Food and Drinks

Swallowed Chewing Gum Side Effects

Swallowed Chewing Gum Side Effects? What are the side effects of a swallowed chewing gum? Does it get stuck in your gut or does it get digested and eventually come out like other ordinary food? Does swallowed chewing gum expand and balloon in the stomach? And is there truth to reports that it takes seven years to digest a swallowed chewing gum?

Well, those of you who asked the above questions because you happen to swallow a chewing gum will be happy to know that a) it does not get stuck in your gut, b) it does not expand and balloon inside your tummy, and c) it does not take seven years for you to digest the gum.

More from Dr. Michael F. Picco of the Mayo Clinic: Continue reading Swallowed Chewing Gum Side Effects →

Cancer Drugs

Herceptin Weight Gain or Weight Loss?

Herceptin Side Effects. Does the anti-breast cancer drug Herceptin cause weight loss or weight gain? Apparently, it can do either.

However, Herceptin weight loss is much more common than Herceptin weight gain. In fact, weight loss is listed as one of the most common side effects of Herceptin usage. In contrast, Heceptin weight gain is not included in such a list. From herceptin.org:

The most common adverse reactions associated with Herceptin in metastatic gastric cancer were neutropenia, diarrhea, fatigue, anemia, stomatitis, weight loss, upper respiratory tract infections, fever, thrombocytopenia, mucosal inflammation, nasopharyngitis, and dysgeusia.

So if Herceptin weight gain is not officially listed as an adverse reaction to the anti-cancer drug, why are we saying that it could be a side effect?

Continue reading Herceptin Weight Gain or Weight Loss? →

Drug Side Effects

Tecentriq Side Effects

Tecentriq Side Effects: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the thumbs up to Tecentriq (atezolizumab) as a treatment medication for urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer.

What are the side effects of the newly approved prescription medication? The most common Tecentriq side effects are feeling tired, decreased appetite, nausea, urinary tract infection, fever, and constipation.

Meantime, less common but serious side effects are as follows:

  • Lung problems (pneumonitis)– signs and symptoms may include new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain
  • Liver problems (hepatitis)– signs and symptoms of hepatitis may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen), drowsiness, dark urine (tea colored), bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, and feeling less hungry than usual
  • Intestinal problems (colitis)– signs and symptoms of colitis may include diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual, blood in your stools or dark, tarry, sticky stools, and severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness

    • Continue reading Tecentriq Side Effects →

Beauty and Personal Care

Ageless Derma Stem Cell: Safe and Effective?

Is the Ageless Derma Stem Cell and Peptide Anti Wrinkle Cream safe and effective? Well, if you ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) there is no proof that it is safe and there is no proof that it is effective as advertised either.

First, what are the claims made by the manufacturer and/or distributors of the Ageless Derma Stem Cell and Peptide Anti Wrinkle Cream? What can it do? What does it suggest to buyers as to what it can do?

Well, the FDA has compiled a list of claims from various websites and product labels. Here’s what advertisements are claiming about the wonders of Ageless Derma Stem Cell:

  • Clinically proven to reduce all types of hyperpigmentation…to lighten the skin.
  • Improves the firmness and elasticity of skin, removes crow’s feet.
  • Reduces the depth of wrinkles…by attenuating muscle contraction
  • Prevents damage to collagen and elastin production…reduction in fine wrinkles…application before sun exposure protects against sun damage
  • Significant decrease in wrinkle density, depth, volume roughness
  • Decrease in wrinkle depth
  • Is an effective and needle-free alternative to collagen injections…increased collagen sysnthesis (sic)
  • Significantly reduces muscle contraction as an injection-free alternative to Botox
  • Eradicate your lines and wrinkles
  • Revitalize your body’s natural abilities to heal itself…proven in laboratory studies to stimulate growth in cultures of aged human epidermal stem cells…demonstrated measurably reduced wrinkle depth
  • Reduces the depth of wrinkles…by attenuating muscle contraction
  • Significantly reduces muscle contraction as an injection-free alternative to Botox

Continue reading Ageless Derma Stem Cell: Safe and Effective? →

Beauty and Personal Care

Glutathione Side Effects, Safety and Effectiveness

Glutathione Side Effects, Safety and Effectiveness. Is Relumins Advanced Glutathione effective and is it safe to use?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings that the Relumins Advanced Glutathione is potentially unsafe and ineffective. In fact, back in 2014 the agency has seized these drugs because it has not “been proven safe or effective for their intended uses”.

More from the FDA media release:

None of these products have been proven safe or effective for their intended uses. In addition, unapproved injectable products are of concern because their quality, safety and efficacy have not been reviewed. Further, improper injection practices may result in serious injury, including the transmission of disease.

Continue reading Glutathione Side Effects, Safety and Effectiveness →