, 2014.