FDA Announces 20 Dangerous Drugs You Should NOT Be On

Posted by Neill Abayon

A 2007 federal law requires the FDA to disclose all its investigations into reports of possibly drug-related adverse events. The first of this series of quarterly reports has been released. It includes adverse events reported between January 1 and March 31, 2008.

Here's the list of drugs and the adverse events that have been reported:

Arginine Hydrochloride Injection (R-Gene 10) -- Pediatric overdose due to labeling and packaging confusion

Desflurane (Suprane) -- Cardiac arrest

Duloxetine (Cymbalta) -- Urinary retention

Etravirine (Intelence) -- Hemarthrosis (blood in a joint)

Fluorouracil Cream (Carac) and Ketoconazole Cream (Kuric) -- Adverse events due to name confusion

Heparin -- Anaphylactic-type (life-threatening allergic) reactions

Icodextrin (Extraneal) -- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Insulin U-500 (Humulin R) -- Dosing confusion

Ivermectin (Stromectol) and Warfarin -- Drug interaction

Lapatinib (Tykerb) -- Hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity)

Lenalidomide (Revlimid) -- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a deadly drug reaction)

Natalizumab (Tysabri) -- Skin melanomas (deadly skin cancer)

Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) -- Overdose due to labeling confusion

Octreotide Acetate Depot (Sandostatin LAR) -- Ileus (bowels not moving)

Oxycodone Hydrochloride Controlled-Release (OxyContin) -- Drug misuse, abuse, and overdose

Perflutren Lipid Microsphere (Definity) -- Cardiopulmonary reactions (lung/heart problems)

Phenytoin Injection (Dilantin) -- Purple glove syndrome (discoloration, pain, and swelling of the hand that may lead to amputation)

Quetiapine (Seroquel) -- Overdose due to sample pack labeling confusion

Tebivudine (Tyzeka) -- Peripheral neuropathy (tingling or numbness in the extremities)

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blockers -- Cancers in children and young adults