New news from the world of medicine:

1) The FDA is concerned, as am I, about the safety of the antibiotic Ketek. While I took a course of this drug for sinusitis earlier this year and was completely satisfied with my outcome, recent reports of dire side effects have taken it off my rx 'A' list. This from the FDA Office of Drug Safety:

How does one justify balancing the risk of fatal liver failure against one day less of ear pain? --Dr. Rosemary Johann-Liang, FDA official

2) French doctors have determined that drinking coffee makes you 3.7 times less likely to cross the line while driving late at night. Furthermore, taking a 30 minute nap before setting out in the wee hours means that you are nearly 3 times as likely to stay in your own lane compared to the napless. The investigators doubtless drew straws to see who would ride with the caffeine-free, sleep-deprived group. The study was criticized for lack of a 'placebo-nap' group(?!?).

3) The FDA has approved a 'non-antibiotic antibiotic' for the treatment of rosacea. This common skin disorder causes inflammation on the face and occasionally in the eyes, resulting in flaming red cheeks, small pustules unrelated to conventional acne, and red, irritated eyes.

For years, topical antibiotics such as MetroGel and oral antibiotics such as tetracycline have been used to successfully control rosacea. Scientists are concerned, however, about the overuse of antibiotics for chronic diseases as it contributes to global drug-resistance in bacteria.

Oracea is a 40 mg controlled-release doxycycline tablet which produces drug levels in the body below the antibiotic threshold of this drug. Doxycycline has several important anti-inflammatory actions in addition to its ability to kill bacteria. A recent study suggested that it actually can slow down the joint destructive inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. More on that in an upcoming issue of Femailhealthnews.