Friday, January 21, 2005

FDA Safety Labeling Changes: Altace, Wellbutrin XL, Levaquin, Pepcid Medscape Medical News story - "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved last October revisions to safety labeling to advise healthcare professionals of the following changes: ramipril may be linked to risk of intestinal angioedema; the extended-release formulation of bupropion HCl may be linked to a dose-related risk of seizures; levofloxacin has been associated with a risk of arthropathy in animal studies; and over-the-counter products containing famotidine should not be used if signs of a more serious condition exist." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Study: Kids' mental health care mixed (California)  Sacramento Bee story - "A first-ever look at the quality of publicly funded mental health care for tens of thousands of California's neediest children has exposed serious gaps. The study, commissioned by the state and conducted by researchers at four University of California campuses, found, for example, that less than a third of children who were prescribed a psychiatric drug were being monitored for changes in weight, pulse, blood pressure and liver function. The research paper, appearing in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, also documented some good news. The vast majority of mental health providers, for example, followed guidelines to evaluate patients and assess suicide risk."