If the drug information doctors read in medical journals is ghostwritten and misleading, patients are likely put at unnecessary risks.

“In an age of distortion, propaganda and fake news, medical literature might seem to be a safe space for honest scientific inquiry, with no room for bias or spin. It isn’t so. Court proceedings, investigations and whistleblower accounts have revealed a long history of drug companies manipulating the literature to promote their drugs or disparage rival products–with the aim of getting doctors to prescribe more of their meds.”

Get the full story here.

The risk of suffering adverse drug effects are increased when consumers take more than one prescription and/or take unnecessary prescriptions. It appears the new Facebook app may increase both.

According to the Lown Insitute, “Users should be wary of the new Facebook tool, not only because of the risk of data misuse, but also about the potential for physical and financial harm from overscreening.”

Get the full story here.

A new study finds the elderly are often wrongly prescribed sedatives as “chemical restraints.” Only 10% of the cases in which the elderly were prescribed these drugs were found to be medically justified.

Read the full story here.

Many vets are given drugs that carry FDA black box warnings but this critical info is not always communicated. Good to see today’s news highlights a top 10 list for doctors. See the list here.

Tune into the K-9’s for Veterans show next Thursday where Wendy Dolin will join other guests in discussing veterans’ mental health care.

Canadian veterans who are part of a lawsuit against the government over the alleged side effects of a military-issued anti-malaria drug share their experiences in this moving video. Watch it here.

Mylan pharmaceuticals has recalled a batch of its product, Alprazolam, often sold under the brand name, Xanax. The company states the likelihood that someone would fall ill “is expected to be rare, but the remote risk of infection to a patient cannot be ruled out.”

Mylan declined to provide additional information about the product or foreign substance. Get the full story here.

This Thursday’s K-9’s for Veterans talk show discusses veterans’ mental health care, adverse drug effects and suicide. Special guest is MISSD Founder, Wendy Dolin. Tune in Thursday and learn more about K-9’s for Veterans here.

Many people don’t realize medications can impact our ability to drive safely. While this week is National Teen Safe Driving week, drivers of all ages need to carefully read product information and ask their doctors about driving while taking prescriptions and certain over-the-counter medications.

Teens and the elderly are two groups at greater risk of experiencing adverse drug effects. Be informed and be safe: Carefully read all product inserts.

Adverse drug events occur when exposure to a medication results in harm. In recognition of National Pharmacy Week, healthcare consumers and caregivers can benefit by remembering to discuss possible adverse drug effects and the “five rights” with their pharmacists: the right dose of the right medication is administered to the right patient, at the right time, and by the right route.

Read the related article here.

MISSD is grateful to all who attended our annual Chicago fundraiser. Thank you to our generous sponsors who donated amazing items for the silent auction. Thank you to all who support MISSD throughout the year and were with us in spirit in Chicago on Thursday. Together we reached milestones in 2019 and have identified many new goals for 2020.