Medication

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In one of the worst examples we have seen involving the abuse of the elderly, a company whose product was only approved to promote weight gain for HIV patients started to aggressively promote Megace to frail and elderly nursing home residents when the HIV population began to dwindle. Knowing the dangerous side effects of this supplement (ie death), this represents a tragic example of profits over people. To read more, click here.
Continue Reading Prescription of Megace to Nursing Home Residents Linked to Fraud and Horrific Corporate Irresponsibility

A recent article details a lawsuit by Public Citizen, a consumer rights and protection group, against the FDA to stop the sales of the popular Alzheimer’s drug Aricept in its highest dosage. The group says that the FDAs testing shows that the drug benefits at that dosage are outweighed by the dangers posed.
Continue Reading Consumer Group Questions Risks of High Dosage of Popular Alzheimer’s Drug

A recent article details a new program launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) called the “Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes” in order to address the problem of over medication of the elderly suffering from dementia in long term care.
Continue Reading New Program Seeks to Reduce Anti-Psychotic Overuse in the Elderly with Dementia

Ask any family member caring for an elderly parent with dementia about the number of medications prescribed and it’s likely to be quite a few. It is important to know what someone is prescribed and what for. A new study shows that roughly 20% of medications are prescribed “off label”. You can read an article discussing the study here.
Continue Reading New Study Shows Many People Unknowingly Receiving Medications For “Off Label” Uses

Earlier this year, I reported about the potential dangers posed to senior citizens (and others) who were potentially exposed to bacteria from antiseptic wipes. Reports indicate that a child may have died from such exposure and we are aware of seniors who appear to have potentially met the same fate. Now, Federal regulators say that although the New York medical products maker promised in June to recall the product, it has since failed to launch that recall for nearly four months.
Continue Reading Triad Tangles with FDA on Recall

Many times I’ve written about the over-medication of the elderly – especially with anti-psychotics. Despite the fact that anti-psychotics are supposedly only for a small percentage of the elderly, many nursing home residents with dementia are given these drugs even though some have FDA warnings of an increased risk of death. This overuse of anti-psychotics was confirmed in a recent government audit.
Continue Reading Hopeful Report Indicates Reduction of Anti-Psychotic Medications in the Elderly

According to The Wall Street Journal, new study published in Archives of Neurology, “showed that about half of elderly Parkinson’s patients with psychosis were prescribed an antipsychotic.” This is despite the fact that in 2005, the FDA issued a “black box” warning to antipsychotics due to an increase in risk of death in older dementia patients. “Black box” warnings are the strongest warnings given by the FDA and are placed on drugs where medical studies indicate that a drug carries a significant risk of serious or life threatening adverse effects.
Continue Reading Anti-Psychotics Continue to be Administered to the Elderly for Parkinson’s Disease Despite Known Dangers

It has been reported in Forbes Magazine that Johnson & Johnson has set funds aside for potential litigation relating to a probe which addresses whether or not the drug company engaged in illegal practices to promote this drug in nursing homes. Sadly, its use or over-use can be lethal for the elderly and vulnerable residents in nursing homes.
Continue Reading Johnson & Johnson Investigated for Potential Illegal Promotion of Risperdol