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Health News Results - 73
Melatonin Gummies to Get Safety Labeling, Child-Safe Bottles After Poisonings
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- April 16, 2024
- Full Page
In the wake of a sharp rise in the number of young children accidentally eating melatonin supplements, an industry group has called for tougher safety guidelines for packaging and labeling the sleep-aid supplements.
Companies have 18 to 24 months to voluntarily add child...
CDC Warns of 19 Cases of Botched Botox Shots in 9 States
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- April 16, 2024
- Full Page
Counterfeit or mishandled Botox shots have triggered harmful reactions in 19 people in nine states, U.S. health officials warned Monday.
In its alert, the U.S. Centers for Diseas...
Many Cancer Drugs Still Unproven 5 Years After Accelerated Approval
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- April 8, 2024
- Full Page
New research questions the effectiveness of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's accelerated drug approval program after finding that many cancer drugs remain unproven five years later.
Carcinogen Benzene Can Form in Some Acne Treatments: Report
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- March 7, 2024
- Full Page
Some acne treatments may may banish blemishes but carry hidden dangers: A new report reveals high levels of the carcinogen benzene can form in products that contain the zit-fighting ingredient benzoyl peroxide.
Cyberattack Stalls Prescription Dispensing at UnitedHealth
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- February 27, 2024
- Full Page
For nearly a week, prescription drug orders have been disrupted at thousands of pharmacies as the largest health insurer in the United States tries to fully restore services following a cyberattack.
The security breach was first detected last Wednesday at Change Healthc...
Seniors, FDA Has 5 Medication Tips to Keep You Safe
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 19, 2024
- Full Page
When settling into your senior years, you need to be especially careful when taking medicines, herbal remedies and supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
That's because older adults are likely to use more prescription and over-the-counter medications, ...
Novo Nordisk Settles Lawsuits Over Copycat Versions of Ozempic, Wegovy
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- February 12, 2024
- Full Page
Novo Nordisk has settled lawsuits against two Florida businesses that claimed to sell copycat versions of its popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.
The Danish drugmaker announced the settlements Friday, according to NBC News.
The move capped ...
ADHD Drug Zenzedi Recalled Over Pill Mixup
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- January 30, 2024
- Full Page
The maker of a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy has recalled one lot of the medication after a pill mixup was discovered.
FDA Warns of Rare Secondary Cancer Risk With CAR-T Therapies
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- January 24, 2024
- Full Page
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24, 2024 (Healthday News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has told drugmakers to add a boxed warning to a type of cancer treatment called CAR-T therapy, saying the treatment itself may sometimes cause a secondary cancer.
Still, FDA spokesperson <...
FDA Review Supports Reclassifying Marijuana as Less Risky Drug
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- January 15, 2024
- Full Page
Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conclude in newly released documents that marijuana has less potential for abuse than other drugs with the same restrictions and it should be reclassified as a less dangerous drug.
Not only that, the review found ther...
FDA Finds No Link to Suicide With Drugs Like Wegovy, Ozempic
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- January 12, 2024
- Full Page
Drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, which have become a wildly popular way to lose weight or battle diabetes, show no link to suicidal thoughts or actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
“Our preliminary evaluation has not found evidence that use of th...
Tejocote Supplements Sold Online at Amazon, Etsy May Contain Fatal Poison: FDA
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 5, 2024
- Full Page
Tejocote weight-loss supplements sold through online through Amazon or Etsy could contain a highly toxic substance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning.
FDA tests revealed that capsules labeled as tejocote instead contained yellow oleander, a poisonous plant...
Georgia To Be First State to Let Pharmacies Sell Low-Dose Cannabis
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 23, 2023
- Full Page
Four years after the state of Georgia approved the distribution of low-dose THC, medical marijuana may be sold at local pharmacies.
That will make Georgia the first U.S. state where pharmacies sell medical cannabis, CNN reported.
By year's end, patients wh...
Diabetes Drug Maker Sues Over Compounded Versions of Mounjaro
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 20, 2023
- Full Page
Another diabetes drug maker is taking legal action against businesses in several states, alleging that they're “fraudulently claiming” that their compounded products are the same as its medication.
This time, it's Eli Lilly suing certain medical spas, wellness center...
Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Oxycontin Maker's Bankruptcy Deal
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 11, 2023
- Full Page
A bankruptcy deal that would have shielded the family behind the company that makes Oxycontin from civil lawsuits was temporarily blocked by the U.S. Supreme Cou...
After U.S. Warns of Counterfeit Pills Laced With Fentanyl, Mexico Shuts Down 23 Pharmacies
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 9, 2023
- Full Page
Following a four-day raid, Mexico has closed 23 pharmacies in Caribbean resorts of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum for irregular pill sales.
Risk of Suicidal Thoughts With Popular Weight-Loss Drugs Being Investigated by European Regulators
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 11, 2023
- Full Page
The European Medicines Agency is investigating concerns that popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Saxenda may be linked to suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm.
Three case reports from Iceland spurred the agency's safety committee to conduct a medication re...
FDA Approves New Nasal Spray to Reverse Overdoses
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 23, 2023
- Full Page
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a second nasal spray for reversing an opioid overdose.
To be sold as Opvee, the spray contains the medication nalmefene hydrochloride and will be available to Americans aged 12 and older with a prescription, the F...
Apetamin: Using This Illegal Weight-Gain Product Can Bring Tragic Results
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 2, 2023
- Full Page
U.S. regulators are urging Americans to avoid Apetamin, an illegal drug used for weight gain and figure enhancement.
The substance, typically sold as a syrup, is manufactured overseas, illegally imported and isn't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Lawmakers Want to Tighten Access to Veterinary Drug Xylazine, Often Mixed With Fentanyl
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 29, 2023
- Full Page
Congressional leaders introduced a bill on Tuesday that would further restrict access to the veterinary drug xylazine, which is now being added to fentanyl powder.
Also known as tranq, the drug is meant to be a sedative and muscle relaxer for horses and other large anima...
Drug Shortages Rose by 30% in 2022, U.S. Senate Report Shows
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 23, 2023
- Full Page
Americans are facing shortages of drugs critical for cancer treatment, breathing problems and more — shortages that increased nearly 30% between 2021 and 2022, a new report shows.
Following Infection Outbreak, Experts Offer Guidance on Safe Use of Eyedrops
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 6, 2023
- Full Page
An outbreak of serious bacterial infections in 13 U.S. states linked to use of artificial tears has prompted experts to offer tips for keeping dry eyes safe.
Five of the 58 people infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa had vision loss, and one person died, leading...
Home Drug Infusions Can Be Dangerous, But Many Home Care Staff Aren't Trained
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 23, 2023
- Full Page
Intravenous (IV) lines are generally associated with medical centers — picture a patient in a hospital bed, an IV drip-dropping needed fluids, nutrients and medicines into their arm.
Nearly 1 in 4 Hospital Patients Have Harmful Event During Their Stay
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- January 12, 2023
- Full Page
Nearly one quarter of hospitalized people experience a harmful event during their stay, a new study finds.
However, most of the bad outcomes are not preventable because they're related to known side effects from medications or risks of surgery. The findings were publi...
Want That Pill to Work Fast? Your Body Position Matters
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 17, 2022
- Full Page
If you need to take a pill, you might want to take it lying down -- on your right side, that is.
Researchers studying how body positioning affects the absorption of pills found that one taken when a person was lying on the right side speeded pills to the deepest part of ...
Odds for Emergency Room Visits Rise With Pot Use
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 28, 2022
- Full Page
Toking up increases your risk of landing in the hospital, a new study reports.
Recreational marijuana use was associated with 22% greater odds of needing to visit an emergency room or be hospitalized, Canadian researchers found.
'Magic Mushroom' Therapy: Does It Interact With Other Medicines?
- Consumer news
- Robert Preidt
- March 25, 2022
- Full Page
Psilocybin, the psychedelic substance in "magic" mushrooms, is generating lots of interest as a potential treatment for a host of mental ills, but new research warns there is little data on how it might interact with more traditional psychiatric medications.
"There's a m...
Common Gout Drug Is Safe in Patients With Kidney Issues
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- January 26, 2022
- Full Page
Allopurinol, a frequently used gout medication, does not appear to drive up the risk for dying among gout patients who also struggle with chronic kidney disease, new research shows.
The finding is based on an analysis of two decades worth of British health records. And i...
Weed May Mess With Your Medicines, Causing Harm
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 16, 2021
- Full Page
Many people turn to marijuana or cannabidiol to ease their achy joints and help them sleep, but a new study suggests that could wreak havoc with any other medications they're taking.
Why? Because the body uses the same set of enzymes to process them all, scientists repor...
'Magic Mushroom' Drug Edges Toward Mainstream Therapy
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 6, 2021
- Full Page
Tony Head was depressed and fearing death from stage 4 prostate cancer when, as part of a supervised scientific trial, he took a large dose of the psychedelic agent in "magic mushrooms," psilocybin.
Head donned a mask and headphones to shut out the world around him, and ...
Many Psychiatric Patients Are Getting Risky Drug Gabapentin 'Off-Label'
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- November 22, 2021
- Full Page
Most prescriptions for the medication gabapentin are for unapproved uses -- and many patients end up taking it along with drugs that create potentially dangerous interactions.
That's the conclusion of a new study that looked at "off-label" use of gabapentin. In the Unite...
Confusion, Seizures: People Hospitalized After Taking Veterinary Drug for COVID
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- October 21, 2021
- Full Page
It's a drug that's been supported by some conservative media figures, but taking ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 might land you in the hospital, a new study warns.
Interest in the drug surged last summer as the highly contagious Delta variant took over the United...
Pfizer Recalls All Lots of Anti-Smoking Drug Chantix Due to Potential Carcinogen
- Steven Reinberg
- September 17, 2021
- Full Page
Pfizer is expanding the recall of its anti-smoking drug Chantix (varenicline), the company announced Friday.
The nationwide recall of all Chantix 0.5 mg and 1 mg tablets was prompted because they may contain levels of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, that are at or ...
Ketamine Appears Safe as Therapy for Tough-to-Treat Depression
- Robert Preidt
- August 17, 2021
- Full Page
The anesthesia drug ketamine and a related medicine called esketamine appear to be safe for tough-to-treat depression, researchers report.
A number of studies have suggested that low doses of ketamine, which is also abused as a club drug under monikers that include "K" a...
Time to Rethink Suicide Warnings on Labels for Anti-Seizure Meds?
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- August 4, 2021
- Full Page
Since 2008, anti-seizure drugs have carried a warning that they may increase users' suicide risk. But a new analysis finds no evidence of such a risk with newer medications.
Researchers found that five medications approved since 2008 showed no link to suicide risk among ...
Kids Still Dying From Accidental Exposure to Fentanyl Pain Patches
- Robert Preidt
- July 26, 2021
- Full Page
Accidental exposure to fentanyl pain patches is putting children's lives at risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Fentanyl is a powerful opioid pain reliever; so powerful that fentanyl patches are typically only prescribed to patients who require round-the-c...
High-Dose Withdrawal Drug in ER Can Help Battle Opioid Addiction
- Robert Preidt
- July 19, 2021
- Full Page
Giving high doses of buprenorphine in the emergency department is a safe and effective way of treating withdrawal symptoms in patients battling opioid addiction, according to a new study.
"Emergency departments are at the front lines of treating people with opioid use di...
Pharmacy Exec Behind Meningitis Outbreak Gets Longer Prison Sentence
- Robert Preidt and Ernie Mundell
- July 8, 2021
- Full Page
A longer prison sentence has been handed to the founder of a now-closed Massachusetts pharmaceutical facility responsible for the 2012 meningitis outbreak that killed 100 people and sickened hundreds of others.
Barry Cadden, who was president and co-owner of the New Engl...
What Works Best to Ease Migraines?
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- June 16, 2021
- Full Page
A new research review offers good news for migraine sufferers: There are more pain-relieving options than ever.
In an analysis of over 100 published studies, researchers found that several drug classes showed good evidence they ease the pain of a migraine-in-progress.
Reviews Find No Evidence Weight-Loss Supplements Work
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 10, 2021
- Full Page
You're getting no real benefit from taking weight-loss supplements like garcinia cambogia, green tea extract, glucomannan, conjugated linoleic acid or chitosan, two new reviews show.
Most of the clinical trials studied didn't show these supplements producing any weight l...
'Magic Mushroom' Hallucinogen as Good as Antidepressants: Study
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- April 15, 2021
- Full Page
The magic ingredient in "magic mushrooms" may be at least as effective as standard medication for depression, an early clinical trial suggests.
The study of 59 patients with major depression tested the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) against psilocybin, which is th...
1 in 3 Older Thyroid Patients Takes a Med That Can Interfere With Tests
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- March 18, 2021
- Full Page
Nearly one-third of seniors who take thyroid hormone also take drugs known to interfere with tests of thyroid function, a new study finds.
It's common for older adults to take a thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) to treat low levels of natural thyroid hormone. But tests use...
New Rabies Prevention Treatment Also Works in Kids: Study
- Robert Preidt
- February 16, 2021
- Full Page
Getting bitten by a dog or wild animal is frightening, especially for kids, but a new study may help relieve some of the worry about catching rabies.
The rabies prevention treatment KEDRAB is safe and effective for patients 17 and younger, a groundbreaking pediatric clin...
Insulin May Not Need Refrigeration, Freeing Up Its Use in Poorer Nations
- Cara Murez
- February 4, 2021
- Full Page
Researchers report that insulin can be stored at less-cold temperatures than previously known, potentially simplifying diabetes care for people in warmer regions that have fewer resources.
Researchers from Doctors Without Borders and the University of Geneva tested insul...
Yes, Pot Is Stronger Now Than in Decades Past, Study Finds
- Robert Preidt
- November 20, 2020
- Full Page
Marijuana packs a lot more punch than it did 50 years ago, making it a greater threat to health, researchers say.
"As the strength of cannabis has increased, so too has the number of people entering treatment for cannabis use problems," said study co-author Tom Freeman, ...
Was FDA Lax in Approving Opioids Too Easily?
- Dennis Thompson
- September 30, 2020
- Full Page
For at least two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been approving new formulations of prescription opioids without requiring drug manufacturers to gather important information on safety and effectiveness, a new study claims.
The FDA approved dozens o...
Older Patients at Risk When Dentists Prescribe Opioids
- Robert Preidt
- September 28, 2020
- Full Page
Seniors who take depression and anxiety drugs shouldn't be prescribed opioid painkillers by their dentist because it puts them at increased risk for problems, researchers warn.
They analyzed 2011-15 dental and medical data for 40,800 patients aged 65 and older across...
Hazardous Ingredients Make 'Smart Drug' Supplements a Not-So-Smart Buy
- Dennis Thompson
- September 24, 2020
- Full Page
Maybe you're a senior concerned that your mind has started to lag a bit. Or maybe you're a college student looking for an edge in your classes.
Either way, a new study warns that you should seriously reconsider taking any over-the-counter supplement that promises a p...
Dangerous Abuse of Anxiety Drug Phenibut Is on the Rise
- Amy Norton
- September 9, 2020
- Full Page
A growing number of Americans may be having serious reactions after taking phenibut -- an unapproved anxiety drug sold in some dietary supplements.
That's the finding of a new study looking at calls to U.S. poison control centers. The numbers are not huge: Between 20...