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...
Doctors Recommend Treatment that Doesn’t Meet with FDA Approval
New information surfaces about drug safety and the risk of biologic medications administered outside of FDA approval. A group of prominent dermatologists issued a set of national guidelines for treating psoriasis in 2011. Nothing unusual, except that their recommendations do not meet with FDA approval. Furthermore, many of the doctors...
Bayer Issues a Recall of Mislabeled Biologic Medications
Pharmaceutical giant Bayer is voluntarily recalling nearly one thousand vials of a biological drug used to treat patients with hemophilia A. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the recall in July, 2019 explaining the danger to patients who rely on the drug. Medication recalls relating to mislabeled drugs...
Hamilton Medical Issues a Medical Device Recall over Software Defect
Hamilton Medical, a device maker based in Switzerland, issued a medical device recall of 4,300 ventilators because of a software error that shuts off the life-sustaining machines. The specific devices associated with this device recall are Hamilton G5 ventilators. The ventilators included in the recall were manufactured between November 29,...
What Does it Mean if FDA Enforcement is on the Decline?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) performs a vital function for the consumer by regulating and enforcing safety measures for food, medical devices, and pharmaceutical products. A recent study funded by Science Magazine suggests that the federal agency has been considerably less active in recent years. Is the decline...