Drug Side Effects
Learn what others have experienced when taking medications. Which side effects should you be alert for? Share your own experience so others can learn.
Metformin (Glucophage) Side Effects & Compl…
The fascinating compound called metformin was discovered nearly a century ago. Scientists realized that it could lower blood sugar in an animal model (rabbits) as early as 1929, but it wasn't until th…
Will Ozempic or Wegovy Weight Loss Last?
The hottest drug for weight loss these days is semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy). Don't let the three brand names confuse you. They are all the same medication. The FDA approved the self-inje…
Do You Love Your Liver Enough?
Most Americans have no idea where the liver is located or what it does. They generally ignore this organ until something goes badly wrong, such as cirrhosis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Admit…
If a Medicine Kills You Why Can’t Your Family …
Most companies highlight the benefits of their products. If there are downsides, they rarely, if ever, mention them in a commercial. Pharmaceutical firms, on the other hand, list lots of horrific comp…
TNF Blockers and Your Immune System: Beware IMID…
Your body is constantly seeking balance. Think of it as a finely tuned seesaw. This is especially true for your immune system and a key player called tumor necrosis factor or TNF. Some of the most luc…
Alcohol for Longer Life? How Much Is Enough and …
The benefits and risks of alcohol consumption have been controversial for decades. Some studies have suggested that “moderate” amounts of alcohol have health benefits. In other words, people who d…
Is Metformin a Miracle or a Menace?
The diabetes drug metformin has a lot of friends and foes. It never fails to amaze us when people try to either put a medicine on a pedestal or have the FDA ban it. Most drugs have both benefits and r…
Is Your Medicine Making Your Ears Ring? | TINNIT…
There is a silent epidemic in this country. When we say silent, that is actually paradoxical because the condition we are talking about is known as tinnitus. It is silent because only the victims can …
Should Pharmacists Be Able to Prescribe Behind t…
Many countries give pharmacists the authority to prescribe a substantial number of medications. The pharmaceuticals they can offer patients are labeled BTC for “behind the counter” drugs. They inc…
Is There a Downside to Ashwagandha?
Have you been looking for natural ways to get some sleep? That is certainly understandable. When you are worrying about family members and friends, you may not be able to sleep well. Some herbs could …
Amlodipine and Dizziness: How Common is This Sid…
Amlodipine is a commonly prescribed blood pressure medicine. At last count, 17 million people take amlodipine daily in the US. It is referred to as a calcium channel blocker (CCB) or a calcium antagon…
Who Should Take Leqembi (lecanemab) for Dementia…
Have you read the headlines about Leqembi? They’ve been hard to miss! The New York Times announced: “New Federal Decisions Make Alzheimer’s Drug Leqembi Widely Accessible.” The Washington Pos…
Is Dupixent a Super Solution for Bad Eczema?
Most people with eczema find it intensely frustrating. They itch, and their skin is often red with swollen patches. Medications may help soothe the irritation, but most patients don't know why they su…
Why Does Coffee Make You Poop With Regularity?
OK, we admit that this is not one of the great medical mysteries of all time. It is intriguing, though. You might think that researchers have far more important things to do than try to figure out can…
Curcumin or NSAIDS for Knee Arthritis and Heart …
When medical students learn about the best way to treat osteoarthritis pain and inflammation, they inevitably hear that NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are the go-to medications. That’…
Should OTC Birth Control Pills Be Sold Without M…
The FDA determined that Opill (norgestrel) can now be sold without a prescription. The FDA’s headline on its news release (July 13, 2023) was: “FDA Approves First Nonprescription Daily Oral Contra…
Can Chantix Cause Depression?
The stop-smoking drug varenicline (Chantix) was first approved by the FDA on May 11, 2006. It wasn't long before millions of people were taking this oral medication to help them quit cigarettes. The i…
Drugs That Increase Sun Sensitivity and Skin Can…
Are you looking forward to spending some time outside during the summer? Maybe you have a beach vacation planned, or perhaps you will be doing some walking outdoors. If you are a runner, a golfer or a…
Man Seeks Cause For Big Breasts (“Man Boob…
It's not the sort of side effect physicians are likely to talk about. That's because male patients may not be thrilled to learn that a medicine they are about to take could cause what some men refer t…
Nexletol Side Effects vs. Statin Side Effects? W…
Cardiologists generally hate the idea of statin side effects. That’s because they believe most older people should be taking drugs such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, rosuvastatin or simvastatin to pr…
Statin Smackdown Challenged by Angry Cardiologis…
We have been writing about statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs for 36 years. Even before the FDA approved lovastatin (Mevacor) on September 1, 1987, we wrote that the drug “demonstrated almost un…
Antidepressants and Suicide: Why Don’t Peo…
Antidepressants are, by definition, supposed to improve mood. They are prescribed to lift people out of psychological depression. In theory, drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil) and sert…
Challenge–Find Safe Vitamin Formulation for Ex…
For years, some doctors have insisted that taking vitamins is a waste of effort, not to mention money. They believe that simply eating a well-balanced diet should provide all the nutrients any of us n…
Should You Worry About Black Stools?
Have you experienced peculiar symptoms from taking certain medications or even eating certain foods? Eating beets, for example, may turn urine and stools red. Drinking a lot of carrot juice can color …
How Do You Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Aspir…
Aspirin has been around for over 100 years. Moreover, it is one of the most versatile drugs in the pharmacy. This tablet relieves pain, lowers fever and reduces inflammation. In addition, it has anti-…
The Inside Story of Tamiflu Side Effects & …
One of the most familiar drugs for fighting influenza is Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Some people think it's great. They believe it helps prevent family members from catching the flu when one person is sick…
How Can You Manage Opioid-Induced Constipation?
Opioids have gotten a bad name over the last several years because so many users have overdosed and died. But people have been using these drugs, also known as narcotics, for millennia. The ancient As…
Medications Can Cause Smelly Gas
No one likes to talk about flatulence. That includes your doctor, nurse practitioner (NP) or physician associate (PA). It's one of those things that everyone pretends doesn't happen. And yet we all ma…
How Can You Find Quinine for Leg Cramps?
When a common remedy becomes unavailable, people often become creative. They find new ways to address the problem. That is what many folks have needed to do once the FDA took quinine for leg cramps of…
Lyrica (Pregabalin) Side Effects Include Confusi…
Lyrica used to be widely advertised on television to treat fibromyalgia or diabetic nerve pain. A few years ago there was this ad featuring Terry, a retired police officer. Terry describes his diabeti…
Drug Discard Date Creates Discord
The question is common and it seems so simple. Do we need to worry about medicines going bad if they are used beyond their discard date? The answer is a bit more complicated than you might think. Read…
Why Popular Heartburn Drugs PPIs Are Linked to P…
Millions of people take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to suppress the secretion of stomach acid. The last time we checked, doctors wrote over 100 million prescriptions for drugs like dexlansoprazole (…
Have We Forsaken Mentally Ill Patients?
According to the CDC, “More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness.” Some have anxiety or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), while others may suffer from bipolar disorder or schizoph…
Amlodipine (Norvasc) Side Effects
For reasons that remain somewhat mysterious to us, amlodipine (Norvasc) is one of the most popular blood pressure medications in the pharmacy. This calcium channel blocker lowers blood pressure in par…
Clonidine (Catapres) Side Effects & Complic…
Clonidine is an old drug by any standard. It was developed by Boehringer Ingelheim in the early 1960s to treat nasal congestion. The idea was to administer clonidine as nose drops. But the medication …
Prednisone Can Cause Anxiety, Depression and Ins…
Corticosteroids are both a blessing and a curse. They can calm a serious allergic reaction and reduce inflammation. People with asthma may profit from a drug like prednisone during a flareup. Patients…
Will Ketamine Really Battle Life-Long Depression…
People with depression have a really tough time. Not only does the condition suck all of the joy out of life, the medications used to treat it have some potentially serious side effects. Moreover, ant…
Will Ozempic Lead to Hair Loss?
Over the past several years, the FDA has approved a number of injectable medications designed to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar. You may have seen some of them advertised o…
Can Statins Cause Memory Loss and Transient Glob…
The relationship between statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs and memory problems has been controversial for decades. When we first wrote about a link between drugs like atorvastatin (Lipitor), lova…
Many Drugs Cause Bad Dreams
If you have ever been awakened by a frightening dream, you know the feeling of terror it can produce. Once you are fully awake, you may feel relieved that your nightmare wasn't real. On the other hand…