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The popular nighttime heartburn drug, Propulsid, will
be pulled from the market after being linked to dozens of fatal heart
rhythm abnormalities. The removal was the second this week of a widely
used prescription drug.
Janssen Pharmaceutica will stop marketing the prescription
heartburn drug Propulsid (cisapride) in the United States as of July 14,
2000. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statement issued Thursday notes
that the drug has been associated with 341 reports of heart rhythm abnormalities
including 80 reports of deaths.
The drug is used to treat severe nighttime heartburn
in adult patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that does
not adequately respond to other therapies. Its labeling has been revised
several times since it was approved in 1993, to point out its risks.
Currently, about 350,000 Americans are taking Propulsid.
Since the drug hit the market in 1993, some 30 million U.S. residents
have taken the medication. While Propulsid is one of Johnson & Johnson's
top-selling drugs, its sales are far behind market leader Prilosec.
Washington
Post Friday, March 24, 2000; Page A11
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