Monday, November 15, 2010

Drugs and Supplements From China Still Largely Unregulated

Updated February 9, 2021

Links in the original post broke.

People also ask about:

- - -  original post follows below  - - -

Probably not surprising, and certainly disappointing, as reported by this KansasCity.com news article, Drugs, supplements come to U.S. from China largely unregulated.

I'm most concerned about, "One consequence of the lack of regulation has been a rising number of counterfeit drugs."

Related links:
GAO Report Blasts FDA for Failure to Implement 2008 Recommendations

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Shocking FDA Images For Cigarette Packages

Wow! These are high impact and jarring images. You have to check out what the FDA is proposing as new required warnings, consisting of nine new textual warning statements accompanied by color graphics depicting the negative health consequences of smoking, Proposed FDA Graphic Health Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements.

More Information:
FDA Proposed Cigarette Product Warning Labels

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Monday, November 8, 2010

FDA GMP Books - Limited Previews

A Picture of a eBookImage via WikipediaI'm a big fan and user of many of Google's offerings. 

While wandering through Google Books, I ran across these limited previews of these three FDA GMP-related books. I thought you might be interested.  Although the previews are limited, there's certainly enough content that can be read for learning, and plenty to review if you're considering buying the book.

Interpretation of FDA's Quality System Regulations (QSR) With QSIT references By Medical Device School (Google books preview)

The FDA and Worldwide Quality System Requirements Guidebook for Medical Devices (Google books preview)

Good manufacturing practices for pharmaceuticals (Google books preview)

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Monday, November 1, 2010

Staying Alive - New AHA 2010 CPR Technique (video)

This is a major change.  Watch this video to learn about the American Heart Association (AHA) 2010 Guidelines for CPR.  The guidelines mention the song Stayin' Alive for the compression rate of 100 beats per minute. 



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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Free Pill Identifier

Updated November 9, 2021

The original link broke.

You can still identify pills using this:
Free pill identifier on WebMD

---  the original post follows below  ---

Free Pill Identifier


You just can't have too many free online pill identifiers.

This one from AARP (Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons) is kind of nifty. I like the interactive interface, and suspect you will too.

Free online pill identifier from AARP

You might also be interested in


#FDA #GMP #training #cGMP

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Monday, October 25, 2010

Aspirin Reduces Colon Cancer Risk

Aspirin-3D-vdWImage via Wikipedia
Updated April 24, 2019

Sadly, the link to the video broke.

You might also be interested in this instead:
Aspirin may reduce cancer risk, doctors say (video)

---  original post follows below  ---

I was happy to hear about the latest findings suggesting that Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Colon Cancer (Video).

Both my parents had gastrointestinal cancers, so for the last 15 years or so, I've been taking a baby aspirin everyday, based on my sense that there was some suggestive evidence that it could be protective.

Here's to aspirin and colon health!

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The Colon Cancer Survivors' Guide, Second Edition: Living Stronger, Longer

Monday, October 18, 2010

FDA INTERPOL IMPACT IIWA Bust Almost 300 Websites

The FDA participated in an effort to bust nearly 300 websites.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory and international partners have completed the International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), a coordinated, cooperative effort to curb online sales and distribution of counterfeit and illicit medical products. IIWA took place between October 5-12, 2010.

The IIWA is an initiative sponsored by INTERPOL, the World Health Organization's International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (IMPACT), and the Permanent Forum on International Pharmaceutical Crime, as well as national health and law enforcement agencies from 40 participating countries.

The goal of the IIWA is to protect the public health by increasing the public's awareness about the dangers and risks associated with purchasing drugs and medical devices from Internet websites, to identify the producers and distributors of counterfeit or otherwise illegal pharmaceutical products or medical devices, to target these individuals or businesses with civil or criminal action, and to seize counterfeit and illegal products and remove them from the supply chain.

294 Web sites that appeared to be engaged in the illegal sale of unapproved/misbranded drugs to U.S. consumers were targeted. A total of 274 have been suspended or no longer offer pharmaceuticals for sale. The FDA is working with its foreign counterparts to address the remaining 20 Web sites which continue to offer unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers.

More from the FDA:  Buying Medicines Over the Internet


cGMP basics training for newbies and seasoned staff

#FDA #GMP #cGMP #training #course #class

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If you are looking for live, onsite, in-person delivered courses or classes, then consider the following popular courses:
Root Cause Analysis & Deviation Investigation Report Writing - cGMP Training
Our most popular course
Qualstar - Pharmaceutical Simulation - Advanced cGMP Training
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Monday, October 11, 2010

Learning More About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota - Gonda Buildi...Image via WikipediaRecently at work, I had the chance to learn more about the Mayo Clinic and what they're all about. They provide healthcare, and are also really big into providing health information resources to a global audience.

Here are a few items that caught my attention:

Mayo Clinic Website - Drugs and Supplements - Look up prescription and over-the-counter drug information


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Monday, October 4, 2010

FDA Promises Swift-Aggressive Enforcement To Protect Public Health

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is articulating its enforcement strategy in order to ensure strategic alignment within the Agency and express why enforcement is critical to protecting public health. The FDA has the responsibility and authority to safeguard the public health and ensure compliance with the laws and regulations it administers pertaining to foods, drugs, medical devices, biologics, and tobacco products.

Enforcing the laws and regulations is one of the Agency’s highest priorities. The FDA is committed to swift, aggressive enforcement actions to protect the public health.

Under the FDA's scrutiny, it's important more than ever before that drug and device manufacturers have their house in order.  Getting a house in order also includes paying attention to executive and operator training around the FDA regulations, such as cGMP regulations and more.

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Monday, September 27, 2010

Johnson and Johnson GMP Headache - Insights

Updated December 25, 2020

Links in the original post broke.

You might also be interested in:

- - -  the original post follows below  - - -

This investigative report by Mina Kimes offers insights into Johnson and Johnson's quality control breakdowns, Why J&J's headache won't go away. This appears to be the same article published in Fortune magazine's September 6, 2010 issue.

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Mesothelioma Awareness Day

Malignant Mesothelioma, coronal CT scan. Legen...Image via Wikipedia
Mesothelioma Awareness Day is September 26th, according to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

All supporters, volunteers and patients affected by the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma will help recognize Mesothelioma Awareness Day this Sunday on September 26, 2010. To learn more about this awareness day, go to the Foundation's webpage, Mesothelioma Awareness Day.


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Monday, September 20, 2010

FDA Guidance - Impact Resistant Lenses - Q and A

Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff - Impact-Resistant Lenses: Questions and Answers represents the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. As you read through the guidance, you'll find quite a number of useful hyperlinks to additional information and references.

Eyeglasses and sunglasses (eyewear) that are intended to affect the structure or function of the body or intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, are devices within the meaning of section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 321(h)). These devices are subject to applicable device regulations under Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations. Impact-resistant lenses reduce the number of eye injuries from eyeglasses and sunglasses. Glass lenses, plastic lenses, or laminated glass lenses can be made impact resistant by any method. However, lenses generally must be capable of withstanding the impact test described in 21 CFR 801.410. This guidance answers questions for manufacturers, importers, and testing laboratories on such topics as test procedures, lens testing apparatus, record maintenance, and exemptions to testing.

This guidance is a revision of “Impact-Resistant Lenses: Questions and Answers (FDA 87-4002),” issued September 1987. This guidance updates answers to questions that industry and consumers frequently ask FDA about impact-resistant lenses and FDA regulation of eyewear. The revision reflects the exemption of sunglasses from the Premarket Notification (510(k)) requirement effective February 19, 1998 (21 CFR 886.5850(b)). The revised document also includes a more detailed discussion about lens blanks, semi-finished, finished, and plano lenses, as well as import procedures. The terms "eyeglasses" and "spectacles" are used interchangeably in this document.

Eyewear products regulated by FDA are commonplace in the daily lives of the vast majority of the general public. FDA believes that impact-resistant lenses are an essential component of the safe design of these devices.  The use of impact-resistant lenses in eyeglasses and sunglasses is addressed in 21 CFR 801.410.

For more information on this topic, contact the Division of Small Manufacturers, International, and Consumer Assistance (DSMICA) by phone at 1-800-638-2041, by fax at 301-847-8149, by e-mail at dsmica@fda.hhs.gov, or write to the following address:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Office of Communication, Education and Radiation Programs
Division of Small Manufacturers, International, and Consumer Assistance
10903 New Hampshire Ave.
WO66-4613
Silver Spring, Maryland 20993

#FDA #GMP #training #cGMP

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Monday, September 13, 2010

Electronic Orange Book Online

Updated Aug 18, 2016:

FDA's redesigned Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (webpage)

Updated Feb 3, 2016:
It's here! The latest Orange Book Annual Edition

You might also be interested in this webpage:
FDA Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations

- - - original post below - - -

The FDA offers an electronic (online) version of the Orange Book, also known as Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations.

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Monday, September 6, 2010

FDA Form 483 Search Tool

Updated January 27, 2021

Links in the original post broke.


You might also be interested in:

- - -  original post follows below  - - -

FDAzilla offers a specialized search tool that makes it possible to search for Form 483 observations issued by the FDA.

One possible use of the search tool is to get a listing of Form 483s issued to companies in a particular country, for example, the search results of form 483 observations issued to companies in India.  Just alter your search keywords to view different results.

Related reading:  Compliance Remediation for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: A Project Management Guide for Re-establishing FDA Compliance

You might also be interested in:

Inspection Detection - a GMP training game by SkillsPlus Intl Inc.
An extensive library of 483 citation summaries from the FDA. Match the case with the corresponding 21 CFR 211 reference. Used as a classroom training tool or for self-study, this training aid challenges the student to identify and justify the 21 CFR 211 reference that supports the 483 citation.
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Saturday, September 4, 2010

FDA - Safe Drug Use After Natural Disasters


Floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, oh my.  The FDA provides recommendations on Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster. Here's what they cover:

Drugs Exposed to Excessive Heat, such as Fire
Drugs Exposed to Unsafe Water
Drugs that Need Refrigeration

For more information:
FDA - Natural Disaster Response
FDA - Hurricanes: Health and Safety

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