On March 16, the United Nations (U.N.) added 2 chemicals used to make the painkiller fentanyl to an international list of controlled substances. Assistant Secretary of State William Brownfield, the chief U.S. State Department counter-narcotics official, has hailed the move, but acknowledged that it won’t immediately decrease illegal trafficking of the chemicals. [1] [2]
Source: Healthland Heart Region
Congress will vote today on a nearly 1,000-page bill that holds drastic changes for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If the bill is approved, it would speed up the approval of new drugs and medical devices. The House has been heavily criticized for allegedly rushing piece of legislation through without sufficient scrutiny. [1]
Source: National Center for Health Research
A leading group of pediatricians said in a statement published September 19 that codeine is not safe for children and should not be used to relieve pain or coughs. [1]
The guidance nearly mirrors a January 2016 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning that codeine should not be given to children and most teens.
The pain-relieving ingredient Acetaminophen, also known a Tylenol and Paracetamol, is one of the most popular pain relievers used today. In present day, it and other drugs like it have become relied on for numerous types of mundane pain or chronic pain relief from degenerative diseases.
However, research suggests that this pain-reliever doesn’t always work – with a recent study showcasing its inability to treat lower back pain as well as osteoarthritis in the knee and hip.
