Drugs

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is a drug formerly used and prescribed in the United States as a stimulant, decongestant, and anorectic. It was found primarily in over-the-counter cold medicines and appetite suppressants.

Permax (pergolide) is a drug that was formerly prescribed in the United States to treat Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's in associated with low dopamine levels in the brain and this medication has some of the same effects on the body as dopamine.

Paxil (paroxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type antidepressant approved for prescription use in the United States.

Studies have indicated that SSRI antidepressants can increase the risk of suicidal thinking in young adults. These findings have also shown that that risk appears to decline in older adults.

Ortho Evra is a birth control patch approved for use in the United States as an alternative to 'the pill'. It is applied to the skin and releases synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones to prevent pregnancy.

Neutrospec is an imaging agent that was formerly approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used to diagnose appendicitis.

After reports of life-threatening adverse events and even a small number of deaths, the makers of Neutrospec gave in to pressures to withdraw this product from the market. It was deemed unsafe after it was determined to be related to a number of serious side effects. This decision was also made in light of the fact that there are other means to diagnose appendicitis that do not carry such serious risks.

Neurontin (gabapentin) is a drug used primarily in the treatment of seizures and nerve-based (neuropathic) pain. It is also prescribed by doctors for a variety of off-label uses such as anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder.

While there is anecdotal evidence to show that Neurontin may help with these conditions, little research has been done into the scientific basis of such claims, let alone the potential side effects from this powerful medication being prescribed for non-approved uses.

Natrecor (nesiritide) is a drug for heart failure that is typically administered intravenously in a hospital setting when a patient comes in exhibiting symptoms. The medication dilates blood vessels, reduces stress on the heart, and relieves such frightening symptoms as shortness of breath.

Mirapex (pramipexole) is a drug prescribed for Parkinson's patients and those with Restless Legs Syndrome. It works by interacting with dopamine receptors in the brain to help control the symptoms of these conditions. It has also been tested for use with other illnesses that stem from dopamine receptor issues, including bipolar depression.

Mifeprex (mifepristone), also known as RU-486, is a pharmaceutical drug primarily used as an abortifacient in the first months of pregnancy, and in smaller doses as an emergency contraceptive.

Menactra is a vaccine approved for the prevention of meningitis. Meningitis is a disease in which the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges, become inflamed. It can be very serious and even deadly. Though meningitis is relatively rare, it can be devastating and doctors recommend that those at particular risk be vaccinated.