Author: Emma Yasinski

When the pandemic first broke out in 2020, every COVID-19 treatment was experimental. Researchers tested existing drugs, like the antiparasitic Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) or the anti-inflammatory Ozurdex, Maxidex or others (dexamethasone), that they hoped could fight the virus or dampen damaging inflammation. Other medical personnel tried antidepressants on patients.   Now, researchers and regulators have provided evidence-based guidelines for repurposing drugs and administering newly developed treatments to patients at high risk of, or who already are, experiencing severe disease. Read on to learn your options, if you test positive. Immediately After Testing Positive: As the pandemic has continued, scientists have found several…

It’s not a secret that the population of the United States has high levels of obesity. In 2012, Georgia attempted to raise awareness and thwart childhood obesity with shocking ads showing children with obesity with captions such as “It’s hard to be a little girl if you’re not,” and “Stop sugarcoating it, Georgia.” The controversial ads had been based off of previous public health campaigns such as those aimed to prevent smoking and encourage quitting. However, the causes of obesity, its impacts on our health, and effectiveness of strategies for shedding pounds are not nearly as straightforward as putting down…

Regular “MedShadow” readers are likely familiar with the idea of deprescribing—the process of reducing the number or dose of drugs a person is taking. “MedShadow” has written about the phenomenon before. But, while the idea of taking fewer medications is simple, the real world process of deprescribing, while balancing risks versus benefits, is complicated. Some medications have withdrawal symptoms, and tapering may take time. The Therapeutics Initiative at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is hosting a series of webinars with healthcare professionals sharing real-life stories about their own patients whose medications they were able to reduce, and what happened…

If you have heard about the latest craze of taking the supplement known as Ashwagandha for anxiety, you are not alone. There is certainly a buzz around this popular supplement. But what exactly is it, and what can ashwagandha do for you? Todd Miller had been taking Wellbutrin, an antidepressant, when he decided to add ashwagandha to his regimen about two years ago. He doesn’t remember where he heard about ashwagandha, but he says, “I always felt like [wellbutrin] made me sort of sluggish and slow.”  With ashwagandha, he says, he not only feels that his depression is managed, but…

Most parents know that newborn babies, toddlers, and young children go through a litany of vaccines. Very specific schedules are set, and parents are frequently back-and-forth to doctors’ offices just to keep up. But, what shots do adults need? The schedules can be difficult to read or understand. To stay on top of adult vaccines, read on to help determine what may be best for you. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by the number of vaccines you’re hearing about this fall, you are not alone. Christian Miller, 34, who says he’s always kept up to date on his vaccines found himself…

Angela Tong, BscPharm, ACPR, met her patient, a woman in her 20s, when she’d just overdosed on acetaminophen. The overdose was not her first. Tong is a clinical pharmacist at Fraser Health Authority, a hospital system in Canada. She treated the woman as she stayed at the hospital for several months.  The woman had just started a new job as a medical assistant, but the stress quickly became overwhelming. She listed her symptoms to Tong.  “She felt really anxious. She feels sleepy during the day, but she had trouble sleeping at night. There are lots of voices in her head,…

For many of us, lowering our risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, or even chronic pain, includes monitoring and maintaining our weight. Frankie Kidd, who takes insulin for type 1 diabetes, gained weight after starting the treatment, and is still trying to figure out how best to manage it. There are many factors that can contribute to weight gain from limited physical activity, to stress, and poor sleep. However, one cause many of us might overlook could be the medications we have been prescribed. Believe it or not, many drugs can make you gain weight. One of the…

MedShadow reader and blogger, Clara Morgan had a cavity a few years ago. When that cavity hit her nerve, she said “Oh my stars, was that a whole new level of ouch.” At first she treated the tooth pain with Tylenol but “it felt like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound,” she says.  She switched to a combination of natural remedies including peppermint oil, cold compresses, and swishing with warm salt water.  “I won’t lie, it was a challenging time,” she added. Once upon a time tooth infections were frequently deadly. In 1908, they reportedly had a 10-40% mortality…

Between 2020 and 2021, there was a large jump in the number of prescriptions doctors wrote for ADHD medications, according to the CDC. But even before 2020, prescriptions had been on the rise for nearly 10 years. During the pandemic, our daily life changed dramatically and many of us may have struggled to keep up with tasks that may have been simpler within our structured routines. Telehealth companies, like Cerebral, rose to prominence promising quick access to ADHD diagnoses and medications from the comfort of your own home. Content creators on social media have grown followings by describing experiences that…

I love to exercise, so staying off my feet while I wait for the foot pain to disappear while my plantar fasciitis heals is a challenge. And it’s not just because I write for MedShadow, where I’m frequently extolling the benefits of a lifestyle based around more physical activity, less stress, and a solid foundation of fruits, vegetables, and omega-3s. I’ve always been this way. As a member of a very average high school swim team, I decided that swimming for two hours a day, six days a week wasn’t enough. I petitioned my coach to add morning practices two…