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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Hottest Galleries: October 11, 2007 CDC says Oregon deaths from toxic drug underscores problems By SARAH SKIDMORE The Associated Press PORTLAND — The deaths of three people who were given toxic doses of a drug at an Oregon clinic highlight the potential for fatal errors by compounding pharmacies, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control. This spring, Texas compounding pharmacy ApotheCure Inc. erroneously made a drug 10 times more potent than intended because of a weighing error. The drug, colchicine, was sent to the Center for Integrative Medicine in Portland and was administered for the treatment of back pain, which lead to the death of three people. The center has since closed and the pharmacy is barred from doing business in Oregon. The report from the CDC, which reviews cases of this sort, said the case underscores the larger “potentially fatal ramifications” of errors by compounding pharmacies. Compounding pharmacies make specially tailored drugs and are not subject to the same oversight as traditional pharmaceutical manufactures. ApotheCure did not return calls for comment on Thursday. “This is an area in the medical business that is not regulated, or poorly regulated, that probably needs a bit more scrutiny,” said Dr. Zane Horowitz, medical director of the Oregon Poison Center. Under scrutiny too is the use of colchicine for back pain. The report states that use of it for treatment of back pain was initially described in the 1970s. The drug was typically used for the treatment of gout and is not commonly used anymore. But it seems to be outdated among many practitioners. “I think we were all surprised when it happened,” said Anne Walsh, executive director of the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners. “I don’t think it’s used because there’s so many other options.” Current Comments: So Are we going to shut down Lilly, Merck, Pfizer, and all the other hundreds of Companies that have made drugs that have killed and injured people? The minute one of these smaller more nature based companies slips they sure are ready to pounce. Heaven forbid the people should ever learn how to use herbs and natural remedies there goes the profit. C - Ashland - October 11th, 8:11 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us