Drugmakers including Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda Pharmaceutical plan to raise prices in the US on more than 500 drugs in early January, according to data analyzed by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors. Excluding different doses and formulations, more than 140 brands of drugs will have their prices raised next month, the data showed. The expected price … Read more
Doctors say to eat your vegetables, but beware: some holiday staples may negatively interact with certain medications. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in England revealed their top five don’ts when it comes to pairing food or drinks with pills. “For many people, the festive season is a time for coming together, creating treasured … Read more
A nationwide shortage of drugs that treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has forced some patients to shell out hundreds more for pricey, brand-name alternatives. A new analysis from USA Today found that the prices that retail community pharmacies pay for common ADHD medications have outpaced inflation, and in some cases, have doubled or tripled in the … Read more
Now that the holidays are in full swing, people are meeting up with friends, relatives and co-workers who might seem a little … different. Maybe their face is glistening with sweat — on a cold, wintry night. Or they can’t stop licking their lips. Perhaps they’re chattering nonstop, or not speaking much at all. These … Read more
Ozempic users are noticing a change in their face — and it’s costing them an arm and a leg. Patients injecting the antidiabetic medication to lose weight have found themselves with “Ozempic face” — gaunt, deflated cheeks and loose, sagging skin around their jowls. Trying to avoid a plastic surgery fix for their newly droopy … Read more
Booming demand for newer weight-loss and diabetes drugs is expected to accelerate the rise in medical expenses for employers in the United States next year, staff health benefits consultant Mercer said on Friday. GLP-1 medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could contribute between 50 and 100 basis points to the trend, Mercer’s … Read more
Move over, Ozempic — there’s a new drug in town. Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, with the active ingredient tirzepatide, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by obese or overweight adults who have at least one weight-related health complication, like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, … Read more
WASHINGTON — As U.S. doctors scale back their use of opioid painkillers, a new option for hard-to-treat pain is taking root: ketamine, the decades-old surgical drug that is now a trendy psychedelic therapy. Prescriptions for ketamine have soared in recent years, driven by for-profit clinics and telehealth services offering the medication as a treatment for pain, depression, … Read more
The popular hair-loss treatment Minoxidil may be in short supply, experts warn. Minoxidil is the main active ingredient in Rogaine, which is applied to the scalp. Minoxidil has been found to be more effective when taken orally — but this form has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat hair loss. … Read more
If you’re an American, you’re probably on drugs — or will be someday soon. A new study reveals that people born in the US today will spend about half of their lives taking prescription drugs. And for women, the figure is closer to 60% of their lives. “The years that people can expect to spend … Read more
Pain medication is supposed to help you feel better. But the Food and Drug Administration is now warning the public that many over-the-counter products promoted for pain and arthritis contain potentially harmful ingredients that aren’t listed on the label. Some of these hidden ingredients are prescription drugs such as steroids, muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory … Read more
Go ahead — run away from your problems. The popular aerobic exercise may be as potent a weapon against the blues as medication, a new European study suggests. Researchers from Vrije University, Amsterdam asked 141 patients suffering from depression and anxiety to choose between a group run, two to three times a week, or taking … Read more
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated the Ozempic label to acknowledge complaints of blocked intestines in some people who have taken the medication. The semaglutide drug is designed for people with Type 2 diabetes but has become widely used as a weight-loss remedy. Ozempic works by mimicking a natural hormone, GLP-1, which slows down the passage … Read more
Medical experts are sharing the best options for allergy sufferers after advisers to the Food and Drug Administration recently voted against the effectiveness of a nasal decongestant found in versions of Benadryl, Mucinex and other popular over-the-counter medications. The unanimous vote on Sept. 12 declared oral forms of phenylephrine ineffective. The most popular oral decongestant … Read more
An advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration stated today that virtually all over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants simply don’t work. The FDA panel found that phenylephrine — the active ingredient in Sudafed, Benadryl, Robitussin and other popular decongestants — is nearly useless at reducing nasal congestion. The advisory panel’s ruling might soon lead to these … Read more
Every year, up to 9,000 people die in the US as a result of a prescription medication error. That figure doesn’t include the hundreds of thousands of patients who suffer adverse effects from taking the wrong medication or taking meds in the wrong way, according to a report from StatPearls. Now, an investigative report from … Read more
The White House announced today the first 10 drugs subject to new Medicare price negotiations, after a law was passed allowing the government to lean on drug companies for a better deal. The move could save taxpayers billions of dollars in the first year alone. And it’s supported by a vast majority of Americans, at … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration is now regularly approving new drugs after just one or two clinical trials — a significant departure from the more rigorous vetting process the agency was previously known for, newly published research reveals. Furthermore, the authors say, there’s now less information available to the public about the results of all trials. … Read more
A heart drug that combines three medications in one pill — otherwise known as a polypill — has been included in the List of Essential Medicines from the World Health Organization (WHO). The unique polypill is designed for those who have had a prior heart attack or other heart-related event, with the goal of preventing a repeat … Read more
Amazon said Tuesday its online pharmacy will automatically apply manufacturer-sponsored coupons to more than 15 insulin and diabetes medicines to help patients access discounts pledged by the drug industry. With the new program, patients using Amazon Pharmacy will no longer have to search for and manually enter coupons from the three largest insulin makers, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi, to … Read more