A series of recent articles in various newspapers and magazines bring to light some issues that concern me, and may be of concern to you. Read on for a synopsis and my thoughts:

Injected Wrinkle Fillers Need Stronger Warnings, FDA Says

The FDA panel is debating if there should be stronger warnings on wrinkle filler products. Presently there are only short term side effects listed, like swelling and local redness. No mention is made of long term side effects on the package. Shouldn’t the “adverse events that are serious and unexpected” (like scarring weeks or years later and, by the way, one wonders what is not mentioned?) be included in the warning label? I hold that there should be longer and larger studies submitted before approval of drugs in the first place.

San Francisco Chronicle

November 19, 2008

Researchers Find Increased Blood Clot Risk

New information printed in JAMA shows a stronger relationship to the formation of life-threatening blood clots with the use of the cancer drug Avastin than realized ever before.

Sanofi Halts Anti-Obesity Drug Trials

A new anti-obesity drug, Acomplia, has just been taken off the market because of psychiatric side effects, including increased successful suicides. Twenty-four thousand patients in 50 countries are involved in its development, and had sales of $69.3 million dollars in the first half of 2008. Another drug company discontinued development of a similar drug because of psychiatric side effects.

My comments:

The potential side effects to drugs are never-ending. Add scarring of the face in wrinkle areas, another drug with increased blood clot risk, all discovered after the drugs have been approved and on the market. With increased emphasis on looking younger, desperate customers are lining up for magical youthful appearances, when simply relying on healthy, natural nutrition and simple natural principles of health would benefit their appearance greatly.  What about the overall well-being of the 24,000 obese individuals who were given a drug trial that increases suicidal thoughts and suicide risk?  24,000 is a significant number of victims.  Maybe we are all victims when we buy into quick fixes that are based upon unsound foundations.  

Fortunately, we are surrounded by information that can keep us healthy, without the first-line option being drugs. Healthy alternatives to drugs exist for almost all conditions, especially if addressed early.