Novartis, the manufacturer of the irritable bowel drug Zelnorm, has been suspended from the market due to a link with such heart ailments as angina, heart attack, and stroke. Its the second drug in two days removed from the marketplace for suspicion of causing heart problems.

Permax, the once popular drug for Parkinson’s Disease, has been pulled from the market by its manufacturer, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. Permax has been linked to valvular heart damage in two recent studies and the FDA has asked the drug company to stop marketing the drug. According to FDA estimates, Permax is being used by 12,000-25,000 patients in the USA. If you or a loved one are taking Permax, please contact your doctor to inquire about alternative Parkinson’s treatments.

A New Zealand court has fined pharma giant Glaxo Smith Kline for misleading advertising concerning its drink Ribena. The company had marketed the product as rich in vitamin C while two studies found no detectable vitamin C in the drink. This latest incident shows how big pharma’s marketing practices can go beyond the ethical boundaries in order to sell a product.

As if drivers didn’t have enough distractions, they are now texting messages to their friends, famly, and co-workers. In the past, I’ve witnessed drivers shaving, reading the newspaper, doing their makeup, and eating a six course meal. All these activities pose grave threats to those of us who take our road safety seriously. Something has to be done to curb such extracurricular activities while driving. Lives depend on it!

During Anderson Cooper’s program 360, CNN anchor Thomas Roberts spoke of the horror of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest. Like many survivors, Roberts’ parents had divorced and the priest abuser took advantage of Roberts home situation. He trusted this supposed “Man of God” only to be violated by him. The show detailed the emotional and psychological pain of sexual abuse by a priest, Fr. Jeff, a Baltimore priest. Roberts, now a grown man with a successful career, still bears the scars and wounds of this violation. Like other survivors, Roberts life was drastically altered by a Catholic priest.

The FDA has learned that the peanut butter contamination is not limited to the ConAgra plant in Sylvester Georgia since the peanut butter manufacturer sent some of the same peanut butter to its plant in Humboldt, Tennessee. This bulk peanut butter was used to make peanut butter toppings for Carvel Ice Cream stores and the Sonic fast food restaurants.