"Health News - Medicine, Diet and Fitness"

CALPIRG and Senator Scott introduce the Pharmaceutical Drug Right-to-Know Act

SACRAMENTO—Responding to public outcry over recent prescription drug scandals, CALPIRG and Senator Jack Scott (D-Altadena) have introduced legislation in Sacramento to make sure that drug companies finally come clean about the safety of the medicines. The bill, SB 1683, requires drug companies to publicly disclose the results of all their clinical trials for each drug they sell in California.

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College students often mix alcohol with energy drinks so that they can drink more and longer, researchers say, but the strategy can lead to more alcohol-related injuries, too.

Fox News reported Nov. 5 that researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that students who mixed alcohol and drinks like Red Bull had double the risk of being hurt or injured, requiring medical attention, driving with an intoxicated driver, being taken advantage of sexually, or taking advantage of another sexually.

Lead researcher Mary Claire O’Brien said she and colleagues “were surprised that the risk of serious and potentially deadly consequences is so much higher for those who mixed energy drinks with alcohol, even when we adjusted for the amount of alcohol.”

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Meridia Can Increase Blood Pressure And Heart Rate Leading To Possible Serious Cardiovascular Problems

(Posted by Tom Lamb at DrugInjuryWatch.com)

The Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter (CARN) released in October 2007 (Volume 17, Issue 4) includes an article about the anti-obesity drug Meridia (sibutramine), “Contraindicated use of sibutramine and cardiovascular adverse reactions”.