Time: Merck to Dole Out $100 Million in NuvaRing Settlement

Merck & Co. agreed Friday to pay $100 million in product liability lawsuits that claimed its birth control product NuvaRing caused blood clots that led in some instances to fatal heart attacks, Reuters reports… Merck is getting off easy compared with similar birth control company settlements. Bayer paid nearly $1.6 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits last year …

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Alternet: 7 Drugs Whose Dangerous Risks Emerged Only After Big Pharma Made Its Money

It is the business model for new drugs that provokes Big Pharma to bury risks and exaggerate benefits. A new drug under patent has a high price and no competition, and will make millions or even billions every year it is under patent. A settlement for death or injuries down the road is a nuisance …

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Berberine as an alternative to Metformin

Metformin (Glucophage) is currently a popular drug prescription for treating Type 2 Diabetes and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. However 3 clinical trials from Chinese researchers suggest that Berberine, a substance found in several plants and historically used medicinally, is as good or better than Metformin. Summaries of the 3 studies and their references are listed below.

Effectiveness and Risks of Duloxetine (Cymbalta) and Milnacipran (Savella) for Fibromyalgia

Among fibromyalgia patients taking either of two commonly prescribed drugs to reduce pain, 22 percent report substantial improvement while 21 percent had to quit the regimen due to unpleasant side effects, according to a new review in The Cochrane Library. Drugs to treat fibromyalgia just as likely to harm as help, review finds I would …

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Pharmaceutical Drugs Linked With Violence Against Others

I came across this during some research. This study was published in December 2010 and found increased acts of violence associated with certain pharmaceutical drugs. Of the 31 drugs they found linked to increased violence 5 of the top 10 were either SSRI or SNRI antidepressant drugs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Here is a list of …

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