On April 7, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they are asking manufacturers of all prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to revise the drug labeling (package insert) to include a ''boxed'' or serious warning about the potential for increased risk of cardiovascular events (including heart attack and stroke) and serious and potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding associated with their use. This information will also state that patients who have just had heart surgery should not take these medications. You should talk to your doctor if you are taking one of these drugs and have any questions or concerns about this new information. For more information visit the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/COX2/default.htm
Brand Name -MABTHERA®
Generic Name - rituximab
Use - For treating patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of blood cancer)
Possible Benefict - This medicine shows an improvement in overall survival for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), a rapidly fatal form of the cancer.
Possible risks - Common side effects are: fever, chills and severe shivering (most likely to occur), hypotension (temporary drop in blood pressure. You may alsol feel this as dizziness or fainting), swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
Check with your doctor for other benefits and side effects.
Maker - Roche Pharmaceuticals Roche Laboratories, Inc. 340 Kingsland Street Nutley, NJ 07110-1199
Customer Info - 1-800-526-6367

Brand Name -MERREM®
Generic Name - meropenem
Use - Used as an antibiotic to help treat your infection.
Possible Benefict - This medicine eliminates bacteria that cause many kinds of infections, including pneumonia and urinary tract, skin, bone, and stomach infections.
Possible risks - Some side effects are upset stomach, diarrhea, stomach pain, indigestion, constipation, dry mouth, headache. You may also experience the following symptoms, seizures, fatigue and sleepiness, as well as dizziness.
Check with your doctor for other benefits and side effects.
Maker - AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP 1800 Concord Pike Wilmington, DE 19850-5437
Customer Info - 1-800-236-9933

Brand Name -MOBIC®
Generic Name - meloxicam
Use - Used to relieve the pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Possible Benefict - This medicine is used to relieve the pain, tenderness, inflammation (swelling), and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis.also used used sometimes to treat other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Possible risks - Some side effects are heartburn, diarrhea, sore throat, cough and runny nose. Some side effects can be serious. These include black and tarry stools, red blood in stools, bloody vomit, vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds, skin rash, unexplained weight gain, swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, upset stomach, excessive tiredness, lack of energy, itching and, flu-like symptoms.
Check with your doctor for other benefits and side effects.
Maker - Abbott Laboratories, Inc. 100 Abbott Park Road Abbott Park, IL
Customer Info - 1-800-255-5162

Brand Name -MONOPRIL®
Generic Name - angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Use - As an antihypertensive.
Possible Benefict - Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine) is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Also for treating congestive heart failure. May also decrease risk of kidney problems in diabetics taking insulin.
Possible risks - Dry and persistent cough, headache, fever. Chills, swelling of the face, mouth, hands and/or feet, trouble breathing, abdominal pain, itchy skin
Check with your doctor for other benefits and side effects.
Maker - Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. P.O. Box 4500 Princeton, NJ 08543-4500
Customer Info - 1-609-818-3737