Drugs and Medications News
- Flu Rates Swell Post-Holidays, but COVID Is Less Severe: CDC
January 8, 2024 — Flu season continues to worsen nationwide, as 38 states have high or very high levels of the respiratory virus known for causing an onslaught of symptoms like a fever, sore throat, runny nose, and body aches.
- New Antibiotic Works Against Deadly Bacteria, Researchers Say
January 8, 2024 — Scientists say they’ve developed a new antibiotic that appears to work against a deadly bacteria -- acinetobacter baumannii -- resistant to most drugs.
- Wegovy, Ozempic Not Linked to Suicide Ideation, Study Finds
January 5, 2024 — People taking semaglutide – the active ingredient in the weight loss drug Wegovy and the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – did not have an increase in suicidal thoughts, compared to people taking other drugs for those conditions, according to a study published in Nature Medicine.
- FDA Approves Florida Plan to Import Drugs from Canada
January 5, 2024 — This is the first approval of a state drug importation plan. It marks a win for lawmakers in both parties who have for many years seen Canadian drug importation as a way to reduce U.S. pharmaceutical costs.
- Rise in Overdose Deaths Driven by Drug Combinations
January 4, 2024 — Reports of the use of fentanyl along with the animal tranquilizer xylazine makes preventing substance use disorder and associated overdose deaths even more complicated.
- Insulin Price Cap of $35 Takes Hold
January 4, 2024 — The price of insulin was capped this week by the last of the major three suppliers, meaning more Americans are now paying no more than $35 for the diabetes treatment.
- FDA Looking Into Three Side Effects Reported With Weight Loss Drugs
January 4, 2024 — The FDA is formally looking into reports that some people who took popular diabetes and weight loss drugs had suicidal thoughts or two other health problems.
- Make Heart Rate Variability Your Secret Anti-Stress Weapon
January 4, 2024 — You’ve seen HRV on your smartwatch, but do you know what it means and how it relates to stress? Let the experts explain.
- Therapy, Ambien Are Equally Effective at Treating Insomnia: Study
January 3, 2024 — Learning techniques to improve sleep or taking the medication Ambien were similarly effective at improving daytime functioning in people with insomnia, according to a new study in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
- 2024 Best Diets: Mediterranean Diet Wins – Yes, Again
January 3, 2024 — The Mediterranean diet, with an emphasis on overall diet quality rather than a single food group or nutrient, swept the categories for best diet of 2024.
- Timing of Meals Can Affect Risk of Heart Disease, Study Finds
January 3, 2024 — The timing of daily meals could affect the risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to a large European study published in Nature Communications.
- Protect Yourself: Cardiac Deaths Spike in Winter Weather
January 2, 2024 — Research shows that cardiac deaths increase by nearly 5% from Dec. 25 until Jan. 7. For those who already have a higher risk of a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke, stress brought on by the holidays can push matters to a breaking point.
- Signs Point Toward Post-Holiday Surge in Respiratory Viruses
January 2, 2024 — The big three respiratory illnesses of flu, COVID-19, and RSV are showing up at the same time at high levels across the country, and further increases due to holiday gatherings are expected.
- Hundreds of Prescription Drugs to See Price Hikes
January 2, 2024 — Drug companies are increasing prices on hundreds of drugs this month as the pharmaceutical industry gears up for the Biden Administration to seek significantly discounted prices for 10 high-cost drugs.
- COVID May Cause Ongoing Brain Injury Unseen by Routine Tests
December 29, 2023 — A study from the United Kingdom shows that brain damage may keep happening months after infection.
- Dietary Supplements: Which Work? Who’s Minding the Store?
December 28, 2023 — Even though they're popular, some kinds of supplements have not been proven to work and some may be harmful. Here's how to know if your supplements are doing what they claim.
- Regularly Adding Salt to Food May Lead to Kidney Damage
December 28, 2023 — A study published today found that people who added salt to their food, even just sometimes, faced a higher risk of getting chronic kidney disease.
- Switch to Generic Version of Asthma Inhaler Could be Problematic
December 28, 2023 — Asthma inhaler Flovent will not be available at pharmacies starting Monday, and its maker says an “authorized generic” version will take its place. Some doctors are concerned their patients might have trouble replacing it and finding insurance coverage, CNN reports.
- Pet Ownership May Offset Cognitive Decline in Older People
December 27, 2023 — People who lived alone with pets had slower rates of cognitive decline based on those test results when compared to people who lived entirely alone.
- Is That Hum Keeping You Up? Here's How to Get Better Sleep
December 27, 2023 — Experts provide tips on how to avoid low-frequency noise while traveling for the holidays.
- Winter Skin Woes? Here’s What to Do – and What Not to Do
December 26, 2023 — Cold winter weather can wreak havoc on our skin, causing painful, itchy outbreaks. Here's what helps, what doesn't, and how to prevent it in the first place.
- Surprising Finding: Study Ties Hypochondria to Early Death
December 26, 2023 — A new study of people in Sweden who were diagnosed with hypochondria found that they had an 84% increased risk of early death and lived about 5 fewer years than people without the disorder.
- Losing Just Two Hours of Sleep Takes an Emotional Toll
December 22, 2023 — Staying up late, sleeping too little, or waking up often can significantly impact a person’s emotional health, according to a new analysis that spans decades of sleep research.
- Alone Time vs. Loneliness: What’s a Good Balance?
December 22, 2023 — What's a good balance between having "me time" – being alone – and loneliness, which is already at epidemic levels? Here's how to find the sweet spot.
- FDA Seizes ‘Thousands of Units’ of Fake Ozempic
December 22, 2023 — The FDA says it has seized “thousands of units” of counterfeit Ozempic that are circulating while demand for the weight loss drug exceeds supply.
- FDA Approves First Test to ID Potential Risk of Opioid Addiction
December 21, 2023 — The FDA has approved the first test that uses DNA to assess if people might have a higher risk of becoming addicted to opioids.
- Medical Delivery by Drone Is Happening. How Good Is It?
December 21, 2023 — Medication, defibrillators, and emergency first aid supplies may soon be delivered by drones faster and more efficiently than even EMS can respond.
- Listen Up: These Holiday Songs Could Help You Sleep
December 21, 2023 — For peaceful rest during the holidays, listening to certain Christmas songs could help you fall asleep and maintain better sleep, according to a new analysis by Bed Kingdom, a bedroom furnishings company.
- Ultra-Processed Food and Your Health: What to Know
December 20, 2023 — Figuring out why ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are linked to more chronic health conditions like heart disease and obesity remains an important puzzle for nutrition experts to figure out. When they do, the worst offenders could be taxed or regulated by the government while other UPFs that people enjoy could be reformulated to make them less of a long-term threat to health.
- COVID Strain JN.1 Is Now a ‘Variant of Interest,’ WHO Says
December 20, 2023 — The World Health Organization called the COVID variant JN.1 a standalone “variant of interest” and said JN.1 will drive an increase in cases of the virus, the global health agency announced late Tuesday.
- More Evidence Suggests That ‘Long Flu’ Is a Thing
December 19, 2023 — You may have never heard of it, but you may have had it. More evidence points to "long flu" being a real phenomenon, with a large study showing symptoms persist at least 4 weeks or more after some people are hospitalized for the flu.
- Toothbrushing Lowers Pneumonia Risk in Hospital: Study
December 19, 2023 — Sometimes, a hospital stay results in developing a new health problem. About 1 in 100 people develop pneumonia while in the hospital, but a new study reports that a daily tooth-brushing regimen during hospital stays significantly reduced the likelihood of developing the potentially life-threatening infection.
- CDC Reports COVID-19 Subvariant JN.1 Spreading Quickly
December 19, 2023 — A subvariant of the COVID-19 virus is growing in the United States and is already dominant in the Northeast, according to the latest CDC figures.
- More Kids Under Age 4 Have Severe Obesity: Study
December 18, 2023 — Severe obesity among preschool-age children from low-income families is on the rise in the U.S., according to a new analysis of federal data.
- Short Yoga Meditation Improves Sleep, Boosts Memory: Study
December 18, 2023 — People who followed a short daily guided meditation video that taught them to actively relax the body improved their memory, reaction time, and sleep in just 2 weeks, according to a small new study.
- Quaker Recalls Granola Bars, Cereals Because of Salmonella Risk
December 18, 2023 — The Quaker Oats Company on Friday announced the recall of dozens of granola bars and granola cereals because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.
- Health Risks of Ketamine: What to Know
December 18, 2023 — What to know about the health risks of the drug ketamine following Friends star Matthew Perry's death.
- Fewer Teens Are Having Sex, Morning After Pill Use Increases
December 15, 2023 — An estimated 9.4 million teens ages 15 to 19 years old said they have had sex, compared to 9.6 million who reported in 2002 that they were sexually experienced.
- What Causes Obesity? More Science Points to the Brain
December 15, 2023 — A new way of looking at a misunderstood disease is revolutionizing treatments and transforming lives.
- Users of Weight Loss Drugs Regain Weight after Stopping Use
December 14, 2023 — New drugs being used for weight loss might bring results that are as temporary as they are dramatic, according to a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
- New Study Reveals Cause of Morning Sickness
December 14, 2023 — Most pregnant people have nausea and vomiting, sometimes to a life-threatening degree. Researchers have now discovered why, and their new study in the renowned journal Nature suggests prevention and treatment options.
- Poison Center Calls Spike over Weight-Loss, Diabetes Injections
December 14, 2023 — Injectable medicines for diabetes and weight loss have brought a sharp rise in the number of calls to poison control centers across the country, CNN reports.
- Is Drinking Ever Good for Heart Health?
December 13, 2023 — The scope of the literature sends a clear message: If you don’t drink, don’t start now. And if you do drink, keep it to moderate levels.
- U.S. Task Force Takes on Rising BMIs Among Kids
December 13, 2023 — Given the prevalence of the issue, the task force recommends behavioral interventions that include at least 26 hours of supervised physical activity sessions for up to a year.
- Is 'Vegan' a Dirty Word? Study Finds It Turns Some People Off
December 13, 2023 — In a new study, researchers at the University of Southern California set out to learn how vegan labeling influenced consumers, finding that the word may turn some people off from trying vegan products.
- Are Glucose Monitors for Those Without Diabetes a Good Idea?
December 12, 2023 — Before you buy a continuous glucose monitor, know that diabetes experts are unified in their concerns that the devices are not quite ready for the consumer market and people who don’t have diabetes.
- COVID, Flu, and RSV: What to Know Right Now
December 12, 2023 — It’s not necessarily a sign that another tripledemic is looming, but post-Thanksgiving rates of COVID-19 and influenza continue to rise nationwide. And instead of peaking as health officials hoped, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases have plateaued at higher levels.
- New Study Links Use of Cannabis to Poor Birth Outcomes
December 12, 2023 — A new study links cannabis use during pregnancy to a greater risk of poor outcomes, particularly low birth weight.
- Stem Cell Therapy Implant Shows Promise For Type 1 Diabetes
December 11, 2023 — Researchers say the treatment may someday provide a cure for the chronic, life-altering condition.
- Positive Personality Traits May Protect Against Dementia: Study
December 11, 2023 — New research suggests that a person’s personality and outlook on life may affect the risk of being diagnosed with dementia. People with the lowest risk tend to be creative, curious, and agreeable. People with increased risk tend to be anxious, depressed, and frequently experience distressing or negative emotions.