After listening today of many persons on TV that has had their Twitter, FB, and instagram account censored, suspended or cancelled… https://www.simonandschuster.com/ cancelled a book of a member of Congress that was suppose to be published in June over his support the challenge in Congress two days ago over the last Presidential election.

Our first Amendment right to “freedom of speech” only applies to the government, private businesses can do what they want.  Of course, people have the freedom of choice to continue to patronize any such business.

I heard on TV today, a person that works for a mutual fund that had his rather benign post censored and he is cancelling his FB & Twitter accounts. Another commentator on Fox cable – a former secret service agent – stated that he is cancelling his FB & Twitter account and moving over to https://www.parler.com

It has also been stated that these same websites have closed President Trump’s account till at least until Jan 21,2021 and a number of other Trump websites have been taken off line by someone – maybe his ISP. It was just announced on TV that TWITTER has PERMANENTLY SUSPENDED PRESIDENT TRUMP”S ACCOUNT.

Parler is suppose to be a more open/uncensored webpage that is suppose to work like Facebook…  I have had my own Parler account that I opened a month or two ago because I saw this coming.

None of us know how many “common folks” are doing the same things… but … I am keeping my future posting to this blog… I own the domain and I would hope that the ISP that I pay to have this domain doesn’t decide to get into censorship.

I am not going to delete my FB or twitter accounts, but they are going to become stagnant …. there is a lot of valuable information for chronic painers on those sites.

It has become obvious that there were numerous closeted RINO Trump haters that are now coming out of the woodwork and they are circling the white house like hungry vultures. They no longer have to create descent in the shadows. Pelosi seemingly the LEAD VULTURE !

They are even trying to pull the 25th Amendment on him… declaring him incompetent .. that that we may not be able to run for an elected office again.

The chronic pain community continues to become more and more divided… one of my favorite things to do is go into FB notifications to find the same post , graphic or video posted on a dozen or more FB pages. If nothing else, it clearly demonstrates how divided the community is.

History has suggested that the community suffers the most when there is a person in power, that has a friend/relative that is a substance abuser or died from a drug overdose… and that describes our incoming President and our VP has been reported when she was a AG of CALF… was a hard ass on substance abuser – especially MJ… So one again we have TWO ATTORNEYS at the head of the administration… throw in a third attorney as AG… and generally attorneys are mostly interested in enforcing the laws and the Controlled Substance Act is still out there since 1970..

IMO, the community has come to a “fork in the road” and either need to create alliances with other non profit groups dealing with chronic health issues who are being restricted in getting their necessary medications… or they need to get ready to accept whatever this new administration is going to shove down your throat.. and it won’t be anything to help you pain.

Here is the gist of the mind set behind the new administration…. do any of you in the community get a idea of where you stand in the future ?

While I was making this post… this video popped up …  I would like those “boys” out in SILICON VALLEY … are apparently trying to impose their opinion(s) on a competitor and apparently are seeking law firms to run their competitors out of business.  This fellow is the one that announced today on Fox cable that he was closing his FB or Twitter account..

Right now this video is on FB, but I have saved it to my hard drive… and they can’t take it from my computer and I own this web domain.

There is a old saying “keep your friends close and your enemies closer”… there are some in the community that believes that we need to create a  “US vs THEM” with those who have mental health issues resulting in substance abuse. Those who have fueled the war on pt/drugs have been pushing the idea since 1970 that Rx opiates creates addicts.  The community can present the DOJ/DEA with all the facts that is contrary to “their facts” that align with their agenda.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where it is going to get you.

I have been a damn good prognosticator in my adult life – started around late 20’s – early 30’s… when I started to really started paying attention to the world around me…  I have created several businesses and after 20 years was physically/mentally exhausted and sold out those businesses and retire at 49.  This new administration scares the crap out of me… it especially scares me for those in the community.  Everyone needs to pay attention to Biden, Harris, Pelosi & Chuck Schumer and maybe AOC/Squad talk and they use the word CONTROL  or INCREASED/NEW REGULATIONS. As Schumer stated in the video “CHANGE THE COUNTRY”… they can only change the country thru NEW REGULATIONS.  Boys and Girls, this administration will attempt to solve the opiate crisis by cutting controlled substances to one pt at a time that needs a controlled med to treat their health issues.  I don’t know if it will some sort of MME daily limits or DEA production quota reduction or BOTH.  Remember a <D> controlled Congress passed the Harrison Narcotic Act 1914 – which created the “black drug market” and it was a <D> controlled Congress that passed the Controlled Substance Act 1970 and it was a <D> controlled Congress that failed to renew the DECADE OF PAIN LAW 2000 (passed by a <R> controlled Congress) when it expired in 2009.  History would suggest that they could care less about the community ! It was also <D> in the Congress who STRONGLY OBJECTED to the Medicare part D law – that in 2006 started to provide Medicare folks prescription coverage after 41 years of Medicare not providing any coverage.

I am taking a few steps back… I have been blogging for 9 years… and while they may be more people advocating… they are divided among hundreds or thousands of FB pages, Tweets or other places.  I will be monitoring the various FB/twitter feed and will be posting a link to this post as a “answer” for abt the next 30 days.

Filed under: General Problems | 12 Comments »

The inside story of Ranbaxy’s dirty drugs scandal

https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/the-inside-story-of-ranbaxy-s-dirty-drugs-scandal/cid/1696405

Bottle of Lies, a New York Times bestseller reveals how Ranbaxy committed fraud and potentially harmed patients on a global scale

Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »

Katherine Eban: Widespread fraud in the generic drug industry

https://peterattiamd.com/katherineeban/

“Generics are supposed to be this great leveler. It’s like the democratization of drugs that the rich and the poor alike can have access to for these great cures. To find out…that the companies cashing in on that image are really selling that short in a very devious way, is painful to realize. It’s a real great public health hope that has a very dark underbelly.” — Katherine Eban

In this episode, Katherine Eban, investigative journalist and author of Bottle of Lies, illuminates the prevalence of fraud in generic drug manufacturing which brings into question the idea that generics are identical to brand-name drug as we are lead to believe. Katherine walks us through how this widespread corruption came to be, including the shocking story of one particularly egregious (and unfortunately not uncommon) example of an Indian drug company, Ranbaxy, whose business model was completely dependent on falsifying data in their drug applications to the FDA. We then discuss the subsequent investigation into Indian and Chinese drug manufacturing plants which revealed that nearly 80% of them are tainted with fraud. We conclude this discussion on a positive note with i) how individuals can investigate their own drugs to protect themselves ii) an innovative pharmacy attempting to disrupt the market and iii) some ideas on how to reform to the regulations around generic drugs, the FDA, and more.

Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »

Leaked email reveals CVS district leader instructed pharmacy staff not to tell patients their medications were filled by someone who tested positive for COVID-19

https://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-told-staff-to-hide-worker-covid-19-cases-from-patients-2020-8

Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »

Filed under: General Problems | 1 Comment »

Rising Stimulant Deaths Show that We Face More than Just an Opioid Crisis

https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2020/11/rising-stimulant-deaths-show-we-face-more-than-just-opioid-crisis

Although we often talk about individual drugs and drug use disorders in isolation, the reality is that many people use drugs in combination and also die from them in combination. Although deaths from opioids continue to command the public’s attention, an alarming increase in deaths involving the stimulant drugs methamphetamine and cocaine are a stark illustration that we no longer face just an opioid crisis. We face a complex and ever-evolving addiction and overdose crisis characterized by shifting use and availability of different substances and use of multiple drugs (and drug classes) together.

Source: Office of Intramural Training & Education, NIH

Overdose deaths specifically from opioids began escalating two decades ago, after the introduction of potent new opioid pain relievers like OxyContin. But actually, drug overdose deaths have been increasing exponentially since at least 1980, with different substances

(link is external) (e.g., cocaine) driving this upward trend at different times. Overdose deaths involving methamphetamine started rising steeply in 2009, and provisional numbers from the CDC show they had increased 10-fold by 2019, to over 16,500. A similar number of people die every year from overdoses involving cocaine (16,196), which has increased nearly as precipitously over the same period.

Although stimulant use and use disorders fluctuate year to year, national surveys have suggested that use had not risen considerably over the period that overdoses from these drugs escalated, which means that the increases in mortality are likely due to people using these drugs in combination with opioids like heroin or fentanyl or using products that have been laced with fentanyl without their knowledge. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid (80 times more potent than morphine) that since 2013 has driven the steep rise in opioid overdoses.

During the last half of the 1980s, when cocaine surged in popularity, many overdoses occurred in people combining this drug with heroin. The recent rise in deaths from co-use of stimulants and opioids seems to reflect a similar phenomenon. According to a recent examination of barriers to syringe services programs published in the International Journal of Drug Policy

(link is external), staff at some programs report that increasing numbers of individuals are injecting methamphetamine and opioids together. Some also report that individuals are switching from opioids to methamphetamine because they fear the unpredictability of opioid products that may contain fentanyl (even though methamphetamine may be laced with fentanyl too).

A 2018 study by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence

(link is external) found that methamphetamine use has increased significantly among people with an existing opioid use disorder (OUD). People with OUD in their study reported substituting methamphetamine for opioids when the latter are hard to obtain or are perceived as unsafe, or that they sought a synergistic high by combining them. People who purposefully combine heroin and cocaine or methamphetamine report that the stimulant helps to balance out the soporific effect of opioids, enabling them to function “normally.” However, the combination can enhance the drugs’ toxicity and lethality, by exacerbating their individual cardiovascular and pulmonary effects.

Much more research is needed on the co-use of stimulants and opioids as well as how their combination affects overdose risk. Unfortunately, death certificates do not always list the drugs involved, and when they do, they may not always be accurate about which drugs principally contributed to mortality, making it difficult to know exactly the role opioids and stimulants play in mortality when people deliberately or unknowingly take the two together.

Overdose is not the only danger. Persistent stimulant use can lead to cognitive problems as well as many other health issues (such as cardiac and pulmonary diseases). Injecting cocaine or methamphetamine using shared equipment can transmit infectious diseases like HIV or hepatitis B and C. Cocaine has been shown to suppress immune-cell function and promote replication of the HIV virus and its use may make individuals with HIV more susceptible to contracting hepatitis C. Similarly methamphetamine may worsen HIV progression and exacerbate cognitive problems from HIV.

The use of methamphetamine by men who have sex with men has been found to be an important factor in the transmission of HIV in that population. According to a new study in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

(link is external) by researchers at the City University of New York and the University of Miami, more than a third of the gay and bisexual men in their sample who acquired HIV in a 12-month study period reported that they used methamphetamine both before and during that period. Among the variables examined, methamphetamine use was the single biggest risk factor for becoming HIV positive, pointing to use of this drug as an important target for intervention in this group. Another NIH-funded study by a team at the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing published in the Journal of Urban Health in 2014 found that delivering cognitive-behavioral therapy for SUD as a harm reduction measure reduced stimulant use and sexual risk-taking behavior in a sample of men who have sex with men.

For now, the best available treatments for stimulant use disorders are behavioral interventions. Contingency management, which uses motivational incentives and tangible rewards to help a person attain their treatment goals, is the most effective therapy, particularly when used in conjunction with a community reinforcement approach. Despite its effectiveness for treating both methamphetamine and cocaine use disorders, contingency management is not widely used, stemming in part from a policy limiting the monetary value of incentives allowable as part of treatment.

Currently, there are no approved medications for the treatment of stimulant use disorders, but hopefully that will change in the not-too-distant future. Multiple NIDA-funded research teams have been hard at work, in some cases for many years already, testing new medication targets as well as immunotherapies for methamphetamine addiction, such as vaccines.

Linda Dwoskin, a NIDA-funded researcher at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, is developing compounds that will alter the function of  molecules called vesicular monoamine transporters that affect how neurons recycle dopamine and that are targets for methamphetamine’s activity, in order to reduce craving and relapse in people addicted to the drug. (Her two-decade quest to develop a medication for methamphetamine addiction is chronicled in a multi-part series in NIDA Notes—the most recent installment is here.)

Apart from medications, another novel approach being tested to treat several substance use disorders is compounds that recruit the body’s own immune system against specific types of drugs, or the direct delivery of antibodies to neutralize a drug’s effects. A team at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the biotech company InterveXion Therapeutics is currently conducting Phase 2 trials of a monoclonal antibody capable of holding methamphetamine in the bloodstream and disabling its entry into the brain. (A recent NIDA Notes series also details this research program.)

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated stresses have made the need for new prevention and treatment approaches more urgent. Researchers at the Department of Health and Human Services and Millennium Health recently published in JAMA

(link is external) that since the beginning of the national emergency in March there has been a 23 percent increase in urine samples taken from various healthcare and clinical settings testing positive for methamphetamine nationwide, a 19 percent increase in samples testing positive for cocaine, and a 67 percent increase in samples testing positive for fentanyl. Another recent study of urine samples by researchers at Quest Diagnostics, published in Population Health Management, found significant increases in fentanyl in combination with methamphetamine and with cocaine during the pandemic. 

Efforts to address stimulant use should be integrated with the initiatives already underway to address opioid addiction and opioid mortality. The complex reality of polysubstance use is already a research area that NIDA funds, but much more work is needed. The recognition that we face a drug addiction and overdose crisis, not just an opioid crisis, should guide research, prevention, and treatment efforts going forward.

Filed under: General Problems | 1 Comment »

Critical Care Nurses Add Their Perspective To Pain Management in the ICU

https://www.painmedicinenews.com/Policy-and-Management/Article/05-20/Critical-Care-Nurses-Add-Their-Perspective-To-Pain-Management-in-the-ICU/58188

Managing patients’ pain isn’t just for doctors; it takes a whole care team. However, much of the current literature isn’t from a nurse’s perspective.

To fill this void, the Association of Critical Care Nurses released a symposium of articles in its journal Advanced Critical Care, addressing the challenges and knowledge gaps in pain treatment in acute and critically ill patients.

“Pain management remains a daily challenge to care teams because high levels of pain are often reported by patients, and a significant proportion of acute and critically ill patients cannot communicate,” wrote the journal’s editor Céline Gélinas, PhD, RN, an associate professor in the Ingram School of Nursing at McGill University, in Montreal, in her introduction. “Adequate treatment of acute pain, based on a multimodal analgesic approach, is essential to provide appropriate pain relief to patients, optimize recovery and prevent chronic pain development.”

Providers need to zero in on pain from the start of whatever critical treatment a patient receives, according to the research presented in the symposium’s first article (AACN Adv Crit Care 2019;30[4]:335-342), especially in patients suffering from chronic pain. Those patients may have hypersensitive neurons, study author Barbara St. Marie, PhD, AGPCNP, an assistant professor at the University of Iowa’s College of Nursing, in Iowa City.

“They may be hypersensitive to pain,” Dr. St. Marie said. “When patients don’t have their acute pain well managed, there may be a persistence [in pain] that lasts longer and requires more opioids.”

Nonverbal Assessment of Pain

As many providers know, it can be difficult to assess patients’ pain overall, but especially so with those who have trouble communicating or are not able to communicate their pain verbally. “Many ICU patients may not be able to self-report due to their critical care condition and related treatments, which may alter their consciousness and ability to interact,” Dr. Gélinas said.

Behavioral scales and observational techniques can fill the gap, according to the authors of another article in the symposium (AACN Adv Crit Care 2019;30[4]:365-387). The researchers reviewed a total of 106 articles, analyzing 13 behavioral pain assessment tools for various noncommunicative populations. After investigating the tools’ characteristics, such as reliability and feasibility, the researchers endorsed the Behavioral Pain Scale, the Behavioral Pain Scale Nonintubated and the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool. “They have shown robust psychometric properties in discriminating between painful and nonpainful procedures and correctly classify patients,” Dr. Gélinas said. “They can guide appropriate decisions for pain treatment and evaluation of analgesia effectiveness.”

Withdrawal and Opioid Use Disorder

The power of observation can also aid in avoiding iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome resulting from discontinuing opioids and/or benzodiazepines after prolonged patient use, according to another study in the symposium (AACN Adv Crit Care 2019;30[4]:353-364). The investigators note that “research to date is scant” on the subject, but providers must recognize the warning signs.

“[Iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome] is preventable with appropriate monitoring. Nurses must be aware of the signs and symptoms of withdrawal, which may affect the central nervous, gastrointestinal and sympathetic nervous systems,” Dr. Gélinas said.

Some patients at risk include those with opioid use disorder (OUD). These patients can be especially challenging in a critical care setting, but managing symptoms well, sometimes with medication-assisted treatments such as buprenorphine, can be achieved (AACN Adv Crit Care 2019;30[4]:335-342).

“To provide the best care, nurses must recognize withdrawal and craving and discuss concerns of these symptoms with the multidisciplinary team, including those in addiction medicine,” Dr. St. Marie said. “Nurses play a vital role in assessments, especially identifying those at risk for psychological health care needs.”

However, there is a lack of guidelines on treating OUD patients in critical care, Dr. St. Marie explained. “Many of the gaps in clinical practice guidelines cover managing patients with an active disease of addiction with acute or chronic pain, or helping patients protect the work they’ve done in recovery,” she said.

“Another gap is helping those in recovery with medications for OUD when they have acute or chronic pain. Establishing expert panels to search literature for evidence and write guidelines is going to be important to our patients,” Dr. St. Marie added.

Nonpharmacologic Treatments

As the opioid crisis has forced more judicious uses of various pain medicines, more research is supporting nonpharmacologic methods for pain relief (AACN Adv Crit Care 2019;30[4]:388-397). Analyzing the current literature, the researchers found music and massage therapies are being used most often in critical care settings, as well as an increase in combining several therapies at the same time. Bundled interventions—such as massage, music, relaxation and cold therapy—have been proven to reduce pain in some patients, Dr. Gélinas said.

“Some nonpharmacologic interventions reduce pain by 1 or 2 points on a 0-10 numeric rating scale in ICU patients,” she explained. “They can be administered by nurses following appropriate training. The selection of interventions should take into account the patient’s preferences and clinical condition.”

One source of nonpharmacologic support for patients can be including family members in the treatment process (AACN Adv Crit Care 2019;30[4]: 398-410). Although again, the literature was lacking, an assessment of 11 articles found that family members can be beneficial in helping to express a patient’s pain experience and choosing nondrug interventions—if they feel comfortable doing so.

“An important gap that deserves attention is the role of family members in assessing and managing pain. Family members should be encouraged to participate in the delivery of nonpharmacologic interventions if they feel comfortable,” Dr. Gélinas said. “It is suggested that family members get involved in the identification of pain behaviors in loved ones, [especially those] unable to self-report.”

Filed under: General Problems | 4 Comments »

https://youtu.be/E6ifjSAkTTs

Filed under: General Problems | 3 Comments »

FDA Alert: Certain Lots of Sportmix Pet Food Recalled for Potentially Fatal Levels of Aflatoxin

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-alert-certain-lots-sportmix-pet-food-recalled-potentially-fatal-levels-aflatoxin

Fast Facts

• FDA is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about certain Sportmix pet food products (see list below) manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. that may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin. 
• FDA is aware of at least 28 deaths and 8 illnesses in dogs that ate the recalled product. 
• This is an ongoing investigation. Case counts and the scope of this recall may expand as new information becomes available.
• Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxin can cause illness and death in pets.
• Pets experiencing aflatoxin poisoning may have symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. In severe cases, this toxicity can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage but not show any symptoms.
• Pet owners should stop feeding their pets the recalled products listed below and consult their veterinarian, especially if the pet is showing signs of illness.  The pet owner should remove the food and make sure no other animals have access to the recalled product.
• FDA is asking veterinarians who suspect aflatoxin poisoning in their patients to report the cases through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. Pet owners can also report suspected cases to the FDA.

What is the Problem?

On December 30, 2020, Midwestern Pet Food, Inc. announced a recall of certain lots of Sportmix pet food products after FDA was alerted about reports of at least 28 dogs that have died and eight that have fallen ill after consuming the recalled Sportmix pet food. Multiple product samples were tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and found to contain very high levels of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus and at high levels it can cause illness and death in pets. The toxin can be present even if there is no visible mold.

FDA is issuing this advisory to notify the public about the potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin in pet food products that may still be on store shelves, online, or in pet owners’ homes. 

FDA is conducting follow-up activities at the manufacturing facility.

This is a developing situation and the FDA will update this page with additional information as it becomes available.

What are the Symptoms of Aflatoxin Poisoning in Pets?

Pets are highly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning because, unlike people, who eat a varied diet, pets generally eat the same food continuously over extended periods of time. If a pet’s food contains aflatoxin, the toxin could accumulate in the pet’s system as they continue to eat the same food. 

Pets with aflatoxin poisoning may experience symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes, gums or skin due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. In some cases, this toxicity can cause long-term liver issues and/or death. Some pets suffer liver damage without showing any symptoms. Pet owners whose pets have been eating the recalled products should contact their veterinarians, especially if they are showing signs of illness. You can find more pet safety tips at pet blog sites like HouseholdPets.co.uk

There is no evidence to suggest that pet owners who handle products containing aflatoxin are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning. However, pet owners should always wash their hands after handling pet food. 

What Products are Involved?

On December 30, 2020, Midwest Pet Food, Inc. announced a recall of nine total lots of Sportmix pet food products. FDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are working with the firm to determine whether any additional products may have been made with the same ingredients containing potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin. As new information becomes available, this product list may continue to expand.

The list of recalled dry pet food products announced by Midwestern Pet Food, Inc. on December 30, 2020 is:

• Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag
  • Exp 03/02/22/05/L2
  • Exp 03/02/22/05/L3
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L2
• Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag
  • Exp 03/02/22/05/L3
  • Sportmix Premium High Energy, 50 lb. bag
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
• Sportmix Premium High Energy, 44 lb. bag
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
  • Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag 
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L3
• Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L2
  • Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Lot code information may be found on the back of bag and will appear in a three-line code, with the top line in format “EXP 03/03/22/05/L#/B###/HH:MM”

The affected products were distributed to online retailers and stores nationwide within the United States. 

What Do Retailers Need to Do?

Don’t sell or donate the affected pet food products. Contact the manufacturer for further instructions. The FDA also encourages retailers to contact consumers who have purchased recalled products, if they have the means to do so (such as through shopper’s card records or point-of-sale signs). 

What Do Pet Owners Need to Do?

If your pet has symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, contact a veterinarian immediately. Even pets without symptoms may have suffered liver damage, so you may want to contact your veterinarian if your dog has eaten any of the recalled products. Provide a full diet history to your veterinarian. You may find it helpful to take a picture of the pet food label, including the lot number.

Don’t feed the recalled products to your pets or any other animal. Contact the company listed on the package for further instructions or throw the products away in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them. Sanitize pet food bowls, scoops, and storage containers using bleach, rinsing well afterwards with water, and drying thoroughly.

There is no evidence to suggest that pet owners who handle products containing aflatoxin are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning. However, pet owners should always wash their hands after handling any pet food.

You can report suspected illness to the FDA electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. It’s most helpful if you can work with your veterinarian to submit your pet’s medical records as part of your report. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be helpful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.

What Do Veterinarians Need to Do?

The FDA urges veterinarians treating aflatoxin poisoning to ask their clients for a diet history. We also welcome case reports, especially those confirmed through diagnostic testing. You can submit these reports electronically through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be helpful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.

The information in this release reflects the FDA’s best efforts to communicate what it has learned from the manufacturer and parties involved in the investigation. The agency will update this page as more information becomes available. 

Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »

https://youtu.be/SKI9m8me6WM

Chronic pain comes in ALL forms and fashions. What hurts for one may be just fine for another. The sheer number of parts which construct & form our human body as we know it is quite mind-boggling. From the largest organ of our body; the skin to our bones, the muscles, nerves, glands, organs, 5 senses, ligaments, brain, eyes, legs, arms, feet … you name it — I could go on and on. It is just fascinating.
So when a body part fails to function as it should, and begins to cause pain, most around us don’t know (or don’t wanna know) how to deal with it. We need more empathy. By creating this short video, I hope it moves you enough to video your OWN pain, and tell the CDC EXACTLY what chronic pain FEELS like. Because apparently they don’t have a clue. Go to: www.VideoYourPain.com Advocate for your rights to proper pain medications!

Filed under: General Problems | Leave a Comment »