Drugs Causing Other Diseases

This is the Black Box warning for VIDEX

PANCREATITIS, LACTIC ACIDOSIS and HEPATOMEGALY with STEATOSIS

Fatal and nonfatal pancreatitis has occurred during therapy with VIDEX used alone or in combination regimens in both treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients, regardless of degree of immunosuppression. VIDEX should be suspended in patients with suspected pancreatitis and discontinued in patients with confirmed pancreatitis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogues alone or in combination, including didanosine and other antiretrovirals. Fatal lactic acidosis has been reported in pregnant women who received the combination of didanosine and stavudine with other antiretroviral agents. The combination of didanosine and stavudine should be used with caution during pregnancy and is recommended only if the potential benefit clearly outweighs the potential risk [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

In January of this year the FDA announced its concern about the problems caused by this drug, discovered only from a review of adverse reaction reports in post marketing data.

from MedPage Today

FDA Revises HIV Drug Label for Liver Complication By Cole Petrochko, Staff Writer, MedPage Today Published: January 31, 2010 WASHINGTON -- The FDA has updated labels of the HIV drug didanosine (Videx and Videx EC) to include warnings for potentially serious liver damage. Although these cases are rare, the drug may cause noncirrhotic hypertension in patients, a potentially fatal complication which the FDA discovered through 42 postmarket, adverse event reports. Of those patients, three required liver transplant and four died. Two deaths were caused by esophageal hemorrhage, while two more were caused by progressive liver failure. One patient suffered multiorgan failure, cerebral hemorrhage, sepsis, and lactic acidosis. The FDA said in a statement that it chose not to recall the drug because it believes its benefits outweigh potential risks, but advised that treatment decisions be made on an individual basis between healthcare professionals and patients. The agency added that causal association is difficult to determine in postmarket reports, but that alternative causes of the hypertension were ruled out in well-documented cases. Healthcare professionals who determine didanosine is effective in treating a patient should monitor that patient for the development of portal hypertension and esophageal varices, the agency said. Didanosine is used in combination with other HIV medications to help maintain CD4 cells in patients. The drug already has a black box warning for lactic acidosis and hepatomegaly with steatosis. Like the antiretroviral agents hydroxyurea and ribavirin, didanosine has been associated with the development of liver toxicity.

ARAVA and Liver Failure

Another fluoride-based drug cause serious problems.

Often, in mainstream medicine, the issue of wheat allergy is overlooked in RA (rheumatoid arthritis).

A general approach to RA is to use niacinamide, 250 mg, one tablet taken 4 times a day. 

FDA Adds Liver Failure Warning to RA Drug

By Cole Petrochko, Staff Writer, MedPage Today

WASHINGTON -- The FDA has expanded the black box warning to the label of the rheumatoid arthritis drug leflunomide (Arava) to include possible fatal liver damage.
The agency received 49 adverse event reports -- including instances of jaundice, coagulopathy, encephalopathy, and 14 fatalities -- about the drug from August 2002 to May 2009. Of the patients reporting adverse events, 36 were hospitalized.
Time before severe reactions occurred ranged from nine days to six years, with most experiencing an adverse event within the first six to 12 months of treatment.
The greatest risk occurred in patients taking other drugs that may cause liver damage while taking leflunomide and in patients with preexisting liver disease. These warnings have been included on the new label.
The label notes that liver enzymes should be monitored monthly for three months after the start of treatment. If ALT rises above two-times normal, treatment should be stopped and a cholestyramine washout should be administered to accelerate the removal of the drug from the body.
Patients with increased ALT should undergo liver function tests weekly until levels return to normal.
Patients who develop itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, loss of appetite, or light-colored stool while taking leflunomide should contact a healthcare professional, the statement said.
The drug previously carried a boxed warning that the drug was contraindicated in pregnant women and women of childbearing age who do not use reliable contraception.

Fructose Worsens Liver Disease

32 + articles about liver health concerns can be found in Natural Health News

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This is one indication of the need for detoxification. Colon cleansing IS NOT detoxification. Our decades of experience with detoxification products and programs offers much more to our clients than found elsewhere.

Cigarette smoking, fructose consumption exacerbates liver disease, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-04-27) -- Recent studies suggest that modifiable risk factors such as cigarette smoking and fructose consumption can worsen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). With NAFLD, fat accumulates in the liver of overweight individuals despite drinking little alcohol, causing in some cases liver scarring that can lead to liver failure. Identifying modifiable factors that contribute to disease severity and progression is essential in improving patient outcomes. ... > read full article

Vitamin U Well Known to Herbalists for Decades

I would call this progress but I'd be much happier if Dr. Gary Peltz would have given credit to the long time use of Vitamin U by herbalists and traditional naturopaths for a good hundred years if not more.

I'd also be happier if I knew Peltz wasn't going to try to create a patented DRUG from Vitamin U at his company, SandHill. As my mentor in Oriental Medicine told me many times, they medical people just do not understand how the herbs work.

I was reading about this in the 1950s and it was in my ND education in the 60s-70s. I also taught about it to my students when I had a Natural Healing school.

Ever wonder why sauerkraut and other fermented cabbage products have been used for healing over so many years?

This post is ranked in the top 10 out of 6 Million

MORE ON THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CABBAGE 1, 2

Common herbal medicine may prevent acetaminophen-related liver damage, says researcher

ScienceDaily (2009-11-18) -- A well-known Eastern medicine supplement may help avoid the most common cause of liver transplantation, according to a new study. The finding came as a surprise to the scientists, who used a number of advanced genetic and genomic techniques in mice to identify a molecular pathway that counters acetaminophen toxicity, which leads to liver failure.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091117184535.htm


http://www.leaflady.org/sauerkraut.htm


http://www.leaflady.org/healing_that_gut_feeling.htm


Comment: You know, I've never actually heard of this vitamin... You know, I've never actually heard of this vitamin u before. It's pretty interesting considering I do know a little bit about fermented foods but I didn't know it was all this helpful. This was definitely an interesting article, thanks for the info! (John) 11/20/09