Category: Drugs
The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ends May 11. What does that mean for you?
This Thursday, the Federal Public Health Emergency Declaration will end, which means there will be changes to how some people receive COVID-19-related care, like testing, treatment, and vaccines.
Acetaminophen overdose is a leading cause of liver injury, but it is largely preventable
Acetaminophen is in more than 600 products, including many over-the-counter pain and cold remedies, is a leading cause of acute liver injury, which can be fatal without a rescue liver transplant. With millions around the world using acetaminophen every day, why are so few people aware of the dangers of overdose?
Emergency contraception is often confused with abortion pills – here’s how Plan B and other generic versions work to prevent pregnancy
There are two types of emergency contraception pills. The most widely known is levonorgestrel, which is sold in the U.S. under the brand name Plan B, along with numerous generic versions. The second type of emergency contraception pill is ulipristal acetate, which is sold under the brand name ella. Both Plan B and ella work by delaying ovulation
Public Health — Seattle & King County describes its efforts to reduce overdoses
If you are a King County resident, order online to have free naloxone mailed to any address. It arrives in plain packaging to protect your privacy.
Breast cancer: progestogen-only and combined birth control both increase risk – here’s what you need to know
Until now, it was thought that only the combined hormonal pill carried a greater risk of breast cancer. But a recent study suggests that the progestogen-only pill (also known as the mini pill) and other forms of hormonal contraception also carry the same increase in breast cancer risk as the combined pill.
Ozempic helps weight loss by making you feel full. But certain foods can do the same thing – without the side-effects
Dietary changes have much fewer risks in terms of side effects, but the responses will take more time and effort.
How do you make a universal flu vaccine?
University of Washington School of Medicine microbiologist Deborah Fuller explains the challenges, and how mRNA could offer a promising solution
Eli Lilly is cutting insulin prices and capping copays at $35 – 5 questions answered
High insulin prices have not earned any U.S. manufacturer many friends, with list prices increasing 54% from 2014 to 2019. Most troublingly, an estimated 1.3 million uninsured people with diabetes and patients with inadequate insurance have resorted to rationing their insulin. Skipping doses because of high insulin prices has sometimes had tragic and even deadly consequences.But growing competition has shaken up the insulin market in recent years.
Beware of Fraudulent Coronavirus Tests, Vaccines and Treatments—FDA warns
The FDA is particularly concerned that these deceptive and misleading products might cause people to delay, skip or stop appropriate medical treatment for COVID-19, leading to serious and life-threatening harm. It’s likely that the products do not do what they claim, and the ingredients in them could cause adverse effects (bad reactions) and could interact and potentially interfere with medications to treat many underlying medical conditions.
One easy way to fight antibiotic resistance? Good hand hygiene
Hygiene and antibiotic use interact. Antibiotic use had less of an effect on the evolution of antibacterial resistance as hygiene levels increased. This is because evolution toward resistance depends on variation in bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics. By affecting the distribution of resistant and sensitive bacterial strains across patients, hygiene limits the bacterial diversity needed to evolve resistance.
Considering going off antidepressants? Here’s what to think about first
Stopping antidepressants abruptly, especially after a long period of use, will make most people – although not everyone – unwell. It’s impossible to tell in advance who will be affected, so slow dose reduction is advisable. Stopping antidepressants (or tapering down the dose) too rapidly can cause antidepressant discontinuation syndrome in around 20% of people.
What is delirium?
Up to one-third of older people admitted to hospital are diagnosed with delirium. This increases the risk of unnecessary functional decline, a longer hospital stay, falls, needing to be admitted to a residential aged care facility, and death. However, identifying the condition early reduces these risks. Delirium can also be prevented by identifying who is vulnerable to the condition and finding ways of reducing the person’s risk.
Rejecting science has a long history – the pandemic showed what happens when you ignore this
Anti-vaccination groups, as well as other anti-science movements, are not new phenomena, nor are the nature of their objections. Most anti-science arguments have been around for centuries.
Addiction Treatment May Be Coming to a Pharmacy Near You
new study showed patients who receive the medicine at pharmacies rather than at doctor’s offices stayed in treatment longer.
The fungus zombies in ‘The Last of Us’ are fictional, but real fungi can infect people, and they’re becoming more resistant
Many of the people watching The Last of Us are likely there for the zombies. I love the zombies too, but I’m really there for the fungus.