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THE JOURNAL OF STEFFANIE RIVERS: Too Little Too Late
*Some commonly used drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decades ago are being reviewed because of their link to deaths and organ failure when used in heavy doses or in combination with other approved drugs.
In the 36 years between 1969 and 2005 the deaths of 91 people have been linked to pain killers containing propoxyphene. Propoxyphene is the ingredient in widely used Darvon and Darvocet. The opiate, used to treat mild to moderate pain, has been on the market since 1957.
And although acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States for treating pain and fever, overdoses of acetaminophen have been linked to 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths during the 1990’s, according to the FDA.
Tylenol, Nyquil and Pamprin contain acetaminophen. A FDA advisory panel has recommended that the FDA put updated warnings about the use of these over-the-counter drugs. Vicodin and Percocet each use a combination of acetaminophen and narcotics. The same panel wants the FDA to take them off the market altogether.
Even though deaths and near death incidents have been documented for years, the FDA’s advisory panel voted 20-17 to make these changes just in recent days. Hundreds of people have lost their lives and only three panelists make up the majority who want see changes in the system.
How many more people have to die to get those 17 naysayers to vote in favor of saving lives and what information was revealed in the last few days that caused them to take action moreso than the deaths of 91 people? Could it be the death of music icon Michael Jackson and the probability that his death was a result of a drug overdose that led to a heart attack? Say it ain’t so, FDA!
Don’t tell me that one Michael Jackson equals more than hundreds of other people. I’m a MJ fan the same as millions of others, but I can’t get with that fuzzy math.
According to CNN and FDA researchers, the information used to determine the latest round of FDA recalls and warnings has been known for years. The only new piece of the puzzle has been the death of Jackson. My deductive reasoning skills are sharp. My mama didn’t raise no fool.
This is another example of why the FDA and its affiliated agencies need an overhaul.
And while I’m on the subject of Michael Jackson: I know he intended to go on tour in July, but damn! When is his family going to stop parading his body around and bury him so his spirit can rest in peace? As I write this it’s been more than two weeks since his untimely death and he’s still above ground. Jackson, like the FDA, should be laid to rest.
Steffanie Rivers is a free-lance journalist living in the Dallas, Texas metroplex. See the video version of her column at youtube.com/steffanierivers. To schedule speaking engagements or to send questions or comments email her at teamtcbadvertising@hotmail.com
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