Health Highlights

Jan. 31, 2009 01.30.09, 08:00 PM EST

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

FDA Experts Recommend Banning Darvon

Darvon, a decades-old painkiller chiefly marketed as Darvocet, should be banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an expert panel advising the agency recommended Friday.

The advisory panel voted 14-12 to recommend withdrawing Darvon, first approved in 1957. Earlier Friday, the agency said it was reviewing the drug after critics charged it provided little relief and posed a risk for overdose and suicide, the Associated Press reported. The full FDA usually follows the recommendations of its expert panels, but isn't bound to do so.

Darvon, which includes a dose of acetaminophen, is among the top prescribed medications. More than 20 million prescriptions were written in 2007, the wire service said. Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals and Qualitest/Vintage Pharmaceuticals, two firms that market Darvocet, called the medication safe and effective when used as directed.

But critics complained that the government review was too long in coming. "[The drug] has unique risks and no unique advantages," Dr. Sidney Wolfe, a drug safety expert with the consumer group Public Citizen, told the AP. "It has been a big drug of abuse for quite a long time." Public Citizen first sought a ban on Darvon in the 1970s, and the United Kingdom banned its version in 2005, the AP said.

Besides an outright ban, the FDA's other options include requiring stiffer warnings, additional studies or education efforts to alert doctors and patients of potential misuses, the AP reported.

Teeth Whitening for Teens: When Is it Healthy?

Teeth whitening products are everywhere and teens are feeling the pressure to have pearly whites that practically glow in the dark. But how long should a teen wait before attempting a tooth whitening experience?

When Teens Need Whitening Treatments

Most teens don`t actually need to whiten their teeth. However, for those who do smoke or drink coffee or colas, their teeth may become prematurely discolored and turn yellow. This is something that is normally associated with older people but if a teen is having this type of problem, it might be time to look into something a bit more extreme.

The enamel on the teeth protects them and it can be damaged by heavy duty whitening procedures. While most over the counter treatments aren't dangerous, it`s a good idea to speak with your dentist before attempting to bleach your own teeth. Dentists have charts to help compare the colors of teeth, but you can do a simple comparison at home. Look the mirror, bare your teeth and open your eyes wide. The basic rule of thumb is that the teeth should be about the same shade of white as the whites of the eye.

There isn't a specific age when teens should or shouldn't whiten their teeth, but since repeated bleaching, particularly when done by someone who isn't experienced, can cause problems in the long run, it`s best to hold off if it really isn't needed.

Reasons to Whiten

Teens are at a sensitive stage of life. They are trying to adjust to being almost an adult, making their own decisions and trying to figure out just where they fit in. Anything that sets them apart from the masses can be very embarrassing and even traumatic. That`s why many parents decide to allow their teen to do a teeth whitening procedure.

Having yellow teeth can be a depressing state of affairs if you are in high school. For many teens who suffer from this problem, teeth whitening treatments is a way to boost their self esteem. It can really help turn those teen years around. Smiles can be freely given and it`s not surprising that more teens who are happy with their teeth smile more often and therefore appear more approachable and tend to have more friends.

For complete article click here:Teeth Whitening for Teens