[SS8282]

Is it ok to post articles or links regarding governmental (or any other legit organizations) on warnings of medications, etc.?

The articles I'm thinking about are from Health Canada, but I also know that many, if not most, of the people here are in the U.S. Just thought it never hurts to have more info. about different kinds of med.

[bptoo]

Sure, any informaton about the use and warnings of medications would be greatly appreciated! If you have the urls available with the info you post, give those too so the members can read more in depth if they want to. Thanks for offering to do this!

Greg



"Beauty is truth, truth is beauty - that is all you know on earth, and all you need to know"

[SS8282]

Ty Greg. I did a copy/paste thing. Don't know if it works. Worse comes to worse, go to www.hc-sc.gc.ca

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/prote...04/2004_38.htm

Below is one article:
Advisory
Health Canada Is Advising Canadians That Antidepressant Trazodone May Interact with Certain Medications
OTTAWA - Health Canada, in association with Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, is advising Canadians to consult with their health care professionals if they are currently being treated with the antidepressant trazodone in combination with any of the following medications: ketoconazole (an antifungal agent), ritonavir and indinavir (protease inhibitors used in the treatment of HIV), or carbamazepine (an anti-epileptic therapy).

When trazodone is combined with these drugs, patients may experience the following symptoms: nausea, low blood pressure, temporary loss of consciousness (increased trazodone levels), or decreased effectiveness of the trazodone therapy (decreased trazodone levels).

Patients who have questions about their current medications, should consult with their physician or pharmacist directly. It is important that patients do not stop taking medications without first consulting with a health care professional.

This advisory applies to the following antidepressants:

Apo-Trazodone (Apotex incorporated)
Desyrel (trazodone) (Bristol-Myers Squibb)
Dom-Trazodone (Dominion Pharmacal)
Gen-Trazodone (Genpharm Inc.)
Trazorel (ICN Canada Ltd.)
Novo-Trazodone (Novopharm Limited)
Nu-Trazodone (Nu-Pharm Inc.)
Penta-Trazodone (Pentapharm Ltd.)
PMS-Trazodone (Pharmascience Inc.)
PHL-Trazodone (Pharmel Inc.)
Trazodone (Pro Doc Limitée)
Ratio-Trazodone (Ratiopharm Inc.)
Scheinpharm Trazodone (Schein Pharmaceutical Canada Inc.)
Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, in collaboration with Health Canada, has sent a letter to health care professionals to inform them of this safety information. A copy of the letter can be found at Health Canada's website at:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...sionals_e.html

Health Canada is also working with manufacturers to revise the prescribing information found in the Product Monograph for trazodone in order to provide physicians and pharmacists with updated safety information regarding drug interactions.

Any suspected adverse reactions associated with trazodone can be reported directly to the product manufacturer or to:
Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Program (CADRMP)
Marketed Health Products Directorate
HEALTH CANADA
Address Locator: 0701C
OTTAWA, Ontario, K1A 0K9
Tel: (613) 957-0337 or Fax: (613) 957-0335
To report an Adverse Reaction, consumers and health professionals may call toll free:
Tel: 866 234-2345
Fax: 866 678-6789
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...ideline_e.html

The Adverse Reaction Reporting Form and the Adverse Reaction Guidelines can be found on the Health Canada web site or in The Canadian Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...adverse_e.html
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...ideline_e.html

Media Inquiries:
Jirina Vlk
Health Canada
(613) 957-2988

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991

[SS8282]

Here's the other article:

Advisory
Health Canada takes additional safety measures to ensure the safe use of Clozapine
OTTAWA - Health Canada is taking additional steps to ensure the safe use of clozapine, a drug used in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Clozapine is used for patients that are unresponsive to, or not tolerant to, conventional drugs. The use of clozapine is known to potentially cause a decrease in white blood cells, known as agranulocytosis, which impairs the body's defense mechanism against infection. As such, patients must have regular blood tests to monitor their white blood cell count. Results are recorded in patient registries, which are accessed by treating physicians and pharmacists to ensure that the drug is not given to a patient at risk for agranulocytosis.

In consultation with the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA), the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), Health Canada is taking a number of steps to improve safety measures for clozapine use in Canada. These steps involve a) revisions to the Product Monographs of all clozapine products marketed in Canada b) a new proposed statement to be added to the Patient Registration Form and c) a "Questions and Answers" patient information leaflet.

Currently, patients on clozapine, treating physicians and dispensing pharmacists must all be enrolled in registries to track the use of clozapine, and monitor the health of the patients on the drug. From 1991 to 2003, there was only one company distributing clozapine in Canada. Since 2003, other companies have received approval to market these products, which has led to the establishment of new, independent, registries. As a result, some health care professionals and companies have experienced difficulties in the transfer of patients' information among registries.

In order to address these difficulties, Health Canada is proposing the inclusion of additional information to be added to the Patient Registration Form. This new Patient Registration Form statement will help to improve the way patient information is collected and shared by facilitating the exchange of information between registries.

Health Canada is also providing a "Questions and Answers" patient information leaflet, to help patients better understand the information exchange process between registries. Both of these measures will achieve a more efficient network of independent registries, and therefore improve the continuity of care of patients treated with clozapine.

This advisory applies to the following currently marketed clozapine products:

Apo-clozapine (Apotex Incorporated)
Clozaril (Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Ltd.)
Gen-Clozapine (GenPharm)
The new statement for the Patient Registration Form and the patient information leaflet on consent are available at the following address:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...ine_hpc_e.html

Health Canada has also posted a Dear Healthcare Professional Letter and a Notice to Hospitals discussing the above-mentioned information. These letters can be accessed at Health Canada's website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...sionals_e.html.

Any suspected adverse reactions associated with clozapine can be reported directly to the product manufacturer or to:

Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Program (CADRMP)
Marketed Health Products Directorate
HEALTH CANADA
Address Locator: 0701C
OTTAWA, Ontario, K1A 0K9
Tel: (613) 957-0337 or Fax: (613) 957-0335

To report an Adverse Reaction, consumers and health professionals may call toll free:
Tel: 866 234-2345
Fax: 866 678-6789
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...ideline_e.html

The Adverse Reaction Reporting Form and the Adverse Reaction Guidelines can be found on the Health Canada web site or in The Canadian Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...adverse_e.html
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp...ideline_e.html

Media Inquiries:
Margot Geduld/Carole Saindon
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991

[SS8282]

Uh, maybe this is the wrong post to put the info in? I'm afraid people might not know about it and therefore, won't read it. If it's better, would you or someone move the posts please? If possible? Thanks.