The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues recalls and safety alerts to keep consumers and the healthcare community informed. Safety alerts often involve drugs, medical devices, supplements and cosmetics. In September, the FDA issued multiple new safety alerts for medical devices and drugs. Several of the safety alerts involve...
In The News
Blood Pressure Medication Recall Expands Yet Again
In September 2019, the ongoing blood pressure medication recall that has made headlines this year expanded once again. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is expanding the recall of blood pressure medications at the consumer level. According to the FDA, several batches of Losartan...
News Update: JUUL CEO Steps Down, Ends Merger Talks with Philip Morris
At Drug and Device Watch, we continue to follow reports of illness and addiction related to JUUL brand e-cigarettes. Most recently in the news is the fact that JUUL’s CEO has stepped down. The new CEO is an executive at Altria Group Inc., the company that owns 35 percent of...
What Parents Need to Know about Vaping Related Illness
Across the country, hundreds of victims are reporting vaping related illness. What is most alarming is that most of the cases involve young adults or teens. Health officials say the illnesses among these groups is a troubling sign of increased use in this demographic. Some are now calling the increase...
Michigan is the First State to Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes Amid Mysterious Vape Illness
Physicians, federal agencies, and legislators are taking to the media to discuss growing concerns over the use of electronic cigarettes. As reports of a mysterious vape illness continue to pour in, at least one state is ready to say goodbye flavored e-cigarette products altogether. Michigan has announced a ban on...
Trump Proposes Flavored E-Cigarette Ban Amidst Vaping Related Illness Outbreak
On September 11, 2019, the Trump Administration announced plans to ban all flavored e-cigarettes as a means of combating the vaping related illness outbreak. The announcement is facing a mixture of support and skepticism. Supporters are not surprised with states like Michigan already banning flavored e-cigarettes. In a press conference,...
Vaping Related Illness Update: FDA Confirms JUUL Illegally Markets E-Cigarettes
For several weeks, JUUL has headlined media reports stating that the company’s marketing strategies are more than unethical. In fact, many people believe that they are illegal. JUUL has continued to market their products as safe despite the fact that vaping related illness and nicotine addiction is reaching epidemic proportions....
JUUL Health Risks Include Lung Illness and Death
Electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, has increased dramatically in recent years. Consumers believe that e-cigarettes are safer than standard tobacco, but new reports suggest otherwise. A Drug and Device Watch, we have reported on JUUL health risks, lung illness, and the unethical marketing of e-cigarettes to teens. Now, it seems that...
Do you Order Prescriptions Online? The FDA Says Be Wary
For the millions of Americans who buy medications from outside the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends caution. Do you really know what the risks are to buying medications that are not regulated or inspected by the FDA? Read on to learn more about drug safety....
Pfizer Issues Medication Recall for Possibly Contaminated Relpax
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has issued a medication recall for two lots of eletriptan hydrobromide because of potential contamination with bacteria. Eletriptan hydrobromide sells under the brand name Relpax. This recall is for the 40mg tablets of the drug. Does the recall of this popular medication affect you? Who is at...
Is Your Electronic Cigarette a Dangerous Product?
Are electronic cigarettes the next major dangerous product posing risk to consumers? Recent reports of illness, hospitalization, and even death linked to “vaping” certainly suggests that consumers are at risk. Vaping is the act of using an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) to inhale vapor from liquid pods in the device. So...
Do Electronic Cigarettes Cause Neurological Side Effects?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 100 reports of seizures and other neurological side effects in connection with the use of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes. Despite seizures being a known complication of nicotine toxicity, the federal agency is not ready to officially link vaping to...