Dangerous Drugs - Macugen
Macugen is a sodium injection manufactured by Eyetech Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer, Inc. It is prescribed to treat adults with an eye problem called the "wet form" of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. AMD affects the retina, the part of the eye most responsible for viewing objects straight ahead. Damage to the macula caused by AMD results in the loss of central vision due to abnormal or leaky blood vessels below the retina. AMD occurs primarily in people over the age of 60. More than 15 million people in the Unted States suffer from the disease, which causes in vision loss that can lead to blindness.
Macugen was granted FDA approval on December 17th, 2004. It is administered to patients every six weeks in 0.3 milligram doses injected into the eye. On April 7, 2006, Eyetech, Pfizer and the FDA notified opthalmologic healthcare professionals, surgical service supervisors and other healthcare professional of important changes to the label of the drug. According to the FDA, common side effects of Macugen include inflammation of the eye, blurred vision, cataracts, bleeding in the eye, swelling in the eye, eye discharge, irritation or discomfort of the eye, and seeing "spots."
The FDA warns against injecting Macugen into patients with any sort of eye infection. Macugen has been known to cause inflammation of the eye within 30 minutes of administration. It can also cause endophthalmitis, a serious eye infection, for up to a week after injection. Patients experiencing any sort of eye irritation, pressure, swelling, infection, or similar traits after receiving a Macugen injection should seek medical attention immediately.
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