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Woman holds her side suffering from acute liver injury pain or liver cancerDrug Side EffectsTerry Graedon - September 18, 2023 - 9 comments

What Accounts for Blood Tests Showing Liver Failure?

When blood tests point to liver failure, you need to figure out quickly whether drugs or supplements you are taking could be responsible.

Alarm clock in the middle of the night
DementiaTerry Graedon - September 3, 2023

Can Raising the Head of the Bed Beat Insomnia?

One reader found that elevating the head of the bed resulted in much better sleep patterns. It is also affordable, without side effects.

man using an asthma inhaler
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - August 31, 2023

Will Asthma Inhalers Weaken Bones?

Asthma inhalers containing steroids calm inflammation in the airways and help with breathing. Do they increase the risk for fractures?

man with his head in a clamp
Alzheimer’s DiseaseJoe Graedon - August 28, 2023

Are My Medications Causing Me Memory Problems?

Are your medicines messing with your mind? Could memory problems be due to drugs rather than aging or dementia? Beware anticholinergics.

Woman weighing herself on a scale to see if new weight loss medicine is helping
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - August 28, 2023

How Well Does the New Weight Loss Medicine Work?

Shedding pounds fast has become a hot topic with new weight loss medicine liraglutide and semaglutide (Wegovy). What are the pros and cons?

man with high Lp(a) having a heart attack undergoing CPR
Drug Side EffectsTerry Graedon - August 24, 2023

Is Aspirin Underutilized for Preventing Second Heart Attacks?

Guidelines recommend regular aspirin use to prevent second heart attacks. In the poorest countries, though, this cheap drug is underutilized.

A disoriented man with memory problems and dementia holding his face is dismay
Alzheimer’s DiseaseJoe Graedon - August 24, 2023

Aduhelm for Alzheimer’s: Breakthrough or Boondoggle?

A physician survey and Congressional committee report are critical of the FDA's accelerated approval of Aduhelm for Alzheimer's disease. Why?

obese woman, overweight
Diabetic Neuropathy (nerve pain)Joe Graedon - August 24, 2023

Lyrica and Weight Gain | Can It Be Reversed?

Nerve pain (neuropathy) can be incredibly challenging. FDA-approved drugs can have unexpected side effects including fatigue, dizziness and brain fog. Lyrica and weight gain is another complication.

Woman suffering from dementia and memory loss
Alzheimer’s DiseaseJoe Graedon - August 21, 2023

Are Your Drugs Raising Your Risk for Dementia?

Are common over-the-counter and prescription drugs capable of raising your risk for dementia? Which medicines are caught in this tangled web?

woman with a sunburn on her back
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - August 21, 2023

You Could Be Risking Bad Sunburns If You Are Taking One of These Common Medications

Prescribers don't always warn patients that some medications can sensitize the skin to the sun's rays and lead to bad sunburns.

a person checking their blood sugar with a pin prick device
DiabetesJoe Graedon - August 21, 2023

Is There a Dark Side to the Diabetes Drug Jardiance?

Jardiance is being advertised on television. Watch the smiles, singing and dancing! There are also some serious risks. What are they?

close up of three doctors faces wearing surgical scrubs and masks
DiabetesJoe Graedon - August 17, 2023

If You Need Surgery While on Ozempic or Wegovy BE VERY CAREFUL!

Surgery while on Ozempic or Wegovy or other GLP-1 agonists such as Victoza, Saxenda, or Mounjaro requires special caution. Beware aspiration!

man smelling his armpit to check for body odor
Body OdorJoe Graedon - August 17, 2023

Is Your Aluminum Antiperspirant Setting You Up for Smellier Armpits?

If you are like most people you use an aluminum antiperspirant daily. What happens if you stop? Body odor, right? Now there's an explanation.

man with his head in a clamp
Alzheimer’s DiseaseJoe Graedon - August 14, 2023

Will Sleeping Pill with Diphenhydramine Lead to Memory Loss?

Memory loss is a terrible challenge. Might commonly prescribed medications or OTC antihistamines be to blame?

man sitting on toilet with diarrhea
DiabetesJoe Graedon - August 14, 2023

Metformin (Glucophage) Side Effects & Complications

Metformin (Glucophage) is the most popular drug for type 2 diabetes, but it can be hard on the GI tract and kidneys. Metformin vs. cancer?

Overweight man holding his fat stomach
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - August 10, 2023

Will Ozempic or Wegovy Weight Loss Last?

Semaglutide can help people lose serious weight. But what happens to Wegovy weight loss when you stop using the drug? Will you regain pounds?

soft drinks in cans seen from above
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - August 10, 2023

Do You Love Your Liver Enough?

Are you taking care of your liver? Most Americans take their livers for granted. Coffee and soft drinks have different impacts.

skull and crossbones on pill bottle
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - August 7, 2023

If a Medicine Kills You Why Can’t Your Family Sue the Drug Company?

When can you sue the drug company for disability or death? If you have been warned of an adverse drug reaction you could be out of luck.

Man with painful arthritis hands
ankylosing spondylitisJoe Graedon - August 7, 2023

TNF Blockers and Your Immune System: Beware IMIDs

TNF blockers like Enbrel, Humira and Remicade treat IMIDs like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Can they also cause these conditions?

man measuring his fat belly bulge with a measuring tape
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - August 3, 2023

Is the Diabetes Drug Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Better Than Ozempic for Weight Loss?

Will Mounjaro (tirzepatide) become the next big weight loss drug? How does it compare to Ozempic? What side effects should you be aware of?

a glass of gin and tonic with ice and a lime slice
AgingJoe Graedon - August 3, 2023

Alcohol for Longer Life? How Much Is Enough and How Much Is Too Much?

Is alcohol for longer life real or a myth? How many drinks count as moderate alcohol consumption? Does stress reduction increase longevity?

Metformin Prescription Pills With Identification Numbers
CancerJoe Graedon - August 3, 2023

Is Metformin a Miracle or a Menace?

A diabetes drug makes headlines! Is metformin a miracle because of anticancer and anti-aging activity or a menace due to serious side effects?

man with high Lp(a) having a heart attack undergoing CPR
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - July 31, 2023

Is Lp(a) the Best Kept Secret in Heart Disease?

Doctors rarely test for Lp(a), but 1 out of 5 people have high levels. Statins raise Lp(a) but a low-carb diet lowers this key risk factor.

Woman closes ears with fingers because ears ring with tinnitus as an adverse reaction to COVID vaccines
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - July 24, 2023

Is Your Medicine Making Your Ears Ring? | TINNITUS

Have you ever experienced tinnitus? When your ears ring it can be devastating! What causes this problem? Many medicines can do it.

Hand holds out container of multiple pills doctors prescribe
AllergiesJoe Graedon - July 24, 2023

Should Pharmacists Be Able to Prescribe Behind the Counter Drugs?

Many countries permit pharmacists to prescribe behind the counter drugs such as antivirals, antibiotics, and asthma meds. Why not in the US?

Ashwagandha powder and root
AnxietyTerry Graedon - July 24, 2023

Is There a Downside to Ashwagandha?

You could use herbal medicine to reduce anxiety and treat insomnia. Digestive upset is a downside to ashwagandha. So is withdrawal.

illustration of a head splitting in two with green waves of pain radiating out
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - July 24, 2023

Amlodipine and Dizziness: How Common is This Side Effect?

Amlodipine is one of the most popular blood pressure meds in the pharmacy. But amlodipine and dizziness is a common complication. What else should you know?

Depressed doctor leaning against wall in hospital corridor
CancerJoe Graedon - July 20, 2023

You Have Likely Been the Victim of Diagnostic Mistakes

Diagnostic mistakes are common, often leading to permanent disability and death. A new study suggests 795,000 people are harmed annually.

Husband and wife dealing with dementia
Alzheimer’s DiseaseJoe Graedon - July 17, 2023

Who Should Take Leqembi (lecanemab) for Dementia?

How good is Leqembi against Alzheimer's? Who can take it? What are the side effects? How much will it cost? Will Medicare pay for it?

hand with eczema red patches on fingers
Atopic Dermatitis (eczema)Terry Graedon - July 17, 2023

Is Dupixent a Super Solution for Bad Eczema?

One reader is delighted with the way Dupixent (dupilumab) controls symptoms of eczema. This injection is pricey, however, and also has side effects.

Fresh baked bran and flax muffin and coffee
ConstipationJoe Graedon - July 17, 2023

Why Does Coffee Make You Poop With Regularity?

Have you ever had the experience of drinking a cup of coffee and then having to head for the bathroom pronto? Can coffee make you poop or is it a myth? Find out!

drugstore shelves with over the counter (OTC) pain relief products.
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - July 17, 2023

Curcumin or NSAIDS for Knee Arthritis and Heart or Kidney Health?

Most doctors prescribe NSAIDs like celocoxib, diclofenac, meloxicam or naproxen for knee arthritis. Which is safer, curcumin or NSAIDs?

FDA Approved pill bottle illustration
Drug Side EffectsJoe Graedon - July 13, 2023

Should OTC Birth Control Pills Be Sold Without Medical Oversight?

The FDA has approved Opill (norgestrel) a progestin-only oral contraceptive. Can OTC birth control pills like Opill be used safely?