The People's Perspective on Medicine
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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!
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.
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?
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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!
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?
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?