People’s gut bacteria may cause them to experience life-threatening reactions after taking the chemo drug irinotecan, according to researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. According to their study, 40% of patients who receive irinotecan, which is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, experience severe diarrhea that requires hospitalization and can lead to death. Researchers collected fecal samples from 20 healthy people and treated the samples with irinotecan. The results suggest that analyzing the composition of patients’ microbiomes before giving irinotecan may predict whether patients will suffer side effects from the drug. Posted November 1, 2017. Via Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Roughly 60% of people with dementia were incorrectly prescribed at least one medication across 8 European countries, according to a study published in the journal Age and Ageing. Moreover, more than 26% of dementia patients were wrongly prescribed at least 2 medications. Sedatives and antipsychotics were the most commonly prescribed medications that were deemed “inappropriate.” These medications are associated with drowsiness, confusion, dizziness and vision problems and are linked to fall-related injuries. Posted September 1, 2017. Via Age and Ageing.
The FDA approved a treatment to prevent internal bleeding in patients with hemophilia. Hemlibra is a weekly self-injection treatment for patients diagnosed with hemophilia A. This medication is for patients who have developed a resistance to common medications that prevent bleeding. A boxed warning is attached to Hemlibra’s label because it can cause severe blood clots when combined with other bleeding medications. Posted November 16, 2017. Via FDA.
