FDA News Digest July 29, 2002 _____________________________________________________ Norplant System No Longer Needs Backup Contraception Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has announced that patients using its Norplant contraceptive implant system may safely discontinue using backup contraception such as condoms, spermicides or IUDs. In 2000, the company had advised patients to use backup methods due to concerns about the system's effectiveness, but later tests showed the implants to be as effective as seen in clinical trials and product labeling. Wyeth also plans to stop marketing the Norplant system. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01161.html _____________________________________________________ Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment Approved for Women Zelnorm is the first drug to receive FDA approval for short-term treatment of women with irritable bowel syndrome whose primary symptom is constipation. Studies have not established the safety and effectiveness of Zelnorm in men. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01160.html _____________________________________________________ Cochlear Implant Recipients May Be at Risk for Meningitis FDA has announced that at least 25 cases of bacterial meningitis have been diagnosed in cochlear implant patients ranging in age from 21 months to 63 years. Nine known deaths have resulted from these cases. Cochlear implants are positioned in the inner ear to allow transmission of sound signals to the brain for patients with severe-to-profound deafness. http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/cochlear.html _____________________________________________________ HOW'S YOUR KNOWLEDGE about health-related topics such as eye diseases, Botox, antibiotic resistance, and sunglasses? Find out by taking our 10-question online quiz at: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/quiz/onlinequiz6_js.html _____________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to the FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be August 5. To leave this list at any time, send an e-mail to LISTSERV@LIST.NIH.GOV In the body of the message, write SIGNOFF FDA-NEWSDIGEST-L
