Consumerist: side effects

Why Is The New Centrum Advanced Formula Causing Stomach Pains?

Chris Walters — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:13:08 EDT

Kevin writes, "I have been experiencing stomach pains after buying the new formula of Centrum Multivitamins. A co-worker had the same pain." It turns out, Kevin and his co-worker aren't alone—the Amazon product page for the reformulated ("now with lycopene!") vitamins are overwhelmingly negative, with nearly everyone reporting stomach pains. However, there are only eleven reviews for the product, so we're wondering how many people have actually tried the new Centrum and suffered for it. Anyone here?

Kevin's also unimpressed with how Centrum handled his complaint. Instead of offering a refund or, heck, even a coupon, they simply recorded his information and threw up a "proprietary" defense against any questions:

I'm not sure what to do. I called them and they took my name and symptoms for their research purposes. I didn't get any feedback and when I asked how many people have reported this issue they said it was proprietary information.

This really makes me feel like I'm part of a research study instead of a consumer.

Tamiflu And Relenza Treat Flu, But Might Make You Crazy

Chris Walters — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:16:24 EST

This week, an FDA advisory panel will review a recommendation to put a warning on flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza that says there have been "psychiatric events observed in some patients." The companies who make the drugs have both responded that they've found no causal link between their drugs and "psychiatric events."

Even the FDA has mixed feelings about it, which it may resolve this week.

The FDA staff said the evidence is "conflicting" as to whether the events are medication-related, a manifestation of disease or a combination of the two.

Tamiflu has been more widely used in Japan than in the United States, and there is some evidence that the Japanese are more vigilant about reporting side effects, the FDA has said.

FDA staff based its recommendations on a review of nearly 600 cases of neuropsychiatric events reported by patients on Tamiflu and 115 cases of such events by patients taking Relenza.

Tamiflu already has a warning label that says patients should be closely monitored "for abnormal behavior such as delirium or self-injury," which the FDA placed on it after a report two years ago that 12 Japanese children who were taking Tamiflu died. Relenza is currently free from any psychiatric warning.

The new Tamiflu warning would state: ""In some cases, these behaviors resulted in serious injuries, including death, in adult and pediatric patients."

For Relenza, the proposed warning would caution that "reports of hallucinations, delirium and abnormal behavior" have been observed in some patients.

"FDA staff urge psych warnings for two flu drugs" [Reuters]
(Photo: Getty)

Antifungal Medication Makes You See Chewbacca

Chris Walters — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:41:44 EDT

A new antifungal drug, voriconazole, causes patients to "develop a range of neurological side effects, including auditory and visual hallucinations," within 24 hours to 2 weeks of beginning treatment. The drug is marketed as Vfend, and is administered intraveneously to treat serious fungal infections. The National Institute of Health has been testing the toxicity of the drug and reported the neurological side effects at a recent conference.

The visual hallucinations frequently consisted of seeing people or scenes. One patient reported seeing flying objects, another saw scenes of Montana and New York City, and a third patient saw a giant "Wookie" from the movie Star Wars bending over his bed. The auditory hallucinations often consisted of hearing voices and music, and one patient reported hearing TV commercials.

Among the non-fun side effects: 5% of patients studied developed signs of liver damage.

But back to the hallucinations: we wonder if taking large doses of vitamin C along with the treatment would make them any more intense?

"Hallucinations not unusual with antifungal therapy" [Reuters]
(Photo: Getty)

Zicam Nasal Gel Vanquishes Colds, Sense Of Taste, Smell

Carey — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:20:53 EDT

A chewing gum company turned cold remedy manufacturer is under fire for selling a nasal spray that destroys people's sense of taste and smell. Over 400 lawsuits have been filed against Matrixx Initiatives for the side effects associated with Zicam nasal gel, a zinc-based homeopathic cold remedy. Matrixx has already spent $12 million to settle 340 lawsuits, but some customers won't be satisfied until the FDA is involved.

Two years ago, Richardson first tried Zicam after his mother, a registered nurse, brought him a package. At the time, Richardson was suffering from a cold and wanted quick relief because he was about to start a new job.
"I squirted it up my nose and felt a burning sensation," Richardson said.

A few days later, he noticed that scents seemed distorted. Even strong odors, such as gasoline, had a metallic scent. He also claimed he lost his sense of taste as the two senses are linked.

Richardson wants the FDA to require an independent study of Zicam's safety.

"If I took this product and I was just out $6, that's one thing," Richardson said. "This has changed my whole life... Heaven forbid some mother gives it to her 6-year-old kid."

Rather than settle the remaining lawsuits, Matrixx has started to successfully challenge the expert-status of doctors who claim a link between sensory loss and Zicam. They even hired their own crack team of experts to prove that Zicam is 100% safe, and won't burn your nasal tissues and cause you to lose all sense of taste.

Zicam raises the larger issue of the FDA's limited oversight of homeopathic treatments. Unlike conventional medicines, natural remedies are not subject to a rigorous approval process, nor are they put through clinical trials. Both, according to the agency, would cost too much time and money.

Lawsuits claim loss of smell [The Arizona Republic]