Latest news with #Diclofenac
News18
28-05-2025
- Health
- News18
How One Drug Wiped Out 99% Of India's Vultures In Less Than 20 Years
Curated By : Parishmita Saikia Translation Desk Last Updated: May 28, 2025, 16:21 IST Ingesting traces of Diclofenac caused acute kidney failure in vultures, but despite its ban in India in 2006, illegal use persists. (News18) Once a common sight circling above carcasses, vultures have all but vanished from India's skies. Research by the University of Chicago revealed that between 1990 and 2007, 99% of the vulture population in India perished. This collapse has had dire consequences: in the absence of these natural scavengers, infections from decaying animal carcasses have spread, reportedly contributing to five lakh human deaths. The Diclofenac Disaster The principal culprit behind this ecological tragedy is the veterinary drug Diclofenac, commonly used in the 1990s to treat livestock. Though effective, Diclofenac residues in cattle carcasses proved lethal to vultures. Ingesting even trace amounts caused acute kidney failure in the birds. Despite India banning the drug in 2006, its illegal use still persists. Alarming Decline Rates India was once home to an estimated 40 to 50 million vultures. By 2007, that number had dropped catastrophically. Populations of: White-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis) declined by 99.9% declined by 99.9% Indian vultures (Gyps indicus) by 95% by 95% Slender-billed vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) by 97% This marks one of the fastest recorded declines of any bird species in history. WWF India Poster Threats Beyond Diclofenac Even after the ban, vulture populations have not rebounded. Vultures breed slowly, laying just one egg annually, and face numerous other threats including: Electrocution from power lines Collisions with wind turbines Injuries from kite strings Their absence has triggered a rise in feral dog and crow populations, increasing the risk of rabies and other zoonotic diseases. Cultural And Economic Fallout Swipe Left For Next Video View all The decline also impacts cultural practices. The Parsi community, which conducts sky burials dependent on vulture scavenging, has had to alter funeral rites. The economic toll is staggering too. Between 2000 and 2005, losses due to vulture extinction were estimated at $69.4 billion annually, affecting industries like leather production. Since 2016, India has undertaken conservation efforts, including the reintroduction of protected vulture species into the wild. However, experts stress that community engagement and stringent enforcement of Diclofenac bans are critical for reversing this crisis. News lifestyle How One Drug Wiped Out 99% Of India's Vultures In Less Than 20 Years
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dietary supplements containing drugs recalled due to serious health risks
Umary USA announced a voluntary recall of dietary supplements marketed nationwide for joint pain and arthritis relief as they contain drugs that pose serious health risks, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. All lots and dates of the supplements, Unavy Ácido Hialurónico and Umovy Ácido Hialurónico caplets, are covered by the recall. Consumers who purchased the supplements should immediately stop taking them and consult their health care provider for safe discontinuation of use. The caplets contain the undeclared drugs diclofenac, dexamethasone and omeprazole, according to the FDA. Because they contain those drugs, they cannot be marketed as dietary supplements. Their safety and effectiveness have not been established, according to the FDA. 'Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, can weaken the immune system, cause high blood sugar, muscle damage, psychiatric effects and cardiovascular problems,' the FDA press release states. 'Prolonged or high-dose use may suppress adrenal gland function and abrupt stopping can lead to withdrawal symptoms.' 'Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), may cause severe cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, kidney, and allergic reactions, especially in patients taking other NSAIDs or blood thinners or those with allergies or underlying health issues,' the statement reads. 'Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor used to treat stomach acid disorders, might mask serious gastric conditions such as ulcers or cancer if taken unknowingly,' the statement reads. Unavy Ácido Hialurónico comes in a white plastic bottle with a black label marked with white and yellow text. Umovy Ácido Hialurónico is packaged in a black plastic bottle with a black label featuring white and blue lettering. Both products come in 30-count, 850-mg caplets. The supplements were distributed nationwide by Umary USA, which is notifying distributors and customers by press release and email. The company is arranging for returns and refunds, according to the FDA. There have been no reported adverse reactions linked to using the two products. Consumers who are experiencing problems related to the caplets should contact their healthcare provider and report issues to the FDA's MedWatch program online. For questions about the recall, consumers can contact Umary USA at umaryusa2025@ available 24/7. For more information, visit the official FDA recall notice here. Multi-state salmonella outbreak linked to recalled cucumbers Public health alert: Listeria found in Big Y, Price Chopper ready-to-eat wrap Tattoo ink recalled due to contamination with infection-causing microorganisms Read the original article on MassLive.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Awareness programme on vulture conservation held in Udhagamandalam
Arulagam, a non-governmental organisation, conducted a one-day awareness programme for pharmacists on the banned veterinary drugs that are harmful to vultures, at the Cairn Hill Forest Campus on Saturday. Following the ban on the drugs Diclofenac, Aceclofenac and Ketoprofen, the Government of India has banned the use of 'Nimesulide' for animals from January 1, 2025, intending to protect the endangered 'Paaru' vulture. Protecting the endangered species is a collective responsibility, and for the past 15 years, Arulagam has been actively working alongside the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Drugs Control Department, and Animal Husbandry Department to prevent the extinction of this rare species in the Nilgiris. During the awareness programme, experts from the Forest Department and the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) emphasised the vital role vultures play in the ecosystem and the necessity of spreading awareness among pharmacists to refrain from dispensing the banned drugs, harmful to the species.
New Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Vulture safety: DCA to hold awareness meet on banned drugs in Coonoor
CHENNAI: Following a crackdown on veterinary pharmacies for stocking banned non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the Tamil Nadu Drug Control Administration (DCA) will hold an awareness meet in Coonoor on May 24. Pharmacies in Ooty, Kothagiri, Mettupalayam and Coonoor have been invited to attend the session, which will highlight the ill-effects of NSAIDs on vultures and explain the reasons behind the ban. The move comes after inspections revealed that several outlets were illegally selling Nimesulide and Diclofenac, both of which are linked to the sharp decline in vulture population. 'Licences of two pharmacies were cancelled, and five were suspended. Inquiries are ongoing against five others,' DCA director MN Sridhar told TNIE. The DCA has already initiated action against pharmacies for sale of Diclofenac, a veterinary drug linked to a 97% vulture population crash in India since the 1990s. 'The enforcement has yielded 104 convictions,' he added. The awareness meet is being organised in collaboration with vulture conservation NGO Arulagam. Its co-founder S Bharathidasan said the team visited 43 pharmacies in vulture habitats. Of these, 11 admitted NSAIDs are out of stock but offered to arrange the drugs within a week. Eight had NSAIDs in stock. 'One pharmacy offered a 10% margin on the MRP to the buyer. Twenty two outlets stocked veterinary ointments and sprays but did not carry injectable or bolus medications for cattle, Bharathidasan said. According to the recent synchronised vulture survey, the vulture population in Tamil Nadu and the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) has risen from 320 to 390.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
U.S. Customs seizes 102,000 banned pills in Cincinnati
March 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted 102,000 banned Artri King nutritional supplement pills worth an estimated $47,000 at the Cincinnati Port of Entry over the weekend. The pills were shipped by the same entity in Mexico and were destined for the same residence in California, CBP officials said Tuesday in a news release. The customs declaration for six packages containing the pills describes them as "Nutritional Supplement Natural INGR," according to the CBP. "Most people hear about CBP seizing narcotics shipments," CBP Chicago Field Office director of operations LaFonda Sutton-Burke said. "Shipments of unapproved pills are very dangerous, too." Sutton-Burke said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the potentially dangerous pills. The pills "contain harmful chemicals which can lead to medical emergencies or even death," Simon-Burke said. The Artri King pills are promoted as treatment for muscle pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, bone cancer and other conditions and are sold through some retail stores and websites, such as and FDA lab analyses show the pills contain undeclared ingredients and are associated with liver toxicity and deaths. The FDA in April 2022 issued a warning saying the pills contain diclofenac and dexamethasone, neither of which are listed among its ingredients. "Consumers taking Artri King should immediately consult with their health care professional to safely discontinue use of this product," the FDA warning says. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that FDA officials say commonly is used to treat inflammatory conditions. Corticosteroids can impair a person's ability to fight infections and could cause high blood sugar levels, muscle injuries and psychiatric problems, according to the FDA. When taken over an extended periods or in high doses, they can suppress the adrenal gland, cause withdrawal symptoms and cause serious side effects when combined with other medications. Diclofenac is a non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drug commonly referred to as "NSAIDs" that could increase users' risks of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular medical events. The drug also could cause serious gastrointestinal damage, including bleeding, ulcers and fatal perforations of the stomach and intestines. It also might interact with other medications and significantly increase the risk of harmful medical reactions.
