Opinion: Transforming U.S. Drug Policy for Better Drug Safety
The Trump administration sparked much speculation about what the nominees to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control…
Feb 25, 2025
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Shedding Light on the Risks
& Benefits of Medications
Shedding Light on the Risks
& Benefits of Medications
Drug Safety
Effexor’s Link To Dangerous Spikes In Blood Pressure
In 2019, Kyle visited her primary care physician for a routine checkup and sought help for the menopause symptoms that were disrupting her daily life.…
Feb 19, 2025
How Safe is Veozah? The FDA-Approved Hot Flash Treatment
Margie Minkler started getting hot flashes in her early 40s. “It feels like a cartoon of somebody who is turning red from their toes up…
Dec 18, 2024
Inside the FDA Drug Development Process: The Limits of Clinical Trials in Preventing Side Effects
Each year, a select group of novel new drugs enter the U.S. market. In 2023, 55 new drugs were approved—adding to the more than 20,000 prescription drugs already in…
Dec 13, 2024
Opinion: FDA Proposes Removing Sudafed PE and Cold Meds
In October 2023, I wrote about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and its unanimous vote that the primary ingredient in Sudafed PE…
Nov 21, 2024
What To Know About Cobenfy, First New FDA-Approved Treatment For Schizophrenia in Decades
On September 26th, 2024, the FDA announced approval for Cobenfy (xanomeline and trospium chloride) the first novel schizophrenia treatment for adults in over 30 years. Early Cobenfy…
Sep 30, 2024
6 Drugs That Can Cause Kidney Damage
No matter what kind of medicine you take, whether OTC (over-the-counter) or prescription, it is destined to take a trip through your kidneys. Taking a…
Aug 7, 2024
Navigating the Risks: Understanding the Dangers of Wellbutrin
Bupropion, commonly known by its brand names Wellbutrin and Zyban, has garnered attention in recent years for its effectiveness in treating depression, seasonal affective disorder…
Jun 10, 2024
11 Meds that Can Mess with Your Voice
All medications can help, heal, or harm. There are nearly always side effects that are unintended when it comes to meds. From drugs prescribed by…
May 28, 2024
How Medications Affect Your Dental Health
During your first visit to the dentist’s office, you may have noticed a medical history and medications section in your file. Your dentist will collect…
May 16, 2024
Sick of Drug Ads for Meds? The Rules Are About to Change
If you watch any type of live television, or even streaming services with drug ads, chances are you’ve seen them. Entire ensembles, in coordinated colorful…
Apr 22, 2024
“Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present,” by Harriet A. Washington
Medical Apartheid opens with Harriet A. Washington unearthing a pair of folders in her office, a poison-control center at a teaching hospital in New York.…
Mar 18, 2024
So, You Are 65. Now What? Medications All Seniors Should Know NOT to Take
As you age, things change. You likely notice the little things over time, such as feeling like you pulled a muscle just by sneezing, or…
Feb 16, 2024
Can I Take a Drug After Its Expiration Date?
Tired of promising yourself that, this year, you’ll really go to the gym? Or stop eating desserts? Or any of the other actions you should…
Jan 3, 2024
6 Drugs That Can Make You Gain Weight
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…
Oct 20, 2023
Can I Take My Medicine or Supplement Before My Blood Test?
Fans of “Seinfeld,” the TV show still in reruns, will remember when Elaine failed a company drug test because she had a poppy-seed bagel an…
Sep 5, 2023
Heart Failure Drug Rejected, Rejected Again, Then Approved, What’s Up?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a drug called Inpefa to reduce the risk of heart failure in people with Type 2 diabetes. The drug…
Jul 13, 2023
Could It Be My Medications?
Modern medications can be miracles that save us or our loved ones. But they come with complexities. No medicine goes straight to its desired target…
Jan 23, 2023
8 Drugs That Can Cause Vitamin Deficiencies
A few years ago, my doctor prescribed me high doses of omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor) to treat acid reflux twice a day. I didn’t…
Nov 16, 2022
Drinking and Drugs: How Alcohol Can Mess With Your Medicine
Mixing Alcohol and Medicine Alcohol has strong associations with fun and relaxation, but it’s just another drug as far as your body is concerned. The…
Feb 8, 2022
