Europe Medical News —The Committee for Medical Products for Human Use met in mid September to reference the pros and cons of various pharmaceutical drugs. The Committee voted to add a contraindication to Ketek (telithromycin) and Levviax (telithromycin), from Aventis Pharma S.A., saying that for patients with severely impaired renal and/or liver functions the two medicinal products should not be administered concomitantly with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as protease inhibitors or ketoconazole. Ketek has been on the market since July 9, 2001 and is used for bacterial respiratory infections.

Posted by Michael Monheit at 11:43 AM | Permalink

While most liver damage and liver disease is caused by cirrhosis and hepatitis, many pharmaceutical drugs are now the cause of liver damage. Ketek, an antibiotic used for bacterial infections are one of the drugs that cause liver damage, liver failure, and death. Symptoms of liver disease include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, jaundice, extreme itching sensation, vomiting blood, dark urine, shortness of breath, lack of blood clotting, and mental confusion. When liver failure occurs, a liver transplant is necessary. (Ketek)

Posted by Michael Monheit at 11:24 AM | Permalink

There are many resources available from the FDA tjhat discuss the side effects of Ketek, including the most recent labeling as of June 29, 2006, patient information as of July 21, 2006, Q & A as of July 5, 2006, and FDA news as of June 29, 2006. (FDA)

Posted by Michael Monheit at 08:04 AM | Permalink

How discomforting it must be for those prescribed Ketek to learn that FDA internal emails reveal that scientists and researchers believe that the antibiotic Ketek should not have been approved for the pharmaceutical marketplace. These emails show that there was no real proof if the drug actually worked. Even if Ketek works better than other drugs of this genre, the data suggests that Ketek was more toxic than antibiotics. (Corp Watch)

Posted by Michael Monheit at 08:05 AM | Permalink