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FDA Medwatch Alert: Effexor XR 150 Mg Extended-Release Capsules (Pfizer) and Venlafaxine HCl 150 Mg Extended-Release Capsules (Greenstone): Recall - Possible Presence of Tikosyn Capsules

Posted 24 hours ago by Drugs.com

[Posted 03/07/2014] ISSUE:  Pfizer Inc. issued a voluntary recall of one lot of 30-count Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCl) 150 mg extended-release capsules, one lot of 90-count Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCl) 150 mg extended-release capsules, and one lot of 90-count Greenstone LLC-branded Venlafaxine HC1 150 mg extended-release capsules. This action is being taken because of a pharmacist report that one bottle of Pfizer’s Effexor XR contained one capsule of Tikosyn (dofetilide) 0.25mg in addition to the Effexor XR capsules. The use of Tikosyn by an Effexor XR/Venlafaxine HCl patient, where the contraindications and drug-drug interactions with Tikosyn have not been considered by the prescribing physician, could cause serious adverse health consequences that could be fatal. This recall is to the patient level and involves Pfizer lot numbers V130142 and V130140, which both expire in October 2015, ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Effexor XR, Venlafaxine

FDA Medwatch Alert: Effexor XR 150 Mg Extended-Release Capsules (Pfizer) and Venlafaxine HCl 150 Mg Extended-Release Capsules (Greenstone): Recall - Possible Presence of Tikosyn Capsules

Posted 2 days 11 hours ago by Drugs.com

[Posted 03/07/2014] ISSUE:  Pfizer Inc. issued a voluntary recall of one lot of 30-count Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCl) 150 mg extended-release capsules, one lot of 90-count Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCl) 150 mg extended-release capsules, and one lot of 90-count Greenstone LLC-branded Venlafaxine HC1 150 mg extended-release capsules. This action is being taken because of a pharmacist report that one bottle of Pfizer’s Effexor XR contained one capsule of Tikosyn (dofetilide) 0.25mg in addition to the Effexor XR capsules. The use of Tikosyn by an Effexor XR/Venlafaxine HCl patient, where the contraindications and drug-drug interactions with Tikosyn have not been considered by the prescribing physician, could cause serious adverse health consequences that could be fatal. This recall is to the patient level and involves Pfizer lot numbers V130142 and V130140, which both expire in October 2015, ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Effexor XR

Hearing Loss Tied to Depression in Study

Posted 3 days ago by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, March 6, 2014 – Hearing loss is associated with depression among American adults, especially women and those younger than age 70, according to new research. While other studies previously have found the same link, many of them looked only at older adults or at specific regions or ethnicities, and results have been mixed, the researchers pointed out. In the new study, as hearing declined, the percentage of depressed adults increased – from about 5 percent in those who had no hearing problems to more than 11 percent in those who did. "We found a significant association between hearing impairment and moderate to severe depression," said study author Dr. Chuan-Ming Li, a researcher at the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. "The cause-and-effect relationship is unknown," Li said, citing a need for further studies. The study was published online ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Hearing Loss

Too Often, Doctors Miss Suicide's Warning Signs: Study

Posted 10 days ago by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2014 – Nearly 37,000 Americans kill themselves each year, according to federal statistics. But many of those deaths might have been prevented if doctors had been better at picking up on the warning signs of suicide, a new study suggests. "A national suicide reduction goal may be met if more primary care doctors and specialists receive and use training to identify and treat patients most at risk," study lead author Brian Ahmedani, an assistant scientist in the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, said in a statement from the health system. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and is the leading cause of injury-related death, recently topping deaths tied to car accidents. However, the new study finds that physicians ... Read more

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Kids' Checkups Should Include Cholesterol, Depression Tests, Doctors Say

Posted 13 days ago by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2014 – Doctors should test middle school-age children for high cholesterol and start screening for depression at age 11, according to updated guidelines from a leading group of U.S. pediatricians. Doctors should also test older teens for HIV, the AIDS-causing virus, the revised preventive-care recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics say. The new screening schedule provides "the recommended content for a well-child visit," said Dr. Joseph Hagan, co-editor of the guidelines. "Some changes are small, some will get people's attention." The changes attempt to address several pressing health issues affecting U.S. families today. The nation's obesity epidemic means that children are developing high cholesterol levels – a risk factor for heart disease – at earlier ages. And depression is linked to higher risk for teen suicides and murder. "One in five kids ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, High Cholesterol

Could Thyroid Activity Raise Depression Risk in Seniors?

Posted 17 days ago by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2014 – Older adults with slightly elevated thyroid activity may be at increased risk for depression, a new study indicates. Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,500 people, average age 70, who were depression-free and had their thyroid activity assessed at the start of the study. Over eight years of follow-up, people with thyroid glands that were more active than average – but still within the normal range – were more likely to develop depression than those with lower levels of thyroid activity within the normal range, the investigators found. "These results provide insight into the powerful effects thyroid activity can have on emotions and mental health," Dr. Marco Medici, of the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, said in a news release from the Endocrine Society. Hormones produced in the thyroid gland control the rate of many bodily activities. ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Hyperthyroidism

Early Treatment for Depression May Be Good for the Heart

Posted 11 Feb 2014 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2014 – Treating depression in its early stages might help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study suggests. Researchers assessed 235 older people diagnosed with depression. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either antidepressants and psychotherapy or standard care determined by their doctor. Patients who had no evidence of heart disease at the study start who received antidepressants and therapy for their depression almost halved their risk of a heart attack or stroke during the eight years of the study, compared with the standard care group, the researchers found. "Ultimately, this line of research could produce a new approach to preventing cardiovascular disease," said study author Jesse Stewart, an associate professor of psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Health-care professionals have long known that ... Read more

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Risk of Depression May Rise With Too Much or Too Little Sleep

Posted 6 Feb 2014 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2014 – Too much or too little sleep can increase the risk of depression, according to two new studies. Inappropriate amounts of sleep may activate depression-related genes, researchers report in the Feb. 1 issue of the journal Sleep. One study included more than 1,700 adult twins. Among those who got normal amounts of sleep (seven to nearly nine hours a night), the genetic influence on symptoms of depression was 27 percent versus 53 percent for those who slept only five hours a night, and 49 percent among those who slept 10 hours a night. "Both short and excessively long sleep durations appear to activate genes related to depressive symptoms," lead investigator Dr. Nathaniel Watson, an associate professor of neurology and co-director of the University of Washington Medicine Sleep Center in Seattle, said in a journal news release. Ensuring that patients get optimum ... Read more

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Risk of Depression May Rise With Too Much or Too Little Sleep

Posted 6 Feb 2014 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2014 – Too much or too little sleep can increase the risk of depression, according to two new studies. Inappropriate amounts of sleep may activate depression-related genes, researchers report in the Feb. 1 issue of the journal Sleep. One study included more than 1,700 adult twins. Among those who got normal amounts of sleep (seven to nearly nine hours a night), the genetic influence on symptoms of depression was 27 percent versus 53 percent for those who slept only five hours a night, and 49 percent among those who slept 10 hours a night. "Both short and excessively long sleep durations appear to activate genes related to depressive symptoms," lead investigator Dr. Nathaniel Watson, an associate professor of neurology and co-director of the University of Washington Medicine Sleep Center in Seattle, said in a journal news release. Ensuring that patients get optimum ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression

Primary Care Providers May Balk at Giving Teens Antidepressants

Posted 15 Jan 2014 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 – Primary health care providers are reluctant to prescribe antidepressants for their teenaged patients, even in cases of severe depression, a new study suggests. The researchers found that those who were more knowledgeable about depression – and especially those who could consult with an on-site mental health expert – were more likely to prescribe antidepressants for depressed teens. The study included 58 pediatric primary care providers. Most were doctors, but some were nurse practitioners or other professionals. The study participants were given hypothetical situations describing two 15-year-old girls with depression. One girl met the criteria for moderate depression and the other for severe depression, but neither was suicidal. The participants were asked to make an initial treatment recommendation for each of the girls. Only one-quarter of them said they ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Citalopram, Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Escitalopram, Paroxetine, Luvox, Paxil CR, Fluvoxamine, Sarafem, Luvox CR, Brintellix, Pexeva, Vortioxetine, Prozac Weekly

Antidepressants in Pregnancy Tied to Slight Risk of Lung Disorder in Babies

Posted 15 Jan 2014 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 – Taking certain antidepressants in late pregnancy more than doubles the odds of a lung complication in newborns, a new review says. Fortunately, the study also found that the absolute risk of the complication – known as persistent pulmonary hypertension – was still low, affecting about 3.5 out of every 1,000 births, according to study author Dr. Sophie Grigoriadis. "Women taking these medications in pregnancy should not panic. The risk is still quite low. It should be one of the factors you consider when you decide to use medications, but it has to be balanced with the potential problems that can occur if you don't treat depression," said Grigoriadis, head of the Women's Mood and Anxiety Clinic: Reproductive Transitions at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, in Toronto. Deciding how to treat depression during pregnancy can be difficult, the study noted. The ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Lexapro, Zoloft, Effexor, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Citalopram, Effexor XR, Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Venlafaxine, Escitalopram, Paroxetine, Luvox, Paxil CR, Fluvoxamine, Sarafem, Brintellix, Luvox CR

Meditation May Reduce Mild Depression, Anxiety

Posted 6 Jan 2014 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Jan. 6 – Daily meditation might help some people relieve anxiety, depression and pain, Johns Hopkins University researchers report. Many people meditate in an attempt to reduce stress and stress-related health problems. But whether this centuries-old approach to greater self-awareness has actual medical benefits isn't really known. For this study, published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers reviewed 47 prior studies that looked at meditation's effect on various conditions that included substance abuse, eating habits, sleep, pain and weight in addition to depression and anxiety. "The maximum strength of evidence we found was moderate for anxiety, depression and pain; low for some others and insufficient for the bulk of outcomes we evaluated," said lead researcher Dr. Madhav Goyal, an assistant professor of medicine. He noted, however, that few trials included ... Read more

Related support groups: Anxiety, Depression

Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism

Posted 18 Dec 2013 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2013 – Despite some concerns to the contrary, children whose moms used antidepressants during pregnancy do not appear to be at increased risk of autism, a large new Danish study suggests. The results, published Dec. 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine, offer some reassurance, experts said. There have been some hints that antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) could be linked to autism. SSRIs are the "first-line" drug against depression, and include medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and paroxetine (Paxil). In one recent U.S. study, mothers' SSRI use during pregnancy was tied to a twofold increase in the odds that her child would have autism. A Swedish study saw a similar pattern, though the risk linked to the drugs was smaller. But both studies included only small numbers of ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Citalopram, Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Escitalopram, Paroxetine, Luvox, Autism, Paxil CR, Fluvoxamine, Sarafem, Brintellix, Luvox CR, Pexeva, Prozac Weekly

Exercise Seems to Ease Parkinson's-Related Depression

Posted 13 Dec 2013 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2013 – A long-term exercise program may help ease depression in people with Parkinson's disease, according to a new, small study. Researchers looked at 31 Parkinson's patients who were randomly assigned to an "early start" group that did an exercise program for 48 weeks or a "late start" group that worked out for 24 weeks. The program included three one-hour cardiovascular and resistance training workouts a week. Depression symptoms improved much more among the patients in the 48-week group than among those in the 24-week group. This is important because mood is often more debilitating than movement problems for Parkinson's patients, said study leader Dr. Ariane Park, a movement disorder neurologist at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. The study was published online recently in the journal Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. More than half of Parkinson's ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Parkinson's Disease

FDA Approves First Generic Versions of Antidepressant Drug Cymbalta

Posted 11 Dec 2013 by Drugs.com

December 11, 2013 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic versions of Cymbalta (duloxetine delayed-release capsules), a prescription medicine used to treat depression and other conditions. Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Lupin Ltd., Sun Pharma Global FZE, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, and Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. have received FDA approval to market duloxetine in various strengths. “Health care professionals and consumers can be assured that these FDA-approved generic drugs have met our rigorous standards,” said Kathleen Uhl, M.D., acting director of the Office of Generic Drugs in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Generic drugs offer greater access to health care for many people.” Depression is characterized by symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasu ... Read more

Related support groups: Depression, Cymbalta, Duloxetine

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