New FDA Web Page Lists Disposal Instructions for Select Medicines

Posted by Andy Alt

FDA NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 14, 2009

Media Inquiries: Christopher Kelly, 301-796-4676, christopher.kelly@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

New FDA Web Page Lists Disposal Instructions for Select Medicines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched a Web page for consumers with information on how to dispose of certain drugs, including several high-potency opioids and other selected controlled substances. These medicines have the potential to be harmful, even deadly, in a single dose if taken by someone other than the intended person.

FDA Seeks Public Input on Transparency

Posted by Andy Alt on June 25, 2009

Though I’m late in posting this and the meeting has passed, the video is still available for viewing.

FDA NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

For Immediate Release: June 23, 2009

Media Inquiries: Raymond Formanek Jr., 301-796-4677, raymond.formanek@fda.hhs.gov

FDA Seeks Public Input on Transparency

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will host a daylong meeting on June 24, 2009. During this meeting, the FDA will seek recommendations on how to make information on FDA activities and decision-making useful, understandable, and more accessible to the public. The meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT at the National Transportation Safety Board Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20594.

ADHD Drugs Linked to Sudden Death in Kids

Posted by Andy Alt on June 17, 2009

A couple of items regarding ADHD Drugs and links to more resources:

US News and World Report: ADHD Drugs Linked to Sudden Death in Kids

MONDAY, June 15 (HealthDay News) — Stimulant medications commonly prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with an increased risk of sudden death, but those deaths are still rare, new research finds.

Children and teens taking ADHD stimulant medications were seven times more likely to die suddenly than their peers, the study found.

“What we found — to our surprise — is that even if you take out confounding factors, the association between stimulant use and sudden death was still significant,” said study author, Madelyn Gould, a professor of clinical epidemiology in psychiatry at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York City. “I’m confident the association is real and significant, but it’s very rare. I don’t want our findings to change prescribing patterns or for a parent to change their willingness to use stimulant medications if they’re called for, but physicians should monitor patients with any new medication you give a young person.”
[...] The complete story is at http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/06/15/adhd–drugs-linked-to-sudden-death-in-kids.html

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Stimulant Medications used in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder – Communication about an Ongoing Safety Review
– June 15, 2009

Mental Health and General Health News – posted April 27, 2009

Posted by Andy Alt on April 27, 2009

April 23, 2009

This week’s news:

U.S. Spends $9 Billion on Child Mental Illness (04/22/2009, Reuters Health)
Painkillers May Not Protect Against Dementia (04/22/2009, HealthDay)
Organ Failure, Sedative Use in ICU May Lead to Depression (04/21/2009, HealthDay)
Almost 1 in 10 Young Video Game Users ‘Addicted’ (04/20/2009, HealthDay)
Outgoing Nature Could Get You to 100 (04/20/2009, HealthDay)
For more information on Mental Health see these MedlinePlus topics:

Antidepressants
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Child Mental Health
Dementia
Depression
Eating Disorders
Mental Health
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Panic Disorder
Phobias
Schizophrenia
Stress
Teen Mental Health

Visit the MedlinePlus web site at: http://medlineplus.gov

Recent Mental Health and General Health News / April 13 – 22, 2009

Posted April 22, 2009 by Andy Alt / Mental Health in Northfield MN

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Health news stories are produced by HealthDay and Reuters Health Information.

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April 13, 2009

Gene Variant Tied to Schizophrenia

Marathoners Go the Distance on Heart Health

Parkinson’s Drugs Can Trigger Unhealthy Behaviors

Stem Cells Repair Damaged Corneas in Mice

Stem Cells Spur New Eggs in Ovaries of Adult Mice

Stressed Health Care Workers Battle ‘Compassion Fatigue’

Study Challenges Link Between Panic Attacks, PTSD

April 14, 2009

Mental Health News for the week ending April 11, 2009

In this post, I’m pasting in two emails I received from a United States Government operated mailing list. They contain links to mental health and general health news and resources

But first, I spoke with someone recently about schizophrenia, and it reminded me of a post I read in January. Many of the views of the blog’s author, Gianna Kali, differ from established and mainstream views on psychiatry and medicine, and her site is primarily categorized as an “alternative to medicine” site. Although her views don’t often match up with what you might hear in the mainstream media or from many psychiatrists and doctors, she has extensive experience in the mental health field and was formerly a social worker. Many outgoing links on Gianna’s site lead to similar alternative medicine sites.

Andy’s Drug Use

Andy’s Drug Use
By Andy Alt / Mental Health in Northfield MN

April 7, 2009

My name is Andy Alt, and in my life, I have abused drugs. I couldn’t help but notice the issue of substance abuse has arisen in Northfield. I felt it might be time to finally do my part to help, if I’m able.

I started smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol when I was 12, marijuana and hash oil when I was 13. I started sniffing gasoline around the same time. I sniffed to the point I’d pass out and have dreams, wake up, and start sniffing again. I dropped acid about ten times, from the ages of 15 to 16. I stopped doing acid because I noticed I was beginning to have difficulties verbalizing my thoughts when I tried to explain things. To this day, I have the same difficulty. I took acid a few times afterward but then quit for fear of further damaging my brain.

Day of Feasting and Town Hall Meeting on Heroin and Opiate Use – April 19 2009

Press Release
Day of Feasting and Town Hall Meeting
Main Street Moravian Church
Sunday, April 19 3:00 to 6:15 Dinner at 6:30

The Main Street Moravian Church will host a Day of Feasting for the Mind and Body on Sunday, April 19. The entire event is FREE. A Town Hall Meeting on the topic of legal issues associated with heroin and opiate use in Northfield will begin at 3:00. The Town Hall meeting will host a panel of seven experts and two personal stories from parents of young people who have dealt with legal matters associated with addition. The panel will include the Honorable William A. Johnson, Chief Judge, 3rd Judicial District Court; Paul Beaumaster, Rice County Attorney; Jason Mullenbach Probation Officer, Rice County; Karen Duncan, Chief Public Defender, Third District; Benjamin Bejar, Assistant Rice County Attorney; Mark Taylor, Northfield Chief of Police; and Dr. Chris Richardson, Superintendent, Northfield Public Schools.