FDA Announces List of 20 Problem Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a list of 20 drugs with safety concerns in an effort to better inform consumers about the potential side effects associated with use. The list represents drugs currently under investigation by the FDA because of serious adverse effects.

Concerns have been voiced about the potential for unnecessary panic that may be associated with patients seeing their drug listed on the FDA advisory list. FDA representatives have stated the list has been compiled in an effort to better equip doctors and consumers with safety information about problematic drugs. However, the FDA has also stressed that patients taking a drug on the list should not stop taking it without first speaking with their physician.

The FDA plans to update the list each quarter.

List of medications with potential safety problems
The list of drugs under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, what they are used for and the potential problem.

—R-Gene 10, a growth hormone, pediatric overdose due to labeling/packaging confusion.
—Suprane, an anesthetic, cardiac arrest.
—Cymbalta, for depression and other conditions, urinary retention.
—Intelence, an HIV medication, bleeding into joints.
—Carac and Kuric, creams for skin conditions and fungal infections, name confusion.
—Heparin, a blood-thinner, serious allergic reactions.
—Extraneal, used in kidney dialysis, low blood sugars.
—Humilin R, for diabetes, dosing confusion.
—Stromectol and Warfarin, an anti-parasite drug and a blood thinner, drug interaction.
—Tykerb, for advanced breast cancer, liver damage.
—Revlimid, for multiple myeloma, severe skin blistering and bleeding.
—Tysabri, for multiple sclerosis, skin melanomas.
—Nitrostat, for angina, overdose due to labeling confusion.
—Sandostatin LAR, for abnormal bone growth, bowel obstruction.
—Oxycontin, a pain killer, drug misuse, abuse and overdose.
—Definity, used in cardiac imaging, cardiopulmonary reactions.
—Dilantin injection, for epileptic seizures, serious skin reaction.
—Seroquel, for bipolar disorder, overdose due to sample pack labeling confusion.
—Tyzeka, for chronic hepatitis B, nerve damage.
—Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blockers, for juvenile arthritis, cancers in children and young adults.