Recent Article in JAMA Underscores Need for Pharmacogenetics

On March 21, an article published online in JAMA Internal Medicine examined changes in the prevalence of medication use and the frequency of major drug-drug interactions. The study was authored by Dima M. Qato, PharmD, MPH, PhD of the Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes, and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and colleagues. In-home interviews, with direct medication … Read More

What to Watch for When Taking Dietary or Herbal Supplements

Have you ever taken a vitamin, herbal product or supplement? You’re not alone. In fact, an estimated one-quarter, up to one-half, of adults taking prescription medications also take dietary supplements according to an article by Mayo Clinic Staff. Have you ever wondered if there are any safety concerns with taking one of these products? Most people assume that vitamins and … Read More

Case Report: Common painkiller tied to ER visit, internal bleeding

A young woman’s treatment with a common prescription painkiller for her chronic bladder pain eventually landed her in the emergency room. The 24 year old had started taking the pain reliever celecoxib (Celebrex) for interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic condition that causes pelvic pain and urinary problems. This syndrome has no cure, with treatment based on trial and error. The … Read More

Case Report: Severe neurological problems tied to HIV treatment

The mental deterioration of a 33-year-old man with HIV began with vivid dreams just weeks after he began a standard course of HIV treatment. The treatment was a combination of the medications efavirenz, tenofovir and emtricitabine (Atripla). This course seemed successful, with the man’s HIV viral load decreasing to non-detectable levels within a few weeks. HIV treatment continued. Then the … Read More

Case Report: Common ADHD treatment has reverse effect on 6-year-old boy

Physicians and family taking care of a 6-year-old boy diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found a common medication used to treat the condition was having the reverse effect. The boy, being treated by providers in Thailand, was described as mischievous, disorderly and restless while at school. He would ignore people around him and even created and spoke his … Read More

Case Report: Boy becomes comatose after painkiller treatment

One day after a 5½-year-old boy was released from the hospital for a routine tonsillectomy, he was comatose in the ER. The boy had undergone surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, a potentially serious sleep disorder that causes pauses in breathing and a blocked airway. The surgery was successful, and he was sent … Read More

All that wheezes is not asthma: Doctor uses YouScript to solve puzzling patient case

As cardiopulmonologist Mark Pamer, DO, goes about his day at his South Florida practice, one adage from medical school that sticks in his mind is: “All that wheezes is not asthma.” “[As doctors], we probably all heard that. Did we understand it? You know, probably not,” said Dr. Pamer. “We understood it later on in residency or fellowship or in life.” This adage proved itself during Dr. Pamer’s treatment of a puzzling … Read More

Participating in life again: A patient story of pediatric pain

  Barbara Granoff, Founding Member of The Coalition Against Pediatric Pain (TCAPP), says her 15-year-old daughter’s life was changed by the DNA drug sensitivity testing Genelex offers. Shira is living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome as well as dysautonomia, gastroparesis, Mast Cell Activation Disorder and more. “The amount of medications we tried in hopes of controlling the pain is mind boggling,” mother … Read More