View the entire September 2020 issue in PDF format

• Key Takeaways From the Updated CDC Report on Antibiotic Resistance
  (September 2020)
  An updated report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention underscores the continued threat of antibiotic resistance in the U.S. and highlights the emerging areas of concern and actions needed to combat this major public health problem.
• Evidence Lacking to Support Use of Compounded Topical Pain Creams
  (September 2020)
  In recent years, there has been a surge in the use of compounded topical pain creams as an alternative to oral pain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids. However, a committee of experts convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently concluded that there is a lack of evidence to support the safety and effectiveness of these compounded products.
• Testosterone Therapy for Men: More Evidence of Blood Clot Risk
  (September 2020)
  In this article, we discuss the results of a recent large observational study that provide added support for the concern that testosterone therapy heightens the risk of dangerous blood clot formation.
• Review of Phenytoin, a Best Pill for Seizures
  (September 2020)
  Medications are the mainstay of treatment for most patients with seizure disorders, and more than two dozen such drugs have been approved by the FDA. We review one of the oldest seizure drugs, phe¬nytoin (DILANTIN, PHENYTEK). Patients using the drug need to be aware of its many potentially serious adverse effects.
• Driving Under the Influence Caused by Medications
  (September 2020)
  Although impaired driving usu¬ally is caused by alcohol or marijuana, many commonly used prescription and over-the-counter medications also can impair one’s ability to drive safely. Learn about several classes of medications that can cause this serious problem to protect yourself, your passengers and others who share the road with you.

  View the entire August 2020 issue in PDF format

• Recent FDA Safety Warnings About Schizophrenia Drug Clozapine, Asthma/Allergy Drug Montelukast
  (August 2020)
  Learn about important new safety warnings issued by the FDA regarding the schizophrenia medica¬tion clozapine (CLOZARIL, VERSA¬CLOZ) and the asthma/allergy drug montelukast (SINGULAIR).
• Beware of Companies Promoting Bogus COVID-19 Cures
  (August 2020)
  Soon after the novel coronavirus began infecting people in the U.S., unscrupulous companies rushed to sell products not approved by the FDA with fake claims that they could prevent, treat or cure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Consumers need to be aware that such products are fraudulent, a waste of money and potentially harmful.
• Important Drug Interactions for the Anticoagulant Warfarin
  (August 2020)
  Patients taking the commonly used blood thinner warfarin (COUMADIN, JANTOVEN) should be aware that it has clinically important interactions with numerous other prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as some dietary supplements.
• Vitamin D and Calcium Dietary Supplements: Do They Prevent Bone Fractures?
  (August 2020)
  In this article, we discuss whether vitamin D and calcium dietary supplements are useful for promoting bone health and preventing bone fractures.
• Allergists’ Group Recommends Newer Antihistamines Over Older Antihistamines for Nasal Allergies and Hives
  (August 2020)
  Because of the better safety profile of newer second- and third-generation antihistamines, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group has previously recommended their use over older first-generation antihistamines for both allergic rhinitis and urticaria. A recent position statement by the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology that summarized the research evidence about these drugs reinforces our recommendation.

  View the entire July 2020 issue in PDF format

• Important Drug Interactions for the Antibiotic Azithromycin
  (July 2020)
  Patients taking the commonly prescribed antibiotic azithromycin (ZITHROMAX) should be aware that it has clinically important dangerous interactions with many other prescription medications.
• Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine: Dangerous Options for COVID-19
  (July 2020)
  In his editor’s column, Dr. Michael Carome explains why President Trump’s reckless promotion of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as “game-changing” treatments for COVID-19 was so dangerous.
• Melatonin Dietary Supplements: Useful for Jet Lag, Not for Other Conditions
  (July 2020)
  We summarize the available evidence from well-designed clinical trials that support the use of the dietary supplement melatonin for treating jet lag, but not other conditions.
• Strong Topical Steroids Often Sold Over the Counter Illegally in the U.S., Study Finds
  (July 2020)
  New research reveals that potent, prescription-strength topical steroids can be purchased over the counter readily in many U.S. cities. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from these illegal and potentially harmful products.
• Daily Low-Dose Aspirin Should Not Be Used to Prevent a First Heart Attack or Stroke
  (July 2020)
  If you do not have cardiovascular disease, you should not take aspirin to prevent a first heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event, particularly if you are over the age of 60, because the benefits of such treatment generally do not exceed its bleeding risk.
• Question & Answer
  (July 2020)
  In this month’s Question & Answer, we provide a list of websites that describe the appearance of prescription pills, resources that can help consumers protect themselves from life-threatening pharmacist errors.

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• Press Release: NIH Agrees With Public Citizen, Will Conduct Preclinical Trials of the Potential COVID-19 Treatment GS-441524 (HRG Publication #2539) (August 24, 2020)
  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will expeditiously conduct preclinical studies of GS-441524 as a treatment for COVID-19 and will make the results readily available to the scientific community, as requested in a letter sent to the agency by Public Citizen.
• Letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Senior FDA and NIH Officials Opposing Emergency Use Authorization for Any COVID-19 Vaccine (HRG Publication #2536) (August 6, 2020)
  Public Citizen strongly urged the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promptly end the current dangerous consideration being given to issuing Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for COVID-19 vaccines.
• Letter to Gilead and Senior Federal Health Officials Calling for Immediate Study of the Antiviral Drug GS-441524 as a Potential Treatment for COVID-19 (HRG Publication #2535) (August 4, 2020)
  The letter asks Gilead and the federal agencies either to work collaboratively to promptly pursue the development of GS-441524 as a treatment for COVID-19 or to publicly explain and provide evidence as to why doing so is not scientifically or medically feasible.
• Petition to the FDA to Require a Black-Box Warning for Commonly Used Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Known as SGLT2 Inhibitors (HRG Publication #2529) (June 24, 2020)
  Public Citizen petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add a black-box warning to the product labeling for the commonly used Type 2 diabetes drugs known as SGLT2 inhibitors, as they can lead to potentially fatal diabetic ketoacidosis in Type 1 diabetes patients for whom the drugs are not approved.