Posicor

Posicor was very effective in treating hypertension, but had disastrous side effects. After causing more than 123 deaths, it was withdrawn June 8th, 1998, for its harmful interactions with other drugs. Posicor was prescribed to over 200,000 patients during the twelve months it was on the market.

Posicor was contraindicated with over 25 different drugs. When combined with these other medications, one of two events occurred, either the heart rhythm slowed to dangerously low rates or contraindicated medications stayed in the body too long and produced dangerously high levels in the blood, causing harmful and sometimes fatal side-effects, including arrhythmia and death.

These side effects occurred primarily, because Posicor reduces the activity of certain liver enzymes that are important in helping the body eliminate many other drugs.

• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular/slow heartbeats (arrhythmia)
• Fainting or dizzy spells
• Swelling of legs and feet
• Seizures
• muscle or joint pain
• Vomiting
• Unusual tiredness
• Weakness

• Roche Laboratories Announces Withdrawal Of Posicor From The Market
• FDA : Dear Doctor Letter