View the entire January 2020 issue in PDF format

• Updated Review of the Hair Loss and Prostate Drug Finasteride (PROPECIA, PROSCAR)
  (January 2020)
  For many years, we have classified both finasteride products as Do Not Use. Read our updated review to find out why.
• Despite Rising Overdose Deaths, DEA Allowed More Opioids to Flood the U.S.
  (January 2020)
  In his editor’s column, Dr. Michael Carome discusses a government watchdog’s finding that the Drug Enforcement Administration allowed drug manufacturers to produce substantially larger quantities of opioids from 2002 to 2013, thus helping to fuel the opioid overdose epidemic.
• New Study Makes Case for Increased Access to the Opioid Overdose Antidote Naloxone
  (January 2020)
  Learn about the results of new research suggesting that implementation of laws expanding naloxone access by authorizing pharmacists to dispense the drug without a prescription may result in fewer opioid-related deaths.
• Important Drug Interactions for Immune-Suppressing and Cancer Drug Methotrexate
  (January 2020)
  Patients taking the commonly prescribed drug methotrexate, which is used to treat certain autoimmune diseases and several types of cancer, should be aware that it has clinically important interactions with many other prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• Review of the Cough Medications Dextromethorphan and Benzonatate
  (January 2020)
  Despite its importance in maintaining clear airways and lung health, cough is one of the most common symptoms for which patients seek medical attention and is responsible for millions of doctor visits in the U.S. every year. Learn why the cough medications dextromethorphan and benzonatate generally should be avoided, particularly in children.
• News Brief: FDA Cautions the Maker of Diet Drug QSYMIA for Misleading Advertising
  (January 2020)
  In this month’s news brief, we highlight a recent letter that the FDA issued to drugmaker Vivus that cited the company for making false or misleading claims on a promotional consumer-directed webpage for its oral weight-loss prescription drug QSYMIA, which we have designated as Do Not Use.

  View the entire December 2019 issue in PDF format

• Commonly Used Oral Drugs That Can Cause Eye Problems; First of a Two-Part Series
  (December 2019)
  In this first of a two-part series, we review some of the many commonly prescribed medications that can damage your eyes and the steps that you can take to protect yourself from these adverse effects. The second part in this series will appear in our February 2020 issue.
• Reckless Failure to Identify Dangerous Adverse Effect of New Diabetes Drugs
  (December 2019)
  In his editor’s column, Dr. Michael Carome discusses the failure of drug companies, researchers and the FDA to recognize the overwhelming evidence dating back to the early 1900s demonstrating that the new diabetes drugs known as “flozins” can cause life-threatening ketoacidosis.
• Important Drug Interactions for the Antifungal Drug Fluconazole
  (December 2019)
  Patients taking the commonly prescribed antifungal drug fluconazole (DIFLUCAN) should be aware that it has clinically important interactions with many other prescription medications. Some of these interactions can lead to an increased risk of fatal heart rhythm abnormalities.
• New Research Shows Vitamin D Supplements Not Useful for Preventing Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease or Diabetes
  (December 2019)
  Learn about results of two large, well-designed, randomized clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health demonstrating that high-dose vitamin D supplementation was not useful for preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
• New Study Finds Higher Risk of Psychosis with Amphetamine Treatment for ADHD
  (December 2019)
  Read this article to find out which drug treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has a greater risk of psychosis in adolescents and young adults.
• Question & Answer
  (December 2019)
  Read our response to a reader who asked whether the drug pantoprazole (PROTONIX), which suppresses stomach acid, could have caused a false-positive urine screening test result for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.

  View the entire November 2019 issue in PDF format

• Review of the Diet Drug Orlistat
  (November 2019)
  Learn about the many dangers that make the diet drug orlistat the wrong choice for patients who are trying to lose weight.
• Big Pharma Sinks to Bottom of Barrel in Public Opinion Poll
  (November 2019)
  In his editor’s column, Dr. Michael Carome reviews the results of a recent Gallup poll showing that Americans now view the pharmaceutical industry more negatively than any other major industry in the U.S.
• Medications That Cause Hearing Problems
  (November 2019)
  For most people with hearing loss, the condition likely is age-related or due to long-term exposure to loud noise. But for some patients, the cause of the problem can be found in the medicine cabinet.
• Most Preventive Antibiotics Before Dental Procedures Are Unnecessary, Study Finds
  (November 2019)
  Dentists often prescribe antibiotics before dental procedures as prophylaxis to prevent infection from the release of bacteria from the mouth into the bloodstream. Find out which patients should receive such preventive antibiotics before dental procedures.
• New Guideline Recommends Against Thyroid Hormone Treatment for Most Adults With Mildly Underactive Thyroid
  (November 2019)
  In this article, we describe a common condition known as subclinical hypothyroidism and discuss the newest guidelines regarding which patients with this condition should be treated with thyroid hormone replacement.
• News Brief: FDA Announces Discovery of Cancer-Causing Contaminant in Heartburn Medication
  (November 2019)
  In this month’s news brief, we report actions taken by the FDA and regulators in other countries in response to the discovery of a probable human carcinogen in a widely used medication that suppresses stomach acid.

   View back issues January 2004 - present

• Comments on the FDA’s Proposal to Amend the List of Bulk Drug Substances That Can be Used to Compound Drug Products Under Section 503A of the FDCA (HRG Publication #2501) (December 4, 2019)
  Regarding the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) proposal to add five bulk drug substances to the list of bulk drug substances that can be used to compound drug products under section 503A of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), Public Citizen supports adding three of the bulk drug substances and opposes adding two. Public Citizen also strongly supports the FDA’s proposal to exclude 26 bulk drug substances from the list because of concerns regarding the substances’ safety or effectiveness.
• Letter to the FDA Calling for Investigation Into an Apparent Illegal Clinical Trial That Tested Unapproved Naltrexone Implants in Prison Inmates (HRG Publication #2499) (November 20, 2019)
  Public Citizen and 31 doctors, bioethicists, prisoner advocates, and academics called on the FDA to immediately investigate BioCorRx, Inc. & the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections’ testing of an unapproved sustained-release naltrexone implant on prison inmates to determine its effectiveness in managing addiction disorders. Although the FDA has approved naltrexone in oral tablet & injectable forms to treat alcohol & opioid dependence, it has never approved any surgically implanted form.
• Testimony Before the FDA’s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee Regarding Using Empagliflozin to Treat Patients with Type 1 Diabetes (HRG Publication #2498) (November 13, 2019)
  In testimony before the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee, Public Citizen urged the FDA to reject Boehringer Ingelheim’s supplemental new drug application for empagliflozin for treatment of type 1 diabetes because the drug offers minimal benefits that do not outweigh the significantly increased risk of life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Petition to the DEA and FDA to Reschedule the Opioid Tramadol From Schedule IV to Schedule II (HRG Publication #2497) (November 6, 2019)
  Public Citizen petitioned the Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reschedule the opioid tramadol from the weakly controlled schedule IV under the Controlled Substances Act to the more tightly controlled schedule II because it is overprescribed, often misused, highly addictive and potentially deadly.
• Comments on the FDA’s Proposal to Exclude Nine Drugs From the 503B Bulks List for Pharmacy Compounding by Outsourced Facilities (HRG Publication #2496) (November 4, 2019)
  We strongly support the FDA’s proposal to exclude nine bulk drug substances from the list of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical need for pharmacy compounding by outsourcing facilities. Each of the nominated bulk drug substances is a component of one or more FDA-approved drug products, and the nominators have failed to demonstrate that there is a clinical need for outsourcing facilities to compound drug products using the nominated bulk drug substances.