Author: Suzanne B. Robotti

Bob R.’s New York City doctor told him his cholesterol was high and prescribed statins. After taking the statins for two years, Bob was feeling muscle pains and had read about the possible cognitive declines tied to statins. At his next physical, Bob told his doctor he wanted to stop the statins and try exercising a little more, drop a few pounds and see if that lowered his cholesterol. The doctor agreed and noted, “You’re borderline on needing statins anyway.” Yikes! Who knew that? Bob hadn’t questioned the diagnosis or the treatment. He took statins and experienced the side effects,…

When you see a news story or read an article about a drug on a website or TV or in a magazine that has ads for that drug, how independent do you think the facts are in that offering?

America has been in an opioid overdose crisis for more than 10 years. For nearly all that time, the medical community has understood that opioid addiction often starts at home with a legitimate prescription

As recently as last fall, I was dead set against getting the COVID-19 vaccine. I thought the trials were rushed, the science too new and the chance that I would be harmed if I got COVID-19, small. I emphasized my stance in the blog 6 Factors to Consider About a COVID-19 Vaccine. In December and January of 2020, a lot of information became available about the various vaccines, the testing and history of the messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, which both Pfizer and Moderna used. It was then I realized the science is not new. Medical researchers have been working on…

The giddy excitement generated by Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination interim results of 90% efficacy on November 11 was only boosted higher by Moderna’s announcement on November 16 of 95% efficacy for its vaccination. 

Have we become afraid of death? Were people a millennium or two ago less afraid? What is worse: to die or to take untested drugs that hurt me before I die anyway?

Until there is a pharmaceutical breakthrough for coronavirus, we are looking at a long, difficult challenge to our society. Is social isolation necessary?

There is no known cure for coronavirus or COVID-19 yet. However, a new study from Wuhan, China published in JAMA found that treatment with methylprednisolone may be beneficial for patients who develop acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) which is caused by COVID-19. Antibiotics, herbal remedies, and even straight water do not work as a protection or a cure. Untrustworthy people preying on others’ fears are promoting various “cures” on the internet. Please don’t buy and use them.  On the internet, you’ll find teas, essential oils, tinctures and colloidal silver promising to prevent or cure COVID-19. There is no proof that they…

Light therapy has promise for depression, psoriasis, SAD, insomnia and more. Read here for the latest info.

Abilify’s Digital Tracker: Did Big Brother just enter your body through your medicine? The manufacturers of Abilify introduced a "smart pill" version called Abilify MyCite (digital aripiprazol) which tracks if a patient has taken the pill– it’s a digital ingestion tracking system. According to the FDA, "The system works by sending a message from the pill’s sensor to a wearable patch. The patch transmits the information to a mobile application so that patients can track the ingestion of the medication on their smartphone. Patients can also permit their caregivers and physician to access the information through a web-based portal." There’s…