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Some acne treatments may may banish blemishes but carry hidden dangers: A new report reveals high levels of the carcinogen benzene can form in products that contain the zit-fighting ingredient benzoyl peroxide.

According to the new report from the independent laboratory Valisure, be...

For nearly a week, prescription drug orders have been disrupted at thousands of pharmacies as the largest health insurer in the United States tries to fully restore services following a cyberattack.

The security breach was first detected last Wednesday at Change Healthcare, a division of UnitedHealth Group, and two senior federal law enforcement officials told the New York Times...

When settling into your senior years, you need to be especially careful when taking medicines, herbal remedies and supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

That's because older adults are likely to use more prescription and over-the-counter medications, which increases the risk of harmful side effects and drug interactions, the FDA said in a

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 19, 2024
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  • Novo Nordisk has settled lawsuits against two Florida businesses that claimed to sell copycat versions of its popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.

    The Danish drugmaker announced the settlements Friday, according to NBC News

    The move capped a legal battle that began in late November when the company filed 12 lawsuits against clinics, medical spas and compound...

    The maker of a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy has recalled one lot of the medication after a pill mixup was discovered.

    The recall notice, issued by Azurity Pharmaceuticals Inc., states that one lot of Z...

    WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24, 2024 (Healthday News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has told drugmakers to add a boxed warning to a type of cancer treatment called CAR-T therapy, saying the treatment itself may sometimes cause a secondary cancer.

    Still, FDA spokesperson Carly Kempler told NBC News

    Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conclude in newly released documents that marijuana has less potential for abuse than other drugs with the same restrictions and it should be reclassified as a less dangerous drug.

    Not only that, the review found there is some evidence backing its use as a medical treatment.

    Right now, cannabis is classified as a

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 15, 2024
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  • Drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, which have become a wildly popular way to lose weight or battle diabetes, show no link to suicidal thoughts or actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

    “Our preliminary evaluation has not found evidence that use of these medicines causes suicidal thoughts or actions,” an FDA

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 12, 2024
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  • Tejocote weight-loss supplements sold through online through Amazon or Etsy could contain a highly toxic substance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning.

    FDA tests revealed that capsules labeled as tejocote instead contained yellow oleander, a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America.

    The FDA found yellow oleander in nine different products labeled as tejocot...

    Federal regulators are warning consumers to stop using eyedrops and gels from several major brands after finding unsanitary conditions in a manufacturing plant.

    Twenty-six eye care products are part of the alert. Contaminated products have the potential to cause eye infection and blindness because drugs applied to the eye can bypass some of the body's defenses.

    Those concerning the ...

    Four years after the state of Georgia approved the distribution of low-dose THC, medical marijuana may be sold at local pharmacies.

    That will make Georgia the first U.S. state where pharmacies sell medical cannabis, CNN reported.

    By year's end, patients who meet a very narrow criteria for medical cannabis use under Georgia's law will be able to buy low-dose THC products at ...

    Another diabetes drug maker is taking legal action against businesses in several states, alleging that they're “fraudulently claiming” that their compounded products are the same as its medication.

    This time, it's Eli Lilly suing certain medical spas, wellness centers and compounding pharmacies over its medication Mounjaro.

    Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide an...

    A bankruptcy deal that would have shielded the family behind the company that makes Oxycontin from civil lawsuits was temporarily blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday.

    President Joe Biden had asked for a delay in approval of the nationwide settlement, which had been...

    Following a four-day raid, Mexico has closed 23 pharmacies in Caribbean resorts of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum for irregular pill sales.

    Last spring, the United States warned of dangerous pill sales to foreigners and tourists where counterfeit drugs contained fentanyl, her...

    The European Medicines Agency is investigating concerns that popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Saxenda may be linked to suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm.

    Three case reports from Iceland spurred the agency's safety committee to conduct a medication review, CNN reported Monday. The EMA is Europe's equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    The...

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a second nasal spray for reversing an opioid overdose.

    To be sold as Opvee, the spray contains the medication nalmefene hydrochloride and will be available to Americans aged 12 and older with a prescription, the FDA said.

    "The agency continues to advance the FDA Overdose Prevention Framework and take actionable steps that enc...

    U.S. regulators are urging Americans to avoid Apetamin, an illegal drug used for weight gain and figure enhancement.

    The substance, typically sold as a syrup, is manufactured overseas, illegally imported and isn't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    It contains a potent antihistamine called cyproheptadine, which requires a physician's prescription in the United State...

    Congressional leaders introduced a bill on Tuesday that would further restrict access to the veterinary drug xylazine, which is now being added to fentanyl powder.

    Also known as tranq, the drug is meant to be a sedative and muscle relaxer for horses and other large animals and is not approved for human use. But the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 29, 2023
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  • Americans are facing shortages of drugs critical for cancer treatment, breathing problems and more — shortages that increased nearly 30% between 2021 and 2022, a new report shows.

    The report, commissioned by the U.S. Senate and discussed during a Senate...

    An outbreak of serious bacterial infections in 13 U.S. states linked to use of artificial tears has prompted experts to offer tips for keeping dry eyes safe.

    Five of the 58 people infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa had vision loss, and one person died, leading to the recall of EzriCare and Delsam Pharma artificial tears. Some of those sickened also reported lung and urinary tr...

    Intravenous (IV) lines are generally associated with medical centers — picture a patient in a hospital bed, an IV drip-dropping needed fluids, nutrients and medicines into their arm.

    But millions now are receiving IV treatments at home, and a new study warns that not enough people are being ...

    Nearly one quarter of hospitalized people experience a harmful event during their stay, a new study finds.

    However, most of the bad outcomes are not preventable because they're related to known side effects from medications or risks of surgery. The findings were published Jan. 11 in the New England Journa...

    If you need to take a pill, you might want to take it lying down -- on your right side, that is.

    Researchers studying how body positioning affects the absorption of pills found that one taken when a person was lying on the right side speeded pills to the deepest part of the stomach. That pill could then dissolve 2.3 times faster than if the person was upright.

    "We were very surprise...

    Toking up increases your risk of landing in the hospital, a new study reports.

    Recreational marijuana use was associated with 22% greater odds of needing to visit an emergency room or be hospitalized, Canadian researchers found.

    The study showed physical injuries, lung ailments and ga...

    Psilocybin, the psychedelic substance in "magic" mushrooms, is generating lots of interest as a potential treatment for a host of mental ills, but new research warns there is little data on how it might interact with more traditional psychiatric medications.

    "There's a major incongruence between the public enthusiasm and exuberance with psychedelic substances for mental health issues - an...

    Allopurinol, a frequently used gout medication, does not appear to drive up the risk for dying among gout patients who also struggle with chronic kidney disease, new research shows.

    The finding is based on an analysis of two decades worth of British health records. And it may put to rest recent concerns regarding a well-known drug that both gout patients and kidney disease patients have u...

    Many people turn to marijuana or cannabidiol to ease their achy joints and help them sleep, but a new study suggests that could wreak havoc with any other medications they're taking.

    Why? Because the body uses the same set of enzymes to process them all, scientists report.

    The chemicals in mari...

    Tony Head was depressed and fearing death from stage 4 prostate cancer when, as part of a supervised scientific trial, he took a large dose of the psychedelic agent in "magic mushrooms," psilocybin.

    Head donned a mask and headphones to shut out the world around him, and had an experience that changed the course of his life.

    "At some point in that time I felt like a higher power or s...

    Most prescriptions for the medication gabapentin are for unapproved uses -- and many patients end up taking it along with drugs that create potentially dangerous interactions.

    That's the conclusion of a new study that looked at "off-label" use of gabapentin. In the United States, the drug is officially approved for treating certain seizures and some forms of nerve pain.

    It's known, ...

    It's a drug that's been supported by some conservative media figures, but taking ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 might land you in the hospital, a new study warns.

    Interest in the drug surged last summer as the highly contagious Delta variant took over the United States. But instead of protecting against the virus, the use of a medicine typically reserved for horses and cattle has...

    Pfizer is expanding the recall of its anti-smoking drug Chantix (varenicline), the company announced Friday.

    The nationwide recall of all Chantix 0.5 mg and 1 mg tablets was prompted because they may contain levels of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, that are at or above levels approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    Long-term ingestion of N-nitroso-varenicline may b...

    The anesthesia drug ketamine and a related medicine called esketamine appear to be safe for tough-to-treat depression, researchers report.

    A number of studies have suggested that low doses of ketamine, which is also abused as a club drug under monikers that include "K" and "Special K," provide rapid antidepressant effects, typically improving mood within 24 hours to seven days.

    Simi...

    Since 2008, anti-seizure drugs have carried a warning that they may increase users' suicide risk. But a new analysis finds no evidence of such a risk with newer medications.

    Researchers found that five medications approved since 2008 showed no link to suicide risk among patients who participated in clinical trials of the drugs.

    The findings, they said, argue against the "blanket" wa...

    Accidental exposure to fentanyl pain patches is putting children's lives at risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.

    Fentanyl is a powerful opioid pain reliever; so powerful that fentanyl patches are typically only prescribed to patients who require round-the-clock, long-term pain relief, such as cancer patients. They're generally replaced every three days.

    Kids can overdo...

    Giving high doses of buprenorphine in the emergency department is a safe and effective way of treating withdrawal symptoms in patients battling opioid addiction, according to a new study.

    "Emergency departments are at the front lines of treating people with opioid use disorder and helping them overcome barriers to recovery such as withdrawal," said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the U.S. Na...

    A longer prison sentence has been handed to the founder of a now-closed Massachusetts pharmaceutical facility responsible for the 2012 meningitis outbreak that killed 100 people and sickened hundreds of others.

    Barry Cadden, who was president and co-owner of the New England Compounding Center (NECC), received a 14-and-a-half year sentence from a federal judge Wednesday.

    Cadden was ...

    A new research review offers good news for migraine sufferers: There are more pain-relieving options than ever.

    In an analysis of over 100 published studies, researchers found that several drug classes showed good evidence they ease the pain of a migraine-in-progress.

    Some of those medications have only become available in the past few years, opening up new options for migraine suff...

    You're getting no real benefit from taking weight-loss supplements like garcinia cambogia, green tea extract, glucomannan, conjugated linoleic acid or chitosan, two new reviews show.

    Most of the clinical trials studied didn't show these supplements producing any weight loss among users, the researchers said. In the rare cases where people did lose weight, they didn't drop enough pounds to...

    The magic ingredient in "magic mushrooms" may be at least as effective as standard medication for depression, an early clinical trial suggests.

    The study of 59 patients with major depression tested the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) against psilocybin, which is the psychedelic substance in hallucinogenic mushrooms.

    Over six weeks, it appeared that just two doses of psilocybi...

    Nearly one-third of seniors who take thyroid hormone also take drugs known to interfere with tests of thyroid function, a new study finds.

    It's common for older adults to take a thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) to treat low levels of natural thyroid hormone. But tests used to determine the dose and effectiveness of treatment can be affected by other medications, including prednisone, predn...

    Getting bitten by a dog or wild animal is frightening, especially for kids, but a new study may help relieve some of the worry about catching rabies.

    The rabies prevention treatment KEDRAB is safe and effective for patients 17 and younger, a groundbreaking pediatric clinical trial has shown.

    The trial included 30 kids with suspected or confirmed rabies exposure who were treated with...

    Researchers report that insulin can be stored at less-cold temperatures than previously known, potentially simplifying diabetes care for people in warmer regions that have fewer resources.

    Researchers from Doctors Without Borders and the University of Geneva tested insulin storage in real conditions ranging from 77 to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for four weeks -- the time it typically takes t...

    Marijuana packs a lot more punch than it did 50 years ago, making it a greater threat to health, researchers say.

    "As the strength of cannabis has increased, so too has the number of people entering treatment for cannabis use problems," said study co-author Tom Freeman, director of the addiction and mental health group at the University of Bath in England.

    In Europe, more people no...

    For at least two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been approving new formulations of prescription opioids without requiring drug manufacturers to gather important information on safety and effectiveness, a new study claims.

    The FDA approved dozens of these highly addictive medications for treatment of chronic pain between 1997 and 2018 based on clinical trials that:<...

    Seniors who take depression and anxiety drugs shouldn't be prescribed opioid painkillers by their dentist because it puts them at increased risk for problems, researchers warn.

    They analyzed 2011-15 dental and medical data for 40,800 patients aged 65 and older across the United States. There were 947 emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the 30 days after a dental visit.

    ...

    Maybe you're a senior concerned that your mind has started to lag a bit. Or maybe you're a college student looking for an edge in your classes.

    Either way, a new study warns that you should seriously reconsider taking any over-the-counter supplement that promises a powerful brain boost.

    A review of so-called "smart drug" nutritional supplements found a handful that were pack...

    A growing number of Americans may be having serious reactions after taking phenibut -- an unapproved anxiety drug sold in some dietary supplements.

    That's the finding of a new study looking at calls to U.S. poison control centers. The numbers are not huge: Between 2009 and 2019, there were 1,320 calls related to phenibut.

    But there was a sharp rise beginning in 2015, researc...

    The narcolepsy medicine modafinil doesn't appear to increase the risk of birth defects, according to a new study that contradicts earlier research.

    "This study is based on twice as many pregnancies as earlier studies, and we find no increase in the risk of malformation in infants exposed to modafinil during pregnancy," lead author Carolyn Cesta, of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, ...

    Taking the statin Crestor in combination with the diabetes drug canagliflozin (Invokana) may have the potential to trigger statin toxicity, a new case report suggests.

    Although this report details the problem in just one woman, the researchers noted concern because these drugs are taken by millions of people worldwide. These drugs are also increasingly prescribed together.

    People taking a class of diabetes medications called SGLT2s have up to three times the risk for a serious complication called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) compared to people taking another drug, new research reveals.

    SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors -- such as Farxiga, Jardiance and Invokana -- are a newer type of oral diabetes medicine. This class of medications is k...