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January 25, 2013 Painkillers containing the drug hydrocodone have provided relief to many in pain. But a panel recommended the federal government place restrictions on access to the drugs to lessen the odds of addiction.

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January 23, 2013 Prescription drugs like Vicodin have provided much-needed relief for many people suffering from pain. But these painkillers can be addictive, and they kill thousands each year. Doctors and regulators are looking into how to limit access to the drugs without causing more suffering for pain patients.

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January 18, 2013 The Food and Drug Administration just approved a flu vaccine made by cells taken from the fall armyworm, an agricultural pest. The cells produce copies of a piece of the flu virus's outer coat that primes the immune system. Conventional vaccines use the whole virus and take longer to produce.

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January 15, 2013 Researchers found that graphic warning labels had a greater impact on smokers' intentions to quit than written warnings. Reactions to the visual warnings were similar across racial and income groups, which researchers say is important because of higher rates of tobacco-related disease among some minorities and the poor.

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January 10, 2013 The active ingredient in many sleep aid medications like Ambien stays in the body longer than had been thought, which could leave people drowsy the next day. So the Food and Drug Administration is ordering pharmaceutical companies to change the labeling on drugs containing the ingredient zolpidem.

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January 4, 2013 Two years after a food safety bill became law, the FDA issues a rule to prevent foodborne illness in produce and one to require food manufacturers to have plans in place to prevent contamination. Foodborne illness sickens about 48 million Americans each year.

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December 3, 2012 The number of Americans with diabetes is set to skyrocket in the next 40 years. Social media has given patients an online support network and information repository for dealing with their disease. Big drug companies are hopping on the bandwagon as well.

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November 21, 2012 Easier access to oral contraceptives could reduce unintended pregnancies, doctors say. But the Food and Drug Administration would have to allow purchases of the pill without a prescription, and that's not going to happen anytime soon.

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November 14, 2012 Members of a House committee demanded to know why the Food and Drug Administration let the pharmacy that sold tainted drugs continue shipping them after sending a warning letter about problems in 2006.

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November 7, 2012 Xeljanz, a new rheumatoid arthritis drug, is the first one that works by blocking enzymes called janus kinases. They play a communication role inside the body and are involved in inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

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October 26, 2012 FDA officials say the New England Compounding Center's own environmental monitoring showed multiple instances of contamination going back nearly nine months before an outbreak of meningitis linked to one the company's drugs. The company's knowledge of contamination problems and its failure to act are among the most damning findings to come out investigations of the pharmacy.

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October 23, 2012 Newly released death reports and a lawsuit against Monster Energy raise more questions and public scrutiny on the risks of drinking the high levels of caffeine found in supersized energy drinks, especially in teens.

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September 21, 2012 In the British TV sensation, a servant's attempt to correct a debilitating limp with a dubious device ends in blood and disappointment. Despite tighter regulation over the years, quack devices remain a threat.

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September 19, 2012 Levels of inorganic arsenic found in rice worry some, but the FDA says more study is needed before it would recommend consumers change their diets. If you're worried, vary the grains in your diet and swap out sweet potatoes for rice as baby's first food, consumer groups say.

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