Alcohol-Dependency Drug Causing Complications
Nearly 200 people treated with an injectable drug for alcohol dependence have suffered complications such as abscesses that required surgery to drain, the Food and Drug Administration said.
Vivitrol, made by Alkermes Inc. and marketed by Cephalon Inc., is an extended-release form of generic naltrexone that is used in patients being treated for alcohol dependence when the patients can abstain from drinking alcohol before receiving the drug therapy.
The FDA has received 196 reports of Vivitrol patients developing swelling, pain, bleeding, and other complications from the injections. Sixteen patients required surgery to drain the injection site or to repair damaged tissue, the FDA said.
Doctors are being advised to make sure they are properly administering Vivitrol injections and to closely monitor patients for swelling or other worsening reactions following treatment. Vivitrol may also result in side effects including nausea, headache, and diarrhea.
Related posts:
- Depression Drug Norpramin Linked to Fatal Heart Complications, FDA Warns The Food and Drug Administration and drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis are telling...
- Weight-Loss Drug Meridia Linked to Reports of Heart Complications, FDA Warns The Food and Drug Administration said early results from a...
- Bone Growth Agent Linked to Life-Threatening Neck Complications Thousands of patients who underwent spinal fusion surgeries to relieve...
- DUI Blood-Alcohol Machines May Contain Faulty Computer Software, Studies Show Electronic devices police officers across the United States have motorists...
- New Merck Migrane Drug Causing Headaches for Drug Maker A new migraine medicine being developed by drug maker Merck...
Permalink Tags: alcohol dependancy, fda, naltrexone, vivitrol
