Latest Drug overdose Stories
Los Angeles Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said the results of toxicology tests conducted on Michael Jackson's body could be available this week. The eccentric 50-year-old entertainer died of cardiac arrest June 25 after a suspected prescription drug overdose. Police have said they will not categorize Jackson's death until after the toxicology reports are completed; however, they are talking to the singer's former doctors about his medical history and drug use. Winter told Usmagazine.com...
The cause of Michael Jackson's death has been listed as deferred on his death certificate while officials await the results of toxicology tests. People.com said the pop star's official death certificate was issued Tuesday, the same day his family held a private funeral and attended a televised public memorial for him. The document also noted Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles temporarily has disposition of the singer's body. But where Jackson is to be buried has not been disclosed,...
Stronger warnings are on the way for painkillers Darvon, Darvocet, and their generic cousins. They are allowed to stay on the market for now, despite pressure from a consumer group to ban the medicine. The Food and Drug Administration's decision is very different from Britain, which banned the drugs several years ago. British lawmakers pointed out numerous suicides and accidental overdoses. European Union countries are considering a similar move. The recent U.S. changes apply to drugs made...
NEWPORT, Ky., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has reached an agreement with the FDA to keep propoxyphene-containing products Darvon(R) (propoxyphene hydrochloride), Darvon-N(R) (propoxyphene napsylate), Darvocet-N(R) 50 & Darvocet-N(R) 100 (propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen) available as treatment options for the management of mild to moderate pain. This action follows a joint committee meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Anesthetic and...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has ordered strengthened warnings for drugs, such as Darvon and Darvocet, that contain propoxyphene. The federal agency is requiring manufacturers of propoxyphene-containing products to strengthen the label, including the boxed warning, emphasizing the potential for overdose. The manufacturers will also be required to provide a medication guide to patients stressing the importance of using the drugs as directed. In addition, the FDA ordered a new...
FORT MYERS, Fla., July 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Acetaminophen is an ingredient found in many over-the-counter and prescription medicines to help relieve pain and reduce fever. Many people refer to acetaminophen by a brand name, Tylenol and prescription brand names, Vicodin and Percocet. An advisory committee for the FDA met on June 30, 2009 to address liver related injuries due to the use of acetaminophen. The committee voted 20-17 to urge the FDA to put a ban on Vicodin and...
A U.S. government advisory panel says it recommends a ban on Percocet and Vicodin, which contain acetaminophen, because of their effects on the liver. The two drugs combine a narcotic with acetaminophen -- the ingredient found in Tylenol and Excedrin -- and high doses of acetaminophen are a leading cause of liver damage, The New York Times reported. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel said patients who take Percocet and Vicodin over longer periods often need higher and higher doses...
Ex-Wilco musician Jay Bennett died after an accidental overdose from a prescription painkiller, the Champaign County coroner in Illinois announced Tuesday. Bennett, the band's former keyboardist-guitarist, died May 24 at his home. He was 45. E! News quoted Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup as attributing his death to a lethal amount of fentanyl. Bennett posted a message on his MySpace blog shortly before his death telling fans he planned to have hip-replacement surgery to correct...
A coroner in Las Vegas has ruled impressionist Danny Gans died accidentally of heart failure brought on by a toxic level of the pain killer hydromorphone. Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy would not characterize the May 1 death of the 52-year-old performer as a drug overdose, The New York Times reported Thursday. He also did not disclose the level of hydromorphone, which is marketed as Dilaudid, in Gans's system. Chip Lightman, Gans's manager, said he didn't know his client was using the...
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Cumberland Pharmaceuticals announced today the launch of an online in-service program for hospitals using Acetadote (acetylcysteine) Injection, the company's intravenous treatment for acetaminophen overdose. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090518/CL18638 ) Available at www.acetadote.net, the webcast provides hospital pharmacists and physicians, educators and other healthcare providers with information and guidelines on dosage and...
