Valsartan recalled

No, this is not a repeat from a month ago. This time it’s Aurobindo Pharma that’s recalling the tablets. Click here for the full list of NDCs and lot numbers affected.

The spice* can flow

Today salt is (flips coin) not bad for you. We say again, “there’s little proof” a low-sodium diet helps with cardiovascular health. See you tomorrow.

*Technically a seasoning, but work with me here.

Maybe they start dancing

Older patients who start taking antidepressants are apparently at greater risk for hip fracture, according to a Swedish study.

Analysis revealed that adults taking antidepressants sustained more than twice as many hip fractures than nonusers in the year prior to (2.8% vs. 1.1%) and following (3.5% vs. 1.3%) treatment initiation. The researchers did not observe a dose-response relationship.

Dueling headlines: promises, promises

Courtesy of MedPageToday:

ICYMI: Mergers and acquisitions edition

Bristol-Myers Squibb is cracking open its piggy bank to buy Celgene for $74 billion.

What’s up with the FDA these days?

In case you’re wondering how the government shutdown is affecting the folks at the FDA, here’s the gist:

  • Essential public-health operations are continuing.
  • Drug and device reviews already in the pipeline — and thus funded by fees paid BS (before shutdown) — will be processed.
  • However, new requests for FDA approval are on hold, even though they aren’t paid for by the government. “The FDA can’t collect FY2019 user fee payments during the shutdown, which means we can’t accept new applications for products under user fee programs,” tweeted FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

What, you want the gory details? Knock yerself out.

Don’t listen to the caterpillar*

One session of hookah (aka shisha) smoking is as bad as an entire pack of cigarettes.

*If you don’t get the reference, you need to bone up on your liberal arts education.

Elsewhere: east and west

Pharmacies — and stores that contain pharmacies — in New York City are no longer allowed to sell any tobacco products. The City already banned pharmacies from selling e-cigarettes.

And in Hawai’i, terminally ill patients with fewer than six months to live are now allowed to use prescription drugs to take their own lives.