Medication Safety Warning - TNF Blockers

Sunday September 7, 2008

If you take TNF blockers for ankylosing spondylitis you should be aware that last week the FDA ordered drug manufacturers to strengthen safety warnings that appear on the labels. The FDA wouldn't do this without a reason, of course. Researchers found an increase in opportunistic fungal infections associated with taking these 4 drugs:

Humira (adalimumab)

Enbrel (etanercept)

Remicade (infliximab)

Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)

According to the FDA, some patients with invasive fungal infections have died. Most of the infections occured in the Ohio River or Mississippi River valleys.

The FDA says that, although safety warnings have been available to health professionals, many not been recognizing the risk of infection that comes with the TNF inhibitors. This lack of attention on the part of providers leads to delay in treatment, which could lead to death.

While your doctor and pharmacist bear a responsibility in keeping you safe from risks that come from the drugs they prescribe and dispense, please don't wait for them to say something. As noted by the FDA, they don't always keep up with the latest information about drugs.

But putting the burden or blame on them is not worth your health or your life. You can be a proactive consumer in your own journey towards health by reading warnings such as this one, and bringing them to the attention of your doctor.

Seek immediated medical attention if you have:

persistent fever
cough
shortness of breath
fatigue
any of the above symptoms and you've been to the Ohio River or Mississippi River valleys recently.

Ankylosing spondylitis is not the only condition for which TNF blockers are prescribed. Several forms of arthritis are also treated with these medications. The Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 allows the FDA to make the drug companies comply with the new labeling request.

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_{Source:

FDA website. FDA: Manufacturers of TNF-Blocker Drugs Must Highlight Risk of Fungal Infections. Sept 4 2008.}