Abandoned, but not Buried: Meridia and Sibutramine Unlike many other dangerous prescription weight loss products, Meridia and its active ingredient were never officially banned by the FDA. The compound was saved from this fate by its manufacturers, including Abbott Labs.…
Tag: Lifestyle
What Happened to Fen-Phen?
Deadly Side Effects: Major Heart Dangers Stop Fen-Phen Craze One of the most infamous FDA cases ever, fen-phen only lasted a couple years on the market in the late 1990’s. But its meteoric rise and fall affected FDA and public…
Study: Expert Ratings Increase Product Sales
The problem with experience goods Supplements and cosmetics are ‘experience goods’, which basically means that they are products that need to be consumed in order to judge their quality. Other popular experience goods include restaurants, wine, and movies. It’s no…
Review of Popular Anti-Aging Cosmetics
What is the science of aging? We all know the effect – dry, wrinkly, flaky skin. But the causes are also more straight-forward than you think. On a basic level, skin dries out as we age due to decreased efficacy…
The Dangers of Online Pharmacies
It is no secret that pharmaceuticals, especially prescription medications, are not cheap. In fact, many people go without the medicines they need simply because they cannot afford the high cost. This sparks interest in a relatively new phenomenon – the…
Garlic–Magic Cure or Herbal Placebo?
Summary: Raw, crushed garlic: A Raw, bottled garlic: B+ Garlic supplements: (Grades vary. Average score: B-) Note: Beware any supplement that makes bold safety and efficacy claims on the front of the bottle and hides a “This statement has not…
What Are Parabens?
Preservatives play an important role in our society. Many pre-processed foods include preservatives to extend shelf life. But did you know that many common cosmetics include preservatives as well, including parabens? Parabens show up in everything from makeup to toothpaste…
What is Titanium Dioxide?
Summary: Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is one of the most common ingredients in the LabDoor database. It is commonly used as a colorant in pharmaceuticals and supplements, as the compound that gives many pills and powders a bright white color. In…
Ginseng Benefits and Risks
Ginseng is a natural herb root with a huge list of claimed health benefits. Ginseng is a common active ingredient on product labels, found in everything from supplements and energy drinks to teas and even cosmetics. But is Ginseng truly…
Benefits of Organic Cosmetics
Thanks to modern scientific advances and increasing environmental awareness, we now have more access to commercial organic products. This includes the rapidly-expanding organic cosmetics market. Most standard cosmetics include a wide variety of chemicals, preservatives, and contaminants, which can come…