Few medications can be taken only one time per week. That might begin to change for some people as the result of an FDA action announced by Merck & Co., Inc. Two new dosage strengths of Fosamax® have been approved as once-weekly tablets: 70 mg for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and 35 mg for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Fosamax is the first and only oral medication approved for the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis in a once-weekly dosing regimen.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), leader of the Back to Sleep campaign, has issued a winter alert, once again, urging parents and caretakers to place babies on their backs to sleep to reduce the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Historically, there has been a higher incidence of SIDS in cold weather.

SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. Most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between 1 and 4 months of age. African American children are two to three times more likely than white babies to die of SIDS, and Native American babies are about three times more susceptible. Also, more boys are SIDS victims than girls.

Today there are 2.5 million hospital and nursing home beds in use in the US. Between 1995 and 1999 there were 371 incidents of patients being entrapped in these beds and of those entrapped, 228 died. Most of the patients were frail and elderly.

One of the most sensitive tests for ecstasy available can detect 2.5 micrograms of the drug per milliliter of urine. In addition to ecstasy, the test can detect an array of methamphetamines and amphetamines that are commonly abused and can cause addiction. The test gained marketing approval from the FDA this week.

• FDA Approves Once Weekly Dosing Regimen For Osteoporosis Medication

• A Winter Alert to All Caregivers of Infants: Incidence of SIDS Increases during Cold Weather

• Fact Sheet: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

• A Guide To Bed Safety; Bed Rails In Hospitals, Nursing Homes And Home Health Care: The Facts

• New Test For Detection Of Ecstasy And Other Amphetamines Receives FDA Market Clearance