Side-Effects in Prescription Drug Patients
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine1 finds a much higher than previously acknowledged rate of prescription drug side-effects. In this study of 1,202 Boston patients, about one- quarter of the patients studied had experienced side-effects. When side-effects arose, 13 percent were serious and 39 percent were preventable, such as when a drug was given to a patient known to be allergic to it. Of the preventable cases, the wrong drug was given nearly half the time. Other mistakes included improper dosages, or the patient was told to take it too often. In two-thirds of the cases, the problems persisted because the doctors failed to heed warning signs.
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1. NEJM, April 17, 2003.
Paxil and Suicide
The FDA has issued a warning that the drug Paxil should not be prescribed to children because of an increased risk of suicide. Paxil is prescribed to adults as a treatment for depression, but has never been approved for use in children. Many doctors, however, have been using it to treat their pediatric patients, even though it has not been proven effective in children. In fact, research by the pharmaceutical industry suggests that the only real effect it has in children is to triple the tendency toward suicide, particularly in teenagers.2
2. Associated Press, June 19, 2003.
Diet and Genetic Expression
Researchers from Duke University report that they have been able to influence an offspring's hair coloring by modifying the mother's diet.3 The researchers used two groups of mice for this study. Both were fed similar diets, except that one was fortified with folic acid, vitamin B12, choline and betaine. The mice used in this study typically have yellow fur and are rather plump, but the pups in the vitamin group were slim and had dark brown coats.4 The authors of this study say the gene responsible for the fur coloring had not mutated; its expression was simply modified.
3. Molecular and Cellular Biology, Aug. 1, 2003.
4. You can see a picture that illustrates the rather dramatic contrast between the two at: www.nature.com/nsu/030728/ 030728-12.html.
Feeding Frenzy
A study from Harvard Medical School reports that, despite evidence that feeding tubes do not help Alzheimer's patients survive longer, and may in fact be harmful, the practice is still prevalent. One-third of such patients in the final stages of the disease are given feeding tubes, researchers found in this study of more than 15,000 licensed nursing homes.5 The tubes can be irritating to patients and are associated with an increased risk of infection. Many specialists recommend spoon-feeding and comforting measures, although they can be quite time-consuming. The practice was seen most often in for-profit nursing homes; however, researchers note that relatives who are unfamiliar with the pros and cons of the practice often make the decision. A representative of the American Health Care Association, a nursing home professional/ trade organization, suggests that the situation would improve if more patients had living wills or documented advanced directives for their health care before their health and competency deteriorated.6
5. Journal of the American Medical Association, July 2, 2003.
6. Associated Press, July 1, 2003.
Fasting for Health
Researchers from the National Institute on Aging report that restriction of food intake appears to promote longer and healthier lives, even if done in short bursts. Earlier studies have found increases in longevity and overall health status if total caloric intake is restricted over a long time. However, the mice in this research consumed a near-average amount of food during the study and achieved similar results. The difference is that they fasted every other day, but ate two days' worth of food on their nonfasting days. The researchers think the physiology of fasting produces the health benefits, not necessarily a total decrease in caloric intake, as has been previously thought.7 Observed benefits of the fasting included lower blood sugar and insulin levels, and resistance to certain neurotoxins. The researchers are organizing a human trial that will attempt to evaluate the benefits of skipping one or two meals a day.
7. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, May 13, 2003.
Tea for Germs
According to new research, a few cups of tea each day can give a big boost to your immune system. Researchers say the L-theanine found in most teas becomes ethylamine after metabolism, which enhances the action of gamma-delta T-cells. These T-cells are some of the first active fighters of many types of infections, and are involved in the release of Interferon. This study was small, involving 11 people who consumed five cups of tea each day, and another 10 who drank coffee instead, but the results were dramatic. The tea drinkers' blood produced five times the amount of interferon when exposed to E. coli than before the four-week trial started, and also compared to the coffee drinkers.8
8. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, May 13, 2003.
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