ABC’s Nightline Episode Investigates the Dangers of Illicit GLP-1 Medications Sold Online
In an October 2025 episode of Nightline, ABC News investigated fake glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs sold online. According to its research, online sellers are misspelling the brand names of GLP-1 products in order to skirt authorities and peddle counterfeit versions of the weight loss drug. These sellers often highlight that the product does not require […]
Read More ›CDC Adopts ‘Individual-Based Decision-Making’ Approach for COVID-19 Vaccination
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has adopted “individual-based decision-making” for its adult and child immunization schedules for COVID-19 vaccinations. The individual-based decision-making approach means that CDC recommends patients consult a health care professional to discuss the risks and benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine before deciding if it is appropriate for the […]
Read More ›FDA Recommends Transitioning Patients From Animal-Derived Thyroid Medications to Synthetic Thyroid Medications
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is instructing health care providers to contact patients taking unapproved thyroid medications and help transition them to FDA-approved medications. Thyroid hormone replacement medications require administering the appropriate dosage based on the patient’s thyroid hormone levels, as a dose that is too high can cause side effects, and a dose that […]
Read More ›FDA Announces New Requirements for Opioid Pain Medication Labels
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring that all labels for opioid pain analgesics clarify the risks associated with long-term use. The updated labels will include the following: Additionally, the phrase “extended treatment period” will be removed to avoid the misinterpretation that taking opioids over an indefinite period is safe. More information is available on […]
Read More ›ISMP Safety Brief: Wrong Dosage Strength Dispensed After Confusing ‘l’ for ‘1’
This column was prepared by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), an Emergency Care Research Institute affiliate. An outpatient pharmacy received an e-prescription for “traZODone HCl 50 mg oral tablet, take one to two tabs at bedtime” (Figure 1). Unfortunately, a pharmacy technician mistook the “l” in HCl for the number “1” and processed […]
Read More ›FDA’s ‘Green List’ Aims to Prevent Unverified GLP-1 APIs From Entering US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed a “green list” import alert aimed to stop glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from unverified foreign sources, which could pose safety risks, from entering the United States supply chain. The green list will record the GLP-1 APIs produced by facilities that comply with FDA’s standards. FDA […]
Read More ›Compounded Topical Finasteride Products Associated With Serious Risks, Warns FDA
Compounded topical finasteride products have been associated with serious potential risks, warns Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a news release. Between 2019 and 2024, 32 reports were submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System regarding patients experiencing symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and brain fog associated with using compounded versions […]
Read More ›ISMP Safety Briefs: Wrong Drug Errors Are Possible
InFLIXimab-dyyb is the nonproprietary name for both Inflectra® and Zymfentra®. This column was prepared by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), an ECRI affiliate. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two brand-name biologics with the same nonproprietary name and four-letter suffix, inFLIXimab-dyyb; however, they are not biosimilars or interchangeable with each other. Inflectra […]
Read More ›USP Reports 98 Drug Shortages in 2024, Average Duration Now Over Four Years
There were 98 drug shortages in 2024, with 89% of those drugs first reported in shortage in 2023, according to the new drug shortage report published by United States Pharmacopeia (USP). The USP Annual Drug Shortages Report: Long-Standing Drug Shortages Persist in 2024 notes that the average duration of a drug shortage was more than […]
Read More ›CDC Unveils Collaborative Plan to Address Health Risks Across People, Animals, and the Environment
On January 10, 2025, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published its first collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary plan to tackle zoonotic diseases. The National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States guidebook explains the One Health framework, which is intended to protect people, animals, and […]
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