Congress Had a Chance to Make Your Drugs Traceable. They Didn’t Follow Through
A bipartisan bill promised greater transparency into where prescription drugs are manufactured. Then a key provision was removed
Oct 13, 2026Menu
Shedding Light on the Risks
& Benefits of Medications
Shedding Light on the Risks
& Benefits of Medications Drug Safety
Drugs Are Widely Used To Sedate Dementia Patients. Her Sons Wanted To Keep Her Off Them
Antipsychotics are commonly used to manage agitation in people with dementia, despite serious risks — including an FDA warning of an increased risk of death
Oct 5, 2026
Polypharmacy Is Rising Among Older Americans, But There’s Some Good News
More older adults are taking five or more medications, but potentially dangerous drug combinations appear to be declining
Oct 2, 2026
The FDA Is Negotiating With Drug Companies. Patient Safety Should Be Part of the Deal
I went to Washington, D.C., to push for greater accountability and stronger safety protections for patients who rely on brand-name and generic drugs
Oct 1, 2026
Should You Take A Drug Holiday?
Drug holidays are often discussed on social media, particularly for ADHD medications and GLP-1s. But while planned breaks make sense for certain drugs, for others they’re unproven, and potentially risky
Sep 30, 2026
What Americans Really Think About Drug Ads: A Poll In 8 Charts
From prompting confusion about side effects to raising concerns about health conditions, a new MedShadow national poll shows why many Americans want more regulation on prescription drug advertising
Sep 18, 2026
What Americans Really Want from Drug Ads
Results from a new national poll show broad support for fewer prescription drug ads, and tighter rules governing how they’re regulated
Sep 15, 2026
What To Know About Simtriyo, A New FDA-Approved ADHD Medication
Simtriyo is being promoted as a new kind of ADHD drug that may help with emotional dysregulation. But the strongest evidence so far is for core ADHD symptoms, and questions remain about how it compares to existing treatments
Sep 11, 2026
Could Your DNA Predict a Dangerous Drug Reaction?
Scientists have identified genetic variants that make certain medications far more toxic for some people. The challenge is getting that information into the exam room
Sep 1, 2026
How Much of a Cancer Drug Is Too Much? Patients, Researchers Challenge FDA-Approved Dosages
Could some cancer patients get the same benefit from less medication? Researchers are challenging standard doses that can bring serious side effects and staggering costs.
Aug 27, 2026
The Experimental Fertility Treatment Dividing IVF Physicians
Rapamycin has become a favorite among longevity enthusiasts. Now, some fertility specialists are prescribing it off-label to improve IVF outcomes, while others say the evidence isn't strong enough to justify its use
Aug 21, 2026
Does Colace Actually Work?
I took the “gentle” stool softener for nearly two months during pregnancy — then learned there’s little evidence it works better than a placebo
Aug 18, 2026
What To Know About Lipfendra, The New Cholesterol-Lowering Pill
A new oral PCSK9 inhibitor may lower cholesterol by more than half when added to statins and other existing treatments, but whether it prevents heart attacks and strokes remains unknown
Aug 5, 2026
Stopping Medications Safely Is Hard. This Federal Guidance Could Change Everything
New Medicare guidance could expand access to pharmacist-led care that helps people safely reduce or stop medications that may no longer benefit them
Jul 28, 2026
What Parents Should Know About Generic Drugs
Generics save families money and work well for most medications. But for seizure drugs, some ADHD medications, and a few other treatments, consistency can be important
Jun 24, 2026
What Is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome? The Rare Drug Reaction That Can Cause Lasting Damage
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed in its early stages, delaying treatment and increasing the risk of life-altering complications
Jun 11, 2026
GLP-1 Overdoses Are Rising as Telehealth Weight-Loss Prescriptions Boom
As online weight-loss clinics boom, reports of GLP-1 overdoses, dosing mistakes, and hospitalizations are climbing
Jun 3, 2026
Ivermectin Isn’t a Proven Cure. So Why Do So Many People Believe It Is?
Once promoted as a COVID-19 treatment, ivermectin — along with the veterinary drug fenbendazole — is now being touted online as a cancer cure, driven by viral anecdotes and early research that scientists say falls far short of proof
Apr 30, 2026
We Promised Parents a Miracle Autism Treatment. Then We Took It Away
When a political promise outpaces science, families start making decisions based on evidence that never existed
Apr 22, 2026
Beta-Blockers Can Calm Performance Anxiety. But They Don’t Work for Everyone
Widely used off-label to steady nerves, beta-blockers can blunt the body’s stress response. But the evidence is limited, the benefits are specific, and the risks — while often low — are real
Apr 16, 2026
