When the FDA first approved testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) drugs decades ago, they approved them only for medically related low testosterone, or “hypogonadism,” a condition in which testosterone levels go down because of a medical issue, like a pituitary gland malfunction or testicle problem
Today, if a doctor performs a procedure with a medical device, and something goes wrong with that device, they may report it to the FDA through their MedWatch system, or they may not. Right now, it’s up to them to make the decision. Hospitals and…
The number of cars listed for Takata air bag recalls continues to grow. It’s gotten so monumental that Fortune magazine has called it a “full-blown crisis.” Bloomberg states that regulators have expanded the air bag recalls 20 times over the past eight years, to include…
Toyota has announced another recall—this time for both defective air bags and leaky fuel tanks. This recall affects about 3.4 million vehicles globally. Though the fuel tank problems affect about 2.87 million vehicles, another 1.43 million have potentially defective side Autoliv air bags that can…
Rental car companies must now repair any outstanding recalls on their vehicles before being allowed to rent them to consumers. It used to be that recall repairs weren’t required on rentals. Car dealerships that were selling new vehicles had to be sure they were up…
Roadway work zones are inherently hazardous, both for the vehicles that drive through them, and for the workers who are doing the construction. It’s up to the construction companies to make sure that these areas are as safe as possible, and to put up proper…
In November 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advised the mayor of the Village of Hoosick Falls, New York, to warn residents about their drinking water. The water had been found to be contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and the EPA advised that residents avoid…
On June 14, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released another safety communication concerning the type 2 diabetes medication, Invokana (canagliflozin). It warned physicians and patients that Invokana and other similar medications (like Farxiga and Xigduo XR) can increase the risk of seri
According to a new study, heartburn drugs like Nexium and Prilosec may increase risk of osteoporosis—a disease in which the bones become weak and brittle and prone to fracture. A study in the journal of International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, has raised more concerns about…
A number of recent studies have linked proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Nexium and Prilosec with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease. In 2010, the FDA warned that the medications could increase risk of bone fracture, and other studies have also connected them to…
Over the last couple years, there have been a number of outbreaks of drug-resistant infections in various medical centers across the country. A 2016 report by the U.S. Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee found that many of the outbreaks were connected to contaminated duodenoscopes—small
Pregnant women are understandably cautious when it comes to taking medications. They recognize that some may be harmful to an unborn child. However, most moms also believe that if a product doesn’t warn that it may create a risk of birth defects, that the manufacturer…