We begin with a health alert about a record number of serious problems and deaths linked to medications.
In the first three months of this year, a health industry watchdog group reports 21,000 people had serious drug reactions and 4,800 died. Two drugs accounted for a disproportionately large share of the reports.
One was pfizer's anti-smoking medication, Chantix. Chantix has been linked to psychiatric problems including suicidal behavior and vivid dreams. Pfizer stands behind Chantix and says the volume of reports might be linked to publicity about the drug's side effects. The other drug that had a large number of problems reported was Heparin, the tainted blood thinner from China that caused a safety scandal.
